Fishing logs...who keeps one?

[Fish Hunter]

Found an old fishing log from 1990 with about 6 entrys in it. The whole thing is mainly blank. I can tell by my old entrys that I have learned a thing or two since then. For 2002 I resolve to start keeping a better fishing log. I do jot a few notes in the boat log but thats not quite good enough. My question is who keeps a log and how detailed do you get? Has anyone seen any fishing log software available? Has anyone gone as far as a personal fishing database using MS Access? ...(are the rivers blown or what?) I am interested in getting more organized. It would seem handy to have your search function by species, date, river etc. The main idea is to get a system down that is useful, easy to implement and make filling it out a habit.

[ 12-17-2001: Message edited by: Fish Hunter ]</p>

[BigSpinner]

I keep a fishing log every time I go fishing. Any info is good the date, water temp, water height, visibility, style/size/color of lure, type of holding water and so on. And remember fishless days can provide as much info on steelhead behavior as fish filled ones.
FISH HARD WORK EASY!

[drifter]

I have created a template in Word that I use and just save within the same document. This allows some search functions, but not very sophisticated. I too would be interested in better software. You would think the Bass fisherman down south have something. I will research it and post if I find something. Drifter.

[hookem]

I need to log the size of line on my reels
and when I last changed them. I always forget
how old the line is and what size it is.
I tried putting tape on the reels with that info on them, but after they get wet and old I can't
read them.

[ampersat]

i keep mine in excel. i use different pages within a workbook for different stuff. i'm not really thorough about every trip i take. mostly, i keep the exceptions. when i don't catch fish, when i catch fish and didn't expect to, what the river was at when i was just barely able to cross it. stuff i do track regularly when i bother to track it: river level and whether it's rising, falling or steady, moon stage, barometric pressure and whether rising, falling or steady. i see some interesting trends when i look at it. however, i fish when i get the chance. i don't get to go when the conditions are prime, which accounts for my low catch records.

fishing is great; catching is a bonus.

[ 12-17-2001: Message edited by: ampersat ]</p>

[Pete]

I've written down a few details of every outing; date, location, species targetted, gear used, weather and success (bumps / hookings / landings / species / size) for about 20 years ... don't know that it helps me get more, though.

[ZaQ]

I have kept a log for the last 4.5 years. I record:
Date, Location, Species targeted, what i was using, Tide and moon, last rain, qauntity of targeted fish, water clarity temp and current flow, sky conditions, dam passage numbers, who i fished with, and a comments section.
I have over 200 entries and I refer to it quite a bit actually. I think it is a good thing to do, if so you remember what you were using when you fished with so and so on that whatchamacallit river a while back. Know what I mean? :smile:

[Spooled]

I mainly fish about 5 rivers, so keeping track of what works is pretty easy. I usually use the same methods in each, as that is what I am confident in. I pretty much believe that proven methods usually outperform most new techniques over time. The simpler the better. I had the same problem as hookem with keeping track of what line is on what reel, and how old it was. Now I just write it down on a note pad that hangs on my rack.

[ 12-17-2001: Message edited by: Spooled ]</p>

[otter]

http://www.riverware.net/
http://www.fishingmatters.com/online/
http://cmbsoftware.com/fishlog.htm
http://www.taysys.com/thpsuite.htm
http://www.blsoutdoors.com/products.htm

What Spooled said. Becomes a memory thing, against conditions, tried and true, and what you have confidence in, especially when you get old and more stubborn. I still experiment, when nothing is working and do keep a copy of last years tag record before turning it in.

Pretty leary of first day after cold fronts, barometer sometimes, full moons and bananas, but go anyway :grin:

[Navigator]

I have been keeping a log since 1979. Logged every fish I have caught (all 6 ). Overtime, the information has evolved from what species, size, kept or released and what I caught it on to more of a journal of each outing. Now, I take water temperature, record river level, weather, type of gear and journal location and anything special about the trip. Sometimes I record what is on my mind outside of fishing.

I do refer back to it when I visit a water I haven't fished for a while. But really, I do this for my kids. I hope when I die, they will take the time to read it and find comfort in the thoughts I have left behind.

[Fishhead]

I keep a log on my calender. I made sure to buy one that has large spaces for each day. I usually try to write down the river levels from the weather service. That number is 503-261-9246. Either that or I go and look it up in the sports section of the Oregonian. I also write down the time of day. Morning or afternoon. Size of fish. Location.
I write just a capital letter on the callender for each river that I want to record. Heres an example...

W= wilson river- 5.5----- 5.2
N= nestucca river- 4.7----4.4
C= clackamas-12.4---- 12.3
S= sandy river- 11.1---- 11.0

This way I can tell if the river is on the drop or going up.
I hope this helps some you guys , good luck and see ya on the river.

Fishhead Vic

:grin:

[Pilar]

I wonder what I'll fish for today?

Hmmmm, lets look in the logbook, December 18, 2000. Night crabbin in Tillamook. 22 in the box, 6 soft, 16 hard, all good. Salmon carc for bait. Bay was muddy but it didn't matter. Had it all to myself.

Guess I better go crabbin.......

[Fish Hunter]

Thanks for all your great input. Some times you just know your going to get some great ideas from a post you put up. If you care to share your blank form, shoot me an email, I'd love to see it.
Might just use it.

[Grits]

I keep a paper log and have been meaning to build a database but haven't got around to it yet. The ones posted by otter look like they all charge or only last for 15 days. If I get something going I will share it with the rest of you.

Fields I intend to include:

date
species
weather
GPS points
water temp
bait
comments

Any other ideas?

[Oakie Drifter]

Yeah, gotta keep a log these days. Got older and dont remember as well anymore about specifics.

Nice to look back now and know exactly what worked last year and previous years to that, and where. Not an exact science but its a starting point for reference.

[Nookie Monster]

I kept a photo album with pictures and notes as to the usual info.. where, when, weather, etc..
Went to Vegas one year to meet my parents and took my diary/photo album with me to show them what I had been doing with my life. Came back to the room one night and it was gone. For the life of me I cannot figure out why somebody would want a photo album full of steelhead pictures.

[First Bite]

I've been keeping a detailed log since I got serious about steelhead/salmon fishing. I'll put all sorts of info in there. Probably the most important item I put in there is the river level and where the fish that I hooked was laying.

Mark