journals

[wolkie]

About four years ago I started using a fishing journal, writting down info on the days happenings. I was wondering how many people do the same and what sort of topics people record? It's been cool seeing the different trends over the years.

[goblueM]

I started for a while but then I gave it up... I was spending almost as much time fishing as I was looking at patterns and documenting stuff

Just starting to get into muskies, for that I'll keep notes, but for other stuff, I just make mental notes and observations

[SteveD]

I've kept a very detailed journal since December 2002. I also keep a Fishing log where I keep track of Date / Number & Type of Fish Caught / Remarks (I usually remark on water temp; weather; who was along. I use the log to see what I caught and when and then I can go back in the journal to find all my notes about the day. It is pretty slick and I use it a lot. The Log is an Excel document and the journal is a Word Document so they are easy to complete and post. I keep rough notes in the boat and then transfer them to the Log & Journal the next day or that evening. It is really nice to see what was happening on that date a year or 2 ago and what type of success you had. If something was working in the past it gives you a place to start on your next trip.

[Turk]

Steve,

I'm not surprised, you are a details kind of guy! Leave a photocopied journal in the river some and see if your catches improve.

[SteveD]

 Originally Posted By: Turk

Steve,

I'm not surprised, you are a details kind of guy! Leave a photocopied journal in the river some and see if your catches improve.

That is the trouble with keeping a journal - you finally realize how few fish you really catch. Now I use the quality over quantity argument to justify the lack of production. Of course my quality is all in the eyes of the beholder.

It is going to be an interesting year - this weather has put the river behind its normal schedule.

[Turk]

 Originally Posted By: SteveD

Steve,

...Leave a photocopied journal in the river some and see if your catches improve.

My jokes are too dry (or all wet), I was hoping the fish would read your log to know where they should go! Journals are THE way to go.

Turk

[marble-eye]

I keep past emails that I have secretly sent out, to see what, where, when. East wind still proves to be the worst time to be on the water. But I still go out. The weather cycle does seem off. But 18 years ago, this was typical. I do remember how I fished back then, so need to dust off those certain baits, or more like go to the Man's Mall to pick up new stuff. Another note, is that the eagles are having a field day with the gizzard shad. They are algae eaters and are moving up to the runoff areas. There was the biggest die off last year, that I have seen, so it will be interesting to see how this will play into the sport of fishing, or more like catching. 21 days and counting....

[Walli1]

I also keep a journal of my fishing trips, the type of journal I use is as simple as it gets, here is what it looks like

It takes no time at all to fill it in and you can look back and see what type of bait or presention was working, weather and wind and the depth, I add gps numbers also to track where fish were on certain days

[SteveD]

I'll see if I can get a cut and paste entry to work to show you an example

of my Journal entry:

Fishing Journal

Date: 25 August 2007, Saturday

Hours Fished: 1900 - 2300

Moon Phase: 97%+

Weather: PC, Calm, water dead flat, warm, Perfect

Air Temp: 60

Surface Temp: 72

Water Level: 675.3'

Time Species Weight Length Bait Used Remarks

2121 Flathead 25# 37" Live Bait Bullhead @BAC

Comments: A perfect night for chasing flatheads. Weather was ideal with warm temps,

winds calm and water was flat as glass, almost full moon (97%). I fished

the BAC Backwater and it was really shallow (1.5' to 4.5' range). There was a

lot of bait activity through the whole backwater. I set up on the logjam and put one

bullhead close to shore in about 2' of water and another centered on the logjam in about 4'

of water. Had a screaming run at 2121 and caught a nice healthy 37'" flathead (25lbs).

I left at 2300 after the Twins won over Baltimore on a rain delayed game.

This is the best I could do using a cut and paste approach to get the

information into the post. The actual document looks a lot different but

this gives you an idea of the information I try to capture. The actual

document looks a lot more professional and is much easier to read.

The Daily Journal is a Word document with the top part done in a table with borders

so the information is easy to enter and easy to follow.

[b1gf1sh1]

that's pretty cool. so what do you use this for then. as a gauge for the next time these conditions come up? or to compare conditions? or just for posterity?

[SteveD]

 Originally Posted By: b1gf1sh1

so what do you use this for then. as a gauge for the next time these conditions come up? or to compare conditions? or just for posterity?

The old saying goes: "If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got." For the last few years I've pretty much just chased catfish - channel cats and flatheads. I love chasing flatheads, it is a combination of hunting and fishing. The trouble with chasing flatheads is that I get skunked an awful lot. You don't even want to know how many hours I have fished for flatheads with not even a bite to show for it. Kind of like turkey hunting or deer hunting.

Does the log and journal help? I don't know - I find myself drawn to the log to match conditions and then I will go back to the daily journal entry to refresh myself as to what I tried and how I did last time.

Like I said, chasing flatheads is like hunting. Before I go on the hunt I think about where I am going to hunt and try to think through where the quarry is going to be and how he is expected to act based on the conditions.

I use the journal data to try to find trends. I've got enough data to be able to plan an attack based on the conditions. I can go back and find matching conditions based on weather, river levels and water temp, etc. It gives me a place to start when I hit the water.

[b1gf1sh1]

 Quote:

The trouble with chasing flatheads is that I get skunked an awful lot. Kind of like turkey hunting or deer hunting.

or muskie fishing for most it seems. thanks. i've never really kept a journal. was just wondering if you thought it helped. how do you match a day to the day, just page through looking for the same weather, date, etc?

[SteveD]

 Originally Posted By: b1gf1sh1

 Quote:

The trouble with chasing flatheads is that I get skunked an awful lot. Kind of like turkey hunting or deer hunting.

or muskie fishing for most it seems. thanks. i've never really kept a journal. was just wondering if you thought it helped. how do you match a day to the day, just page through looking for the same weather, date, etc?

I keep a Fishing Log and Fishing Journal. The Fishing Log is an Excel document that keeps track of the Date / number of fish caught / Types of fish caught and it has a remarks section. In the Remarks Section of the Log I will keep water temp & pool elevation data. Those two factors are important for hunting flats.

I use the Log to find the information I am interested in comparing - such as Type of Fish or Water Temp or Pool Elevation. The Log will give me the Journal Date that I need to look at.

I have 4 year's worth of Logs and Daily Journals in one large 3-Ring Binder. I have tabbed the Logs and the Daily Journals by year. I keep the Log at the Front of each year's tab and then the Daily Journals are kept chronologically by month in each year's tab. I can find any Daily Journal in a matter of seconds going back to December 2002. As you can expect - this 3-Ring Binder is quite large.

I keep the current year's Log and Daily Journals in a separate smaller 3-Ring binder so that I don't have to handle the large binder. It just makes it easier to post the current log and the Daily Journals.

[wolkie]

Wow Steve thats a great way to lay it out!! Mine is a book like Walli1. I might have to make a layout like your's. Thanks for the great tips!!!

[SteveD]

Hey Wolkie - I just sent you an e-mail with a copy of my Fishing Log and Daily Fishing Journal formats. You should be able to pull them up if you have Microsoft Word and Excel. Hope this helps.

Steve