Something you should never do

[Cgolf]

Recently I commented to my wife that I wasn't sure if I had a certain crank bait and she suggested I put a spreadsheet of all of them seperated by brand, type, color, and number I have. Thankfully she didn't enter them like she wanted to, because I have way more than I thought and some that I forgot about. So yeh it is I am emberrased by how many cranks I have, but the list will help me figure out what baits I can put together my father in law and what baits I might be able to get rid of. I will also try a few more baits this year I forgot I had! I really don't think that I suggest doing this even if it was ultimately helpful to me. It did probably shut down the crank bait monkey for a while.

[MN Fisher]

5 minutes ago, cgolf said:

I really don't think that I suggest doing this even if it was ultimately helpful to me.

Too late - I've been running sheets of everything since the beginning...this is just part of my 'lures' page.

[Jigfishn10]

Why not?

Could work? No? Maybe? Bad idea....

[Deleted account]

Nope, no spreadsheets in fishing for me.

[Jigfishn10]

5 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

Nope, no spreadsheets in fishing for me.

Totally agree...I'm on spread sheets all day, the last thing I want to do is more spread sheets.

[islandbass]

Perhaps you can add a field in which you indicate which ones have been most and least effective/productive, and another field for time of year they are effective/productive if such information is still in your head. Then get rid of the ones that are not. You’re halfway there already, now that you made the spreadsheet, lol. 

[MN Fisher]

8 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Why not?

Could work? No? Maybe? Bad idea....

Ummm...I can do that on my phone or tablet.

 

[Jigfishn10]

Go for it, man

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Jigfishn10 said:

Go for it man

That photo is of my phone running Open Office for Android with my tracking spreadsheet loaded up. I also have the spreadsheet on the Tablet which also has the app.

 

So ya...I'm already doing it.

[Jigfishn10]

Just now, MN Fisher said:

That photo is of my phone running Open Office for Android with my tracking spreadsheet loaded up. I also have the spreadsheet on the Tablet which also has the app.

 

So ya...I'm already doing it.

I understood, man...I like it...If that works for you, I'm all for it. I'm not patient enough to sort through it like you did. My hat is tipped to you.

[A-Jay]

This is about as close as I come . . . 

#sharpieandwhitetape

A-Jay

[Cgolf]

1 hour ago, MN Fisher said:

Too late - I've been running sheets of everything since the beginning...this is just part of my 'lures' page.

 

Wow that is a lot more detail than I have, but glad I am not the only one.

25 minutes ago, islandbass said:

Perhaps you can add a field in which you indicate which ones have been most and least effective/productive, and another field for time of year they are effective/productive if such information is still in your head. Then get rid of the ones that are not. You’re halfway there already, now that you made the spreadsheet, lol. 

 

I kind of like this idea, but right now I need a field for baits I still need to try. I know topwaters work for some, but realistically if I got rid of all mine my catch rate would go up because I am not wasting time with them.

[Spankey]

Not a bad idea if you are gaining something from it I guess. I fish ALOT of crankbaits. I have way MORE than I need. We all probably have are favorites and most productive ones. A pattern I would not normal throw will catch my eye and I say “I’ll catch one on that” and normally I will. Next thing you know after 40 years you have a nice collection of Rappy DT’s, Bombers, Bandits or Strike King XD’s. But I can’t think of many that I’ve not caught a bass on. 
 

It’s easy for me to see and find what I’m after. My CB’s are not mixed up. I keep all my XD’s together. Same with a DT. Somewhat organized in the Plano box by size and color. My Bandits are probably laid out the best. Never been an issue. 
 

I recently picked up some Rapala, Daiwa, 6th Sense in pink. I’ve never caught or tried to catch a smallie on pink in my lifetime. With any luck I will this year. Bought pink in lure versions that are productive and I’ve always caught fish on. 

[Cgolf]

A small screenshot of my topwaters

 

[Spankey]

11 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

This is about as close as I come . . . 

#sharpieandwhitetape

A-Jay

I love that. I am very similar. My wife’s Brother Label Maker get a work out from my stuff. Good fishing. 

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Spankey said:

I love that. I am very similar. My wife’s Brother Label Maker get a work out from my stuff. Good fishing. 

Ya - I've stolen the wife's 'Brother P-Touch 1280' to label both boxes and compartments.

[ajschn06]

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Too late - I've been running sheets of everything since the beginning...this is just part of my 'lures' page.

 

This is serial killer behavior, and I mean that in the nicest way possible...

[MN Fisher]

Just now, ajschn06 said:

 

This is serial killer behavior, and I mean that in the nicest way possible...

I do this to KEEP me from 'going postal' in the winter.

[ajschn06]

Just now, MN Fisher said:

I do this to KEEP me from 'going postal' in the winter.

Completely understand, fellow Minnesotan...

[FishTank]

I keep them somewhat organized but a spread sheet would take away from my fun fishing.  

 

Tournament baits are different. They get filed to a different Plano box and are ranked by effectiveness from left to right.  I usually buy at least two of my favorites but keep them separated until one is done or lost.

[Spankey]

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Ya - I've stolen the wife's 'Brother P-Touch 1280' to label both boxes and compartments.

Alot of my plastics I store in Rubbermaid style containers or Flambau worm satchel type containers. Baits are In factory bags, sometimes that bag in a ziplock type bag. I label the stuff. Easy to find. And if you have to go digging it easy to find. Pretty much stored by style and manufacturer. My Z-Man stuff would not be with my 4” or 7” PowerWorms. Salty Spider Jig would not be with my kut tail worms. I know I’m anal and admit it. 

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Spankey said:

Alot of my plastics I store in Rubbermaid style containers or Flambau worm satchel type containers. Baits are In factory bags, sometimes that bag in a ziplock type bag. I label the stuff. Easy to find. And if you have to go digging it easy to find. Pretty much stored by style and manufacturer. My Z-Man stuff would not be with my 4” or 7” PowerWorms. Salty Spider Jig would not be with my kut tail worms. I know I’m anal and admit it. 

Ya - I've got plastics separated by type in Plano 3607-10 boxes, in original bags. My Z-Man stuff is in a box by itself.

[Steveo-1969]

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, Steveo-1969 said:

And darn proud of it too!

[gim]

I honestly don't have enough crank baits (or tackle, period) to do a spreadsheet.  If I was going to keep track of all my tackle I would label it.  I don't generally have tackle that I don't use regularly.

 

I could see how it would be helpful to keep track of all this if you had a crap load of stuff.

 

I do keep track of how many times I go fishing each season and where I went.  One season I tracked all of the fish that my family caught and each species (Mother, Father, Brother, and myself).  That was a lot of work and communication so now I just keep track of my own trips each season.

 

2020 - 35 fishing trips

2021 - 32 fishing trips