Fishing Logs

[5150bass]

Do any of you guys use fishing logs to record info. on your fishing trips?  If so, do you find this helps you?  Also, what info. do you write in it?

Thanks,

5150bass

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I use an excel spreadsheet that my ex g/f made for me, it's awesome.  This is only the second year of data but I track

date

time frame

weather-sky,temp,water temp,wind,barometer

Lure/bait

color

line size

location and area of lake

fish (#'d)

fish weight

Lunkers (3.5+)

doubles

and more

each line has all these tags for each and every fish.  there is also an area for comments on the day( stages of spawn, observations,...) and a hyperlink to "my pictures" that coincides with each outings pictures and videos by date so when you click on the date on the spreadsheet, the pics for that day come up.

This is the one tool I will not share.  If anything, I will find a way to market it, lol, it's that good.  I can show graphs, pie charts, etc for anything I querry.  For instance, "lunkers" broken down by bait (that wacky rigged senko pie slice is very large this year )

Another example, and somthing that really surprised us, was that when we querried "Lunkers" and "wind", it showed that 76% of my lunkers were caught on a north wind.  I would have never guessed that.

Just an example of what you can see when you lay everything out in front of you.  The real chore is keeping it up to date and accurate.

If you know how to play with excel and are looking to make a log, take your time and really load it.  The more data you have, the greater the analysis.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

That's something that's on my winter to-do list

[bassdocktor]

Yeah I just started this year. I pretty much keep the same info as Low Budget does. I found that even after a year it has been helpful. I usually do it at the end of the day so it really helps me remember what I did that day. Also it has made me more aware of what I'm doing and gives me ideas for the next time I go out.

bassdocktor

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

I just can't wait till there's 10 years worth of data in there on the same lakes.  THat's going to be very valuable on a personal level.

[K_Mac]

LBH-I wonder if my wife would let your ex-g/f set me up with a similar system? How do you keep track of things on the water? I have tried a couple of times to keep records, but always get too excited when things are happening to write anything down, and If I don't do it right away it doesn't get done. By the end of the day my memory is not to be trusted. If you decide to market the LBH record keeping system, I am sure there is a market.

[paparock]

I have a computer program that has my local lake's topograpy on it that comes with a log where I put all the data about each trip. It also allows me to input the pool level of the lake so it shows the change the water level will have on the underwater structure. It even gives me GPS coordinates for structure I want to check out.

[bassdocktor]

Wow that sounds like an awesome program. I've never heard of that before. Is it widely available or is it limited to just your local lake?

bassdocktor

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

K-roc

We use my digital camera for everything.  Start off on video mode and give all the weather,date,etc

everything over 3.5 gets a pic and a voice recording of all data.  All other fish get tracked on a pad by your "partner".  This started off because we are so competitive that we didnt trust each other,lol but now it has seemed to work because while the other guy is getting hook out, partner is writing and both are back to fishing at same time.  This gives incentive to be catching more because it also gives opponent "down time"!

[Rebbasser]

K_Mac-I use the voice memo of my cell phone. Just make a voice memo to myself.

For the log I made one using Microsoft Works, which most people have on their computer. I start in the list view of the database, and can then go to form view and print out the record.

I uploaded it so if anybody is interested they can download a copy:

Fishing Log

Just click on save after you click on the link and you are good to go.

[Fisher of Men]

I started one this year, made several entries and quit using it.  I know that a log would be very valuable, but I just can't make myself do it.  I like the ideas of using a cell phone and or video/digital camera.  But, like one of you said, I get too caught up in the catching that I can't stop to do any of that. I guess the fact that I don't tourney fish has something to do with it.  If $$$ was riding on my success, I might make it more of a priority.

[Will]

Yep, I do that. I write down what I did, what my boaters did, and then I write down what the winner did although I usually use little emphasize on the winners pattern. Right now my collection is pretty small, but it is interesting to compare my fishing logs to results from other tournaments.

[kayl.]

LBH-

You really should share that spreadsheet (at least an empty one) with your good buddies @ bass resource

[Fisher of Men]

Ooooh, LBH, I see you've got the video profile thing going!! I just figured out how to load my picture. :-[ I better get with the program. Are you going to put a scrolling "Here Charlie, Charlie, Charlie!!" as your signature. ;D

[K_Mac]

Great info guys. Thanks. Reb-my computer doesn't know what program to use to open your file. All this technology makes my head hurt. :-?

[Rebbasser]

Microsoft Works, K_Mac-I thought most of the PCs had it, but I'm finding that isn't the case.

[Guest the_muddy_man]

Hey I got some great logs right here it the tackle box section I customized them a little to suit where and how i fish AND IM LOVIN IT you really can get a better idea of what works and where to look for them under the given circumtance It didnt radically change what i do but helped me understand patterns a whole lot better give them a try

[Glenn]

Thanks Muddy_man.  There's a lot of fishing logs out there these days.  Here's the one that started it all, and is still free:

http://bassresource.com/fish/fishinglog3.gif

[paparock]

The maker may not be making them anymore as their site is gone. They cover the lakes in Arkansas and Missouri. The maker is a young man that lives in Missouri. If anyone is interested please contact me privately for details.

[VekolBass]

I use Microsoft PowerPoint. Acquire the maps from either TOPOUSA or http://bassresource.com/maps/maps.html and chop up the body of water into approx 1/2 mile chunks. Paste the map onto the slide, and use various shapes/icons to mark locations where I caught fish, places to fish, landmarks, etc. Fish catch info goes into the notes page below the slide. I think there is commercially available software on the market that does similar stuff--the fat guy in the red suit IS coming....

JP

[Rattlinrogue]

I use the Bass Resource log.I print out lots of copies to last a long time.I also went to maptech.com and got a map of my home lake off of it.I print out a copy for each fishing trip and mark where each bass was caught on the lake.

[Gatorbassman]

Go on Ebay and do a search for FOL2002 you won't be sorry. I love it and it even stores pictures and connect them to the log.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

The log Fluke is talking about is the one that gave me the idea to tag hyperlinks for pics to the date .  If I didn't have my own, I would have that one for sure.

[Vyron]

;D

Thanks LBH for the idea, I just did one log like yours in the Excel (added a hyperlink for my pictures 2  )

2006 season starts for me soon , I ll keep a detail log from now on.

[Maineiac]

For years this state has distributed neat little printed log books that some of us up here have kept for the State Fish and Game biologists. Pretty much standard data as has been listed in a print format and there have even been some instances where they were looking for specific info on certain lakes where I have sent it in at the end of the year with digital pictures and even little envelopes of scale samples. But my wife found a computer program that I am getting more comfortable with. I record info on the water and she enters it in as I turn the sheets into her. It seems pretty comprehensive for the price and I suspect can do a great deal more than I want or need. Its from a little outfit called MCM Software and its called Fishing Organizer Log 2002. I figured for 15 bucks I wouldn't be out that much if it flopped and so far I have been pleased. I just didn't have the computer skills some of you apparently do and wussed out with a turnkey product. But it is interesting the stuff that can come back to you at the end of a season if you have captured some of the data and for someone like me that can't remember stuff its a must.