Does anyone else keep a journal with notes about fishing trips.  After each trip on the river, I enter notes on my iPhone about depth, flow rate, water temp, weather, water clarity, and catch info (number of fish, size, bait, presentation and location).  I have found that several years of notes has been a tremendous help in narrowing choices about what, when and where to fish.

A buddy of mine couldn’t believe it when we arrived at a stretch of the river he had never fished and I suggested  a couple different baits to start with after referring to my notes that covered 3yrs of trips on that stretch.  He might have been even a little impressed when he started catching fish before his first smoke.

2 minutes ago, OldManLure said:

Does anyone else keep a journal with notes about fishing trips.  After each trip on the river, I enter notes on my iPhone about depth, flow rate, water temp, weather, water clarity, and catch info (number of fish, size, bait, presentation and location).  I have found that several years of notes has been a tremendous help in narrowing choices about what, when and where to fish.

A buddy of mine couldn’t believe it when we arrived at a stretch of the river he had never fished and I suggested  a couple different baits to start with after referring to my notes that covered 3yrs of trips on that stretch.  He might have been even a little impressed when he started catching fish before his first smoke.

Even though it may be relevant here, I thought I was in Smallmouth Forum when I posted.  Sorry.

I've been keeping a fishing log since early 1990's...modeled it after a friend's father...he grew up in Wisconsin and fished every day! 

 

The top half...

 

Brother recommended we get water-proof paper...works well!

 

 

27 minutes ago, DaubsNU1 said:

I've been keeping a fishing log since early 1990's...modeled it after a friend's father...he grew up in Wisconsin and fished every day! 

 

The top half...

 

Brother recommended we get water-proof paper...works well!

 

 

Excellent.  Do you refer to it, and do you find it has helped you?  

I use to. Was mostly a journal/log about fishing the local river for Smallies. I still have them. 
 

It was fun to do. Hope it helps you and it will. Have fun with it. Good fishing. 

24 minutes ago, Spankey said:

I use to. Was mostly a journal/log about fishing the local river for Smallies. I still have them. 
 

It was fun to do. Hope it helps you and it will. Have fun with it. Good fishing. 

I started mine years ago only for river smallies.  And it has been a tremendous tool.  It has revealed some remarkably reliable trends that have proven pretty productive.  

1 hour ago, OldManLure said:

Does anyone else keep a journal with notes about fishing trips.  After each trip on the river, I enter notes on my iPhone about depth, flow rate, water temp, weather, water clarity, and catch info (number of fish, size, bait, presentation and location).  I have found that several years of notes has been a tremendous help in narrowing choices about what, when and where to fish.

A buddy of mine couldn’t believe it when we arrived at a stretch of the river he had never fished and I suggested  a couple different baits to start with after referring to my notes that covered 3yrs of trips on that stretch.  He might have been even a little impressed when he started catching fish before his first smoke.

Even though it may be relevant here, I thought I was in Smallmouth Forum when I posted.  Sorry.

Yes, although a write a short just of water temp and what the fish where doing that day, and where

This is the one I've used for over 3 decades now. Yes, it makes a huge difference in my performance!

 

https://www.bassresource.com/fish/fishing_log.html

 

i have kept a log for all of 2021. I write down the whole days experience on paper tablet the next day. Come next year I will reference it to help remind me.

I have tried to keep a log but never have followed through on them. 

I use an excel spreadsheet.  I’ve been using it for a long time.  

I do not keep a log .   I have a bad memory on most things but not fishing . Too bad I cant free up some of that storage space wasted on fishing for something more useful .

8 hours ago, OldManLure said:

Excellent.  Do you refer to it, and do you find it has helped you?  

 

Yes!  I keep the completed logs in a 3-ring binder in my shop. Reference them often. 

 

Over the years, I've kept many journals in various forms.

Back when surf fishing was part of the addiction, location, tides and moon phases were driving the deal. 

Most all of that happened at night. 

When I got back to the sweet water and bass fishing I did it again. 

I was fishing all new water for the first few years and having  some notes seemed helpful.

On both fronts, as time went by I used/referred to them less and less. 

So I stopped keeping them. 

During the 'transition', I started taking and posting video of my quests for Brown Bass. 

As far as being a useful tool, this was a Game Changer.

Instantly shows me all of the routine what, where and when info, and then the video shows me so much more.  

The Good,  the Bad and even The Ugly. 

Besides capturing a few epic fish catches, it has helped me clean up quite a few bad habits I would have otherwise probably never knew I had.

Now I make the effort to ensure at least one GoPro is running whenever I am wetting a line.

Fish Hard

A-Jay

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

Over the years, I've kept many journals in various forms.

Back when surf fishing was part of the addiction, location, tides and moon phases were driving the deal. 

Most all of that happened at night. 

When I got back to the sweet water and bass fishing I did it again. 

I was fishing all new water for the first few years and having  some notes seemed helpful.

On both fronts, as time went by I used/referred to them less and less. 

So I stopped keeping them. 

During the 'transition', I started taking and posting video of my quests for Brown Bass. 

As far as being a useful tool, this was a Game Changer.

Instantly shows me all of the routine what, where and when info, and then the video shows me so much more.  

The Good,  the Bad and even The Ugly. 

Besides capturing a few epic fish catches, it has helped me clean up quite a few bad habits I would have otherwise probably never knew I had.

Now I make the effort to ensure at least one GoPro is running whenever I am wetting a line.

Fish Hard

A-Jay

Game film.  I like it!

just updated my journal from fridays fishing trip. I have gone fishing 33 times in 2021 and no i dont ice fish so all open water. All my spots are no more than 40 to 70 minutes away.

I can tell you that i might lessen my trips next year if the draught continues here in minn in 2022 because i dont have a boat, just waders and banks so come mid july i may have to take a break.

9 hours ago, Jig Man said:

I use an excel spreadsheet.  I’ve been using it for a long time.  

 

If I had the discipline to keep a journal I would do something like this. Being able to sort and display the data in different ways would be cool.

 

I'm with AJ.....video evidence!

I've been using an excel spreadsheet since about 2004.  Being able to filter the information comes in real handy sometimes as a quick reference tool.

I have several hand written fishing journals. Some of the information I write is the following;

1. Location

2. Fish caught

3. Lure used `

4. Weather 

I've logged and kept it all in my phone for years. Photo of every fish no matter the size or species, primary lures of the day, air temp, water temp. My phone tags the time and location of each photo. It has without a doubt been a beneficial tool on where and what I caught them on in the previous years. Tried the paper log but I will not stop fishing to write while on the boat and my body starts shutting down when I hook up the on board charger in the garage. So no filling out a log before my post fishing coma. 

I have always relied on my memory and that worked for me for a long time regarding bass fishing.

Trips to Baja and off shore tuna and marlin fishing for 35 years I keep notes on way points, weather, catches on what lures or baitfish and conditions like up swell, wind, water color, birds, whales, porpoise  activity. 

Now I like read about our long range trips to recall the memories that are fading and fishing partners no longer around to share with.

Bass fishing I have always relied on current conditions and visual clues to refresh my memory that served me well.

A log is good if you have the time and desire to make it and use it. 

Tom