I kept one for a few years. After while I could see the seasonal patterns and didn't really need it anymore. But I've logged every fish I caught over 3 lbs starting in 2021, the date and the lure. 

 

My best producing lures for size in that time in this order:

Whopper Plopper, stick worm (mostly Yum Dinger), jig/craw, Spook, Jr, frog, T-rigged craw, lizard.

For whatever it's worth, the two biggest bass in that time were caught on a Plopper and a Yum Dinger.

Other than the dates, most of my pages are blank 😁

I’ve definitely never kept any type of a log. But I do try to keep certain areas like Bridge piling, small inlet off a river and those types of areas you guys have all talked about before as a key spot to go to. Believe it or not I have never caught a fish on the river. I currently live by the rock river here in northern Illinois and I am a bank fisherman and seem to be having struggles. I’ve gone multiple times throughout the day mid afternoon and used chatter baits with Zako trailers, whopper ploppers, spinner baits, and green pumpkin senkos. No luck. I’m also going to try the boat docks. My initial thought is I’m going to go early morning when there are no boats on the river.

My wife is kind of leery of me going down to the river by myself because there’s some sketchy people at all times. I can’t seem to concentrate on fishing and turning around and watching my back all the time is the only issue when you go bank fishing on the river super early or late.
 

But when I do get back down there, I’m thinking about buying two dozen shiners and just trying the live bait so I can at least get my first river fish or more. Shiners are like $9.99/dozen over here so I will sacrifice the cost for a few opportunities at the river.