keeping a journal

[lucfish]

This year I'm attempting to keep a record of the days I fish in a journal. Since at least 50% of my flyfishing is for bass and stripers, I thought it would be a good idea to put my observations on paper to see if I could notice any trends for the following years of fishing that particular lake. It's almost overwhelming, trying to put down all the information that I think I should put in. Then If I fish for trout in a stream or bass in the bay, there are other things to consider (tides, runoff and the like) My question is for anyone that keeps a journal: how much info do you put in and has it done any good in your opinion. One thing I found out with the journal, I've fished 18 days so far this year, and the wife has complained not once. Pretty lucky lucfish

[castaway]

hay!

My wife hasnt complained either! I mean ex-wife!



For my local... I have wanted to keep a journal with a map, and plot where I catch fish and when, with weather, flows, and flies.

But I am too lazy.

[rayfound]

But I am too lazy.

Ditto. I just fish.

[rkfiske]

Definitely tried this too. But I too am lazy, so I wish you luck!

[Jim T]

Every year I tell myself that I’m going to keep a journal but have only made a few notes about various trips. However, it’s been very helpful when I’ve reviewed them to see what worked (or didn’t work) last time I was there. This has been especially true for stillwaters.

Here are a few ideas on what you might want to record:

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/features/lakes/part3.php
http://www.nomadjournals.com/flyfishing.cfm#flyfishing

[Pete]

I was pretty good at keeping a journal for a lot of years. Kind of dropped off in the last several years. It it gets too complicated you won't keep up on it.

Here is what I kept notes on:
Where
When
What flies
Temperature (never did the whole water temp. thing)
Type of catch
Any notes I thought I might need: What bugs were on the water, Observations on the fish.

Really comes in handy when you look back at several years. Now where did I put that darn book?

[whitefish ed]

i used to keep a journal, but it became worthless with global warming...

[Hatch71]

WHITEFISH ED............ I love your post so far man You are cracking me up...

Lucfish.... I started one for hunting... But since most of my water is local and stocked it dosent really do much for me.... But the main reason I would really like to get in the habbit is for my boys to refer back to. It would be good when memory doesn't work so well to be able to fall back on that.... Chris

[flybob]

My wife got me one for Christmas, I have filled it out religiously, I find it kind of a relaxing thing to do after a trip, with a cigar, and a martini.
Only one problem, so far it is just full of injury reports and continuing curses ............Hmmmmm, maybe I need to dump the Journal?

[whitefish ed]

Hatch71...here ya go bud... a copy of the last fishing log i kept..

[briansII]

briansII

[lucfish]

Castaway: My ex did complain-that's why see's my ex.
Jim T: Checked out those websites, those ideas will come in handy
Pete:Those were the notes I was going to keep except I didn't think about the observation on the fish, good idea thanks.
Hatch: That's one of the reasons for keeping the journal-the memory, yea it's not what it once was, 2nd thing to go.
Flybob: Next year you will be cursed out and you will have learned from all of them.
Whitefish: Too funny

[Justin]

I was pretty good at keeping a journal for a lot of years. Kind of dropped off in the last several years. It it gets too complicated you won't keep up on it.

Here is what I kept notes on:
Where
When
What flies
Temperature (never did the whole water temp. thing)
Type of catch
Any notes I thought I might need: What bugs were on the water, Observations on the fish.

Really comes in handy when you look back at several years. Now where did I put that darn book?

I pretty much did the same thing just in an excel spread sheet. But I also stopped after almost 3 years.
I don't have excel on my Mac so I can't seem to figure out how to convert it so I can use it on my computer
Oh well if I figure it out maybe I'll keep up on it again.
Just my 2c

Justin

[darrin terry]

Justin, what Mac do you have?

If you have X11 installed, which I believe is free from Apple, you could run Open Office. Then you should be able to open your spreadsheet.

[Justin]

Justin, what Mac do you have?

If you have X11 installed, which I believe is free from Apple, you could run Open Office. Then you should be able to open your spreadsheet.

Hey Darrin,

I have a MacBook I am running OS X so I don't know if that is X11 or not?? I'm not the most computer savvy guy
I figured there would be a way. I'll have to look into that, Thanks Darrin!!

Justin