Fishing Journal Question

[Chase Replogle]

I have read a lot about the benefits of keeping a fishing (and hunting) journal. Like many, i'm sure, I always seem to have good intentions but haven't seemed to be consistent.

I had a couple questions.

1. Do you keep a journal? How has it been beneficial for you?

2. I work as a web design and have toyed around with building an online journal application for keeping notes on fishing and hunting trips. Is this something you think you would use? What features would you like to see included?

Any suggests would be great.

Thanks,

Chase

[Guest]

I like the Evernote software application for logging stuff.

Also, the fishing calendar has an app for your smartphone.

It keeps up with moon phase data along with your photos, journal entries, & gps locations

Most people don't keep detailed weather data and water data as part of their log.

Ive been using the fishing logbook that Doug Hannon wrote for years.

[Chase Replogle]

TrophyFishR,

Thanks for the recommendation. Ill definitely look into the logbook by Hannon.

Chase

[dennis boatman]

I keep it in my head...I have 50 years of fishing trips up there...I remember every fish caught, when caught, and on what...that's my story and I'm sticking to it...

[Dutch]

I keep a log with microsoft works data base. I chart and track weather, water, temps, moon, baits, colors, etc.

[Feathers and Fins]

I have kept one for each area I have fished, All types of weather Info, water info, bait line lure speed, presentation etc. If I compare the logs from 20 years ago today it shows the technology increase. With smart phones you can have realtime info on the weather and lake back then it was visual observations. It has dramatically improved predictability of fish and areas.

Before it could take a few hours to locate the fish now by putting in the information I can be on fish almost instantly or within a very short time. I use excel with drop boxes designed to put in the factors for the day and boom I know where to look.

[rps]

Y'all are scaring me.

[Flysmallie]

I just take pictures. Maybe someday I'll write the stories but you know what they say about pictures.

I have little desire to keep a log full of water temp and moon phases. I'm sure there is some great information to be gained but at this point I just really don't care. Put me outside and I'm already happy, everything after that is just icing on the cake.

[Chase Replogle]

It seems like people break down into a couple of camps.

1. Meticulous Notes: Spreadsheet full of temperatures, conditions, weather, etc.

2. Photos and Memories: Just trying to capture and remember all of the good times.

My biggest concern is just keeping track of all the great stories and experience I've had hunting and fishing.

[Al Agnew]

I've kept journals ever since I was 16 years old, but I skipped about a 6 year period back in the 1980s, and this year I haven't kept one...don't really know why, except that I'm getting to where I'm not as hard core serious about fishing as I used to be. I'm just not sure anymore whether I can learn a lot from the journal.

Heck, at some point I might even stop counting the fish I catch!