[mrsinbad]

Hi Al and everyone,

I am beginning to have a problem keeping track of all my fishing spots both for car/travel directions and once on the water. How do you (guys) keep track of this?

Also, I want to begin to keep a fisherman's log of all the important information for future reference. I can guess at the simple stuff like date, time, tide, barometric pressure, temp., etc. but can you give me more info on stuff that I should track that is not that obvious?

Thanks very much.

 

[Crazy-Al]

mrsinbad,
Tracking or logging your fishing reports is critical for your future success and finding specific patterns.
In general, the important information you should log are: Tide, Place, Time & Date, Moon, Wind, Species, Method, water clarity & condition (clean, dirty, muddy, weedy and bait), Air & water temperature and who did you fish with (boat, friend etc).

You should also add a section to write about your trip: This will make it more exiting and as years goes by… you will remember the event!

Just thinking... How many of you out there keep a log?

Tight Lines,

"Crazy" Alberto
[email protected]

 

[614606]

Once I MOB on the Gps, I write them in a book the number given to me by the Gps.

Once at the dock, where its calm, no fog, and confusion...I co reference the spots, write them down..and bring them to my workplace.

I then go into Maptec ( on computer ) make a new waypoint, and organize them according to fish type and incoming or outgoing. Then I bought a color printer and print out say " outgoing striped bass waypoints ". I now onboard have a color book, with all of my waypoints, on the back of the printout ( map )I list the specs of waypoint, which I list day how many fish caught conditions etc. When the going gets tough, those little ledges that you hit the MOB ..are never lost. Just pullout the handy book.

Sounds like a lot of work but its really easy to do. Nothing is worse than spending hours driving around looking for fish, I rather do my homework first.

Maptec now $199, color printer Cannon wide carriage $169, pages are .10 each, for the good color pages.

 

[Soundfisher]

Logging

I used to keep a log in Excel, but when it became too hairy, I looked for an alternative source.

I found a fishing diary and database software on the net. It is extremely easy to add information. It keeps track of all the information Crazy mentioned in a previous post, plus a few other tid-bits of info including a "notes" section where you can write about your day of fishing.

You can query off the database and print different reports (i.e. daily & annual summaries, what fish were caught on what bait/lure, and query on different variables such as tide, temp, wind, wind direction, location, bait/lure used).

It has proven to be incredibly useful and as Crazy mentioned, it is fun to look back on past trips and read what happened.

Good luck!

SF

 

[617923]

I log everything in a database that I created. I also have a book with all of my Loran coordinants. I don't put them in to the unit itself because I don't want others on my boat to be able to take them down and if the unit is stolen I don't want some of the spots to be common knowledge.

 

[Crazy-Al]

Rooster wrote:
…Sounds like a lot of work but its really easy to do. Nothing is worse than spending hours driving around looking for fish, I rather do my homework first. …
________________________________________
Hello Rooster,
To a degree, it is a lot of work… but in the long run, it's a useful tool. It saves you time, gives you a "general" idea what the fish are doing and an ultimatum to follow a pattern-or- create a new.

Soundfisher wrote:
… I found a fishing diary and database software on the net. It is extremely easy to add information. It keeps track of all the information Crazy mentioned in a previous post, plus a few other tid-bits of info including a "notes" section where you can write about your day of fishing. ..
________________________________________

Soundfisher,
That's great! I like the "note" section because I find that very useful… I am curious, does it also have a "drawing" sketch pad?

Fencer04 wrote:
I log everything in a database that I created. I also have a book with all of my Loran coordinants. I don't put them in to the unit itself because I don't want others on my boat to be able to take them down and if the unit is stolen I don't want some of the spots to be common knowledge.
_______________________________

Fencer04,
That is understandable and I totally agree with you!

I've been "handwriting & drawing" my logbook for a long time and I believe it's time to start downloading into a system… but I also need a drawing software. Can anybody recommend one?

"Crazy" Alberto
[email protected]

 

[Soundfisher]

Crazy...

Crazy:

The "note" section is very useful. It's also a blast because it sparks memories of past trips.

As for the question about the "drawing sketch pad"...my database does not have that. Curious?

SF

 

[617905]

I found a fishing diary and database software on the net.

So where is it?

 

[Soundfisher]

Here you go....

http://www.fishingdiary.com/

Soundfisher

 

[617905]

Atta boy Soundfisher! Thanks much!

 

[617905]

Free for PDA's

Here's a free one that works on your PDA. I don't know how good it is, I haven't tried it yet.

http://www.3store.com/palm.htm#fishing

There are many others that seem to have been written for mostly fresh water, but they seem to be adaptable. Some you can even add pictures to and will even do analysis, show bar and pie graphs and all. I guess Trout Fisherpeople are more technologically advanced and more refined than we are.

 

[Crazy-Al]

Hi Folks,
Thanks much… I will look into it!

NightCaster wrote:
I guess Trout Fisherpeople are more technologically advanced and more refined than we are.
________________________________________
Richard
Hmmm….That's a very interesting assessment… But I fly for trout and like to believe that is not true. Can you elaborate more?

"Crazy" Alberto
[email protected]

 

[617905]

Can you elaborate more?

Sure Al.

I did a few searches for "Fishing logs" and "Fishing diaries" and most of the software packages that came up dealt primarily with fresh water applications (i.e. "Species" Trout, Salmon, Bullhead etc.) and within that specifically with fly fishing (i.e. leader used, fly used etc). Some of it may be "customizable" but much of it was via specific choice "dropdown" menus. I especially liked the PDA idea. If you are on a boat, or have a safe way and place to keep it if you fish elsewhere, you can enter info real time as opposed to having to remember it or jot it down and enter it later. (Just don't bring your PDA to Magnolia pier! )

 

[Crazy-Al]

Hi Richard,

You are too funny! LOLOLOL...

I tell ya what.. Let's meet at the Mag. Pier and discuss this.

"Crazy" Alberto
[email protected]

 

[617905]

You tell me when....

anytime but Wednesday night I've got Mets.... YES METS tickets. (or this Saturday or Sunday for that matter ) Better yet Al.... why don't we discuss it on one of your Rich from R&G or Providence trips? LOL! If you would rather leave it at Magnolia that's ok too. Just give me notice I'll have to check my ammo.