This is the year I’m going to keep my log up to date through the entire year striper season. Every year I start out swimmingly, recording every trip the next morning, taking note of each detail, then inevitably, I miss one entry, then another, then another, and next thing I know, I’ve failed to record the past dozen trips. After that, I try to backfill my log, and find myself asking questions like, “where was the wind out of on the 6th?” or “Was it incoming or outgoing when those fish moved through on the 10th?” or “What color Bomber did the damage on the 14th?” Instead of record potentially false information, I give up entirely, and pledge to keep the log up to date going forward. Usually by the third week in June, logkeeping is a distant memory, and I vow that the following year, I’ll do better. But I never do. I have partially filled out Fishing Logs dating back to 2000, and I can count on one hand the number of entries I’ve made between July and January.
I’ve tried every way imaginable to make logkeeping convenient enough that I don’t give up on it. I’ve made multiple copies for my house, truck and office. I’ve made electronic templates that I simply fill out and save. I’ve made Microsoft Excel spreadsheets that only require quick, numerical entries, short of hiring a fishing stenographer, I don’t know what else I can do.
Does anyone manage to keep a log updated throughout the fishing season? What are your secrets? Send some of them in and I’ll post them here next week.
I like to keep a google doc spreadsheet. I’ll record the tide/weather/location the night before and change it if necessary the next day when I finish my log entry. I can access my log anytime, anywhere. I’ll even update it from my phone when I forget (which happens often).
This is a great log, try it!!!! http://www.fisherslog.com/
It is – Thanks for the recommendation Brian.
Hey, i know your post is 4 years old but here is my answer: simply record your total catch & time half way through trip, the rest can be done any time as weather & water measurements are historicaly archived on government databases. For a easy to watch tutorial on this check out http://www.excelfishinglog.com This includes water currents and salinity etc that you do not get in any apps. And there is the added value of privacy. It is almost revolutionary as far as fishing logs go.
Get a good looking waterproof notebook. Not. Ecessarily for the weather though. This way you can leave it on the coffee table and when you sit down to watch some tv you will see it and remember. It should be small and attractive so the wife doesn’t complain that you’re leaving notebooks around. I hope this helps.
Hello Jimmy,
I used to do almost all that you’ve described, but what works best for me so far is using my voice recorder on my mobile phone. Then later, let’s say after a week or two (whenever convenient) of fishing I will transcribe it all onto my Wordpress blog.
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I’ll put them up in another post tomorrow morning.