I've never in my surf fishing life(25yrs) kept a fishing diary. In fact, I usually only remember the biggest fish and/or catch that I had in a given season.I couldn't remember what tide/moon I caught them on after a few months pass if you asked me.This year I happened to have a yellow highlighter in my truck, and highlighted my good trips, big fish, and other documented catches from guys I know in my eldridge book.Also, I pay more attention to the timing of fishing reports,especially on line, believe it or not.You would be surprised how the timing of these reports jives with stuff I've highlighted in my book. The reason I never kept track is because most of the time I am going fishing regardless of what the conditions are, primarily beacause they are always somewhere,IMO.

Well this year, wouldn't you know it, a solid pattern emerged.:uhuh:I've probably caught many fish on this pattern in the past, but forgot it over the years.Its not what I used to preach for the cape, which is the last 1/4 into the new moon. Before this year, I would say focus on the new moon, which does produce well, but there's another trend in place too...at least this year.

So finally, here's the point/question of the thread. For those who don't keep a diary, now might be a good time to start. For those who do,how many reliable patterns have you observed since your diary keeping inception?

Waiting with yellow highlighted breath....

Not being much of a night fishing guy and much more of a daytime boat guy, the biggest thing for me is tide and wind. When certain conditions are aligned, fishing is at its best at a given spot.

I used an excell spreadsheet for mine but the eldridge tide book is a great idea.

So... what did you notice?

Although I agree that a diary is worth keeping, I think there is a downside as well. You start not fishing unless "conditions are right", and your expectations become so high when "conditions are right" that you set yourself up for frustration. Fishing is an adventure more than a science. When you try to make it into a science, you sometimes end up missing more than you gain. There is a happy medium.

Got to agree with George.

While I agree, I think keeping my log helped me to pay more attention to why the fish were there and helped me to be a better fisherman. I also agree it can make you have expectations for there to be fish in a spot just because of your log.

Kind of like why you go to that spot on the south side every year paul, hoping for history to repeat itself:humpty:

The more information you have the more acutely the information can be parsed down. Logs are a great idea and the more data you have the higher the chances are that the perceived pattern will continue and be reliable. One thing that logs dont take into account is the changing structural conditions and the inhabitants (seals) that some spots now hold.

Got to agree with George.

ditto....and well said

Mike:
Funny you should mention the log book. I'll tell you two stories. One Joe P got a 38#er at the same spot, on the same day that I got several fish in the 30's 2 years ago.
Second story, there is a spot in Narragansett where 7 years of logs will show I took 30#+ bass from the same rock in almost the same spot (+ or- 10 feet) on the same day or the day after in all but 1 of the 7 years. Always on the same stage of the tide. So, yeah there are patterns that show up. I'm not at all certain why the fish are there on those dates....but they are.

Yup..
I have tried to keep one but I always forget by mid-june...
I guess after a few years you start to figure out Spot X at this tide with this wind, and go from there..

I'm a tide/moon guy much more than a wind guy... during the season I tend to have the tide in my head +/- a half hour so I just go fishing based off that...

Besides I'll just ask Paul... if fishing has been slow he is always quick to quote his logs :hidin:

I thought of keeping a log but unfortunately my wife would wonder what that code I was writing in that "little black book" meant.
Plus I fish when I can and fishing is almost as important as catchin'

I have been keeping a log since my high school days. I really don't need to refer to them for patterns any more because I fish when I can.
What my log has done for me is settle some disagreements on when a good bite occured or who took what size fish. Another good reason to keep a log is it allows me to relive my surfcasting memories. Reading my entries from the Snowstorm Blitz allows me to relive the event. Reading logs is also good therapy during the long winter.
DZ

All good responses. I will probably keep with the green highlighter pen method, so as to not get too caught up in following a diary.Some things are worth noting though.
I think the other reason I never kept a "diary" is because Cindy Brady kept a "diary", and I didn't want to be accused of having the tendencies of a ten year old girl.:laugha:
I like DZ's classification of it being a "log" much better. I can keep a "log", but not a "diary."

backbeach, keep it a diary, because when you catch the next world record bass, you can publish it as your 'memoirs' :hihi:

I have tried the log thing. I couldn't get past April before it was totally abandoned. If you fish the same locations year after year you know that certain dates mean certain things to the fish and fishing, milestones let's call them. These milestones are committed to memory not the written page. In and around these milestone dates there is usually fish to be found with locations that have direct correlations to the date. After that it's guess work and time on or in the water that make it happen.

I was and still to this day a firm believer in the notion of believing. Believing that fish are always out there and at some time of the day or night, for however a brief period, they will cross the bar and come to the beach that you have a suspicion of.

Your job after that is to find out which tide, which beach and at which time period in that tide you will find them. I have seen it as short as twenty minutes and as long as a full tide. That's what makes fishing so enjoyable. You know but you really don't know at the same time.

Obviscation at it's finest!:jump1: :uhuh:

A few more thoughts about fishing logs, journals, and diaries: I find that my journal is very helpful for areas that I only fish occasionally and which I’m not that intimate. For instance, I take a trip to NY for steelhead once a year. The river I fish will run at many different water levels depending on what the hydro dam releases. Many different spots on the river fish differently depending on water level. I write down what spots are “more fishable” at various levels for future reference. I even sketch where to stand at any particular location on index cards.

Logs can be helpful for novice anglers but make sure you include important factors that will help you in future trips. Include interesting and unusual observations. Here is an entry for a spot on BI (No, I won’t say where) that I made many moons ago: “Fish here the first tide cycle during a nor’east blow. Becomes dirty on second tide.” This little bit of info was invaluable to me when I first began to explore the island. Of course it’s now second hand to me.

If someone else were to read my journal I’m sure there would be a wealth of helpful info for them. Consider that your children and grandchildren will be able to refer to them and in some cases use the info.

I also have to agree with Flap, confidence when you go out is huge. New anglers will develop that aspect.
But always consider writing down your thoughts in addition to how many bass you took. Also make entries when you have a bad outing, there are times when I’ve learned a lot from a skunking.

DZ

I really don't need to refer to them for patterns any more because I fish when I can...Another good reason to keep a log is it allows me to relive my surfcasting memories. Reading my entries from the Snowstorm Blitz allows me to relive the event. Reading logs is also good therapy during the long winter.
DZ


I've been keeping a log for about the past 12-13 seasons, and basically what DZ said is what I use the logs for. To look back on past seasons. I really never use it to "plan" a fishing trip because I just go whenever I can & try my best to coincide with the best wind/moon/tide like Bryan/RiRockhound said.

Also, obviously anyone who fishes enough will develop patterns in their head from mere memory & their favorite places to fish. However, I bet if someone who never fished studied my log (or anyone's log for that matter) they would figure out a few generally consistent patterns for where/when to fish.

That is, except for this year.

Ive seen BackBeach's diary:
http://www.greatgiftsandtoys.com/ProductImages/princess/prns_diary.jpg

While I agree, I think keeping my log helped me to pay more attention to why the fish were there and helped me to be a better fisherman. I also agree it can make you have expectations for there to be fish in a spot just because of your log.

Kind of like why you go to that spot on the south side every year paul, hoping for history to repeat itself:humpty:

I agreed with George but I don't always follow my own advise.:huh: There is an exception to every rule so that is why I go to that spot at that time of the year. I don't go there at all during the year before that time. I could be missing out. At this time in my life I think I go whenever I can more than which time or spot has been better in years past. It is only normal to think if a spot has produced once before it will repeat again. That is the fun of it. If I had the luxury of going every night or day I think I would rely more on the log type of approach. Now its just go when I can and hope for the best. P.

KRISPY THE FISHERMAN......MY HERO!

Thee thells theethells by the theethore!




http://www.striped-bass.com/gallery/files/2/1/1/2/cindybrady.bmp[/QUOTE]

Your my hero

That is, except for this year.

There were subtle patterns this year. You 38# Bass fit exactly into a pattern from 2 years ago and 2 years before that. Right to the DAY!!!

I have gotten away from keeping a log, only because the time thing, fish most of the night go get a couple hours of sleep go to work eat and sleep a little more the fish again I don't really need to keep one but I would like to be able to look back some years gone past but oh well.