Interesting Diary Data

[Sluggoslinger]

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?

[numbskull]

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.

[RIROCKHOUND]

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

[DZ]

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

[Back Beach]

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.
I like DZ's classification of it being a "log" much better. I can keep a "log", but not a "diary."

[JoeP]

Originally Posted by 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.

[Krispy]

Ive seen BackBeach's diary:

[piemma]

Originally Posted by JoeP

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!!!

[tattoobob]

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.