I have been working on a database for my records. A database so I can sort for water temp, date, weather, water depth, etc. and look for common areas to fish for a given criteria or set of criteria. I am doing it in Works but it can be done in Access also. I want to use a form I can have on the boat so I can quickly jot down pertinent info as I catch fish or use a small tape recorder. Maybe fishing is getting too high tech

Fishing logs are an excellent idea and one that I should be more diligent at filling out. The more details the better. Compiling data and spotting trends not only helps future fishing success, it's also another way for us to channel our passion for fishing when we can't be on the water.

Weather conditions are usually a part of people's logs which is good but I'd suggest taking it a step farther and assign some sort of rating for amount of light. Either a percentage or scale of 1-10 or something. You'll find that light conditions will play a large role in the productivity of certain baits and colors.

Anyone ever used www.fishinglogs.com before? I used it one year, kind of, but could never get it to work quite the way I wanted. I havn't been on it for years though... Wonder if anything has changed... maybe i'll check it out.

I've looked at a number of online fishing logs and software for the PC. All have various utility and I frankly can't recommend one over the other.

That being said, I wouldn't mind changing the nature of this discussion as we have a partially finished prototype of a fishing log system of our own. Not to totally Hijack this thread - but it goes along well with this thread.

1) What log do you use? Post it here if you have a file you use.

2) What information would you like to track?

3) What reports would you like to get from your data?

4) What functionality would be important for an online fishing report?

I have a couple of thoughts about the input, I'd like to see almost like a client, or an offline way to enter the data that maybe could sync up to the database. Or, for some of us who use aircards a 'simple' online version that was striped down for maximum bandwidth useage on slow links (such as an aircard 5 miles off shore).

I've attached the file that I've been useing (although not as consititley as I should) pretty sure I downloaded it a few years ago off one of these sites. But it has a lot of useful things, such as being able to put in not only the depth of the water, but also the depth of the presentation, WPT numbe, troll direction etc.

I'd also like to track current direction and speed. But this always seemed to have pretty much everuything I needed.

Here is the excel log that I put together a few years back. The intent of this version was to have a one page document that could capture most data possible but without making the process too burdensome. I would appreciate any thoughts or critiques that could make it better.

On edit - I have been unable to attach my file. Any help?

Is there a way to make or should I say use, the EA site to collect and store this data for a larger picture of this data? For instance, we're all online after just about every trip and posting some of this data to the site. A way to store, retrieve and collect this data as a group would be cool. Of course only available to EAs and voluntary also. If you don't want to give too much access to your secrets then don't put in or post that info. Sort of an online spreadsheet?


Little Dandy has a site for getting waterproof paper for use in the boat.

My son bought me a fishing log and I promise to actually use it this year. I have a couple of spreadsheets I have made up in the past but then never used. I guess I should take beter notes but it seems like the only details I really keep track of is what does not work that stuff stays in my head.

Verdict wrote:
On edit - I have been unable to attach my file. Any help?

Tim
I know Greg made adjustments to allow excel files now. Are you attaching it using the right box? The first box is for images and the second for other files. If you are using the right box (second) and it still doesn't work then the file might be too large.

Yeah I think the size limit right now is 1.2 MB

You can fire it off to me and I'll test it for you

Good ole Michigan weather, rain, wind, snow + computer = a fishing log.