Tips for a cell phone fishing log?

Zak

Zak

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I have tried several times to keep a handwritten fishing journal. But I don't bring the journal with me, or forget to make an entry when I get back from the day's fishing. My Android cell phone is always on me. Is there a great app I should look at, or maybe just create a Google doc with a template to use each day? Are other folks logging fishing data on your cell phones, and if so, how?

Thanks!
 
Zak said:
I have tried several times to keep a handwritten fishing journal. But I don't bring the journal with me, or forget to make an entry when I get back from the day's fishing. My Android cell phone is always on me. Is there a great app I should look at, or maybe just create a Google doc with a template to use each day? Are other folks logging fishing data on your cell phones, and if so, how?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I use Samsung notes. I still have issues of consistently using it, but it allows for all kinds of formatting and organization.
You can also madd pictures to them, search the documents and export them to different file types.
 
I have a simple log that I entered into an Excel spreadsheet sometime in the 90's. Several years ago I imported it into Google Docs, so now it is available by phone or PC anywhere there is internet available.
 
The only log I keep is my cell phone picture gallery. I don’t usually take pics of fish but I always take one of the river or lake that I fish to remind myself of when I fished it. My picture gallery acts as a sort of calendar/diary and that’s the only thing I really care about. I’ve never felt the need to log any fishing data, but that’s just me.
 
I use WeFish. It's an app with a mostly Spanish and Portuguese user base and a social aspect. They log the locations you give, in addition to time, temperature, moon phase, fly, etc. But the locations stay private to the poster. I'm sure they mine that data for their own uses or something, but other users cannot see location...

I like the quizzes they have as well.
 
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I mark spots on Google Maps. That way as long as your logged in, you can see you spots or you can download custom maps on you computer, phone, etc. You're also able to do a short title. Not super efficient but only I can see them.
 
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I used to keep a written log. I am finding a set of pictures showing where (and weather), bugs, flies, anything notable, is working better. I sort them by waterbody. Easy to use. River flows is something I just got in my head.
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My pictures usually include rod/gear choice too. Over the years I've been able to figure here is more fun to throw a brace of wets with a soft rod, or this is a 4wt piece of water, or I need a 6 in case, or perfect for all day ESN, whatever.
 
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I have tons of crappy photos of very average fish on my phone. That’s my log. Where, when and even how (fly pics usually). I can reference everything else (tides, moon phases, etc) if I know where and when.
 
No doubt such stuff is important for the salt folk.

I kept a journal for awhile, in one of those water-resistant contractor tablets. Really started to feel like it was just another self-imposed obligation...in fact it felt a lot like WORK. Which negated the whole reason I enjoy flyfishing.
 
Zak said:
Thanks All. I'm going to try using a Google doc, available offline on my cell phone, using the following template:

Date:
Time:
Place:
Weather:
Water Temp:
Flies:
Fish:
Watercraft:
Wildlife:
Plants:
Notes:
Click to expand...
Mine is a google sheet spreadsheet/table. It’s essentially a database with a few simple categories (columns) that include:

Date
Day of the Week (I like knowing whether it was a weekend, etc.)
Location (State or Province)
Body of Water
Streamflow (I go back and reference this data more than any other)
Companions (who you were fishing with)
Notes: I cram everything else in here such as hatches, notable catches, put-in/take-out, etc.
 
creekx said:
Mine is a google sheet spreadsheet/table. It’s essentially a database with a few simple categories (columns) that include:

Date
Day of the Week (I like knowing whether it was a weekend, etc.)
Location (State or Province)
Body of Water
Streamflow (I go back and reference this data more than any other)
Companions (who you were fishing with)
Notes: I cram everything else in here such as hatches, notable catches, put-in/take-out, etc.
Click to expand...
I do the same but in Excel. As a user of spreadsheets since they were hosted on a mainframe and PC's didn't exist, I feel uncomfortable making any decision without one... And where/how to go fishing is pretty damn important when time is a limited resource!

Zak - All the data you and other's have noted is great. Being able to easily sort and look for info on a given location or analogue is where I find the most utility. The additional pieces of data is you're fishing rivers might be water clarity and any food source observations. THat can be in the notes but having structured data enables analysis so there's a cost/benefit calculus to be considered.

All that being said... At this point, I tend to fish the same rivers and have them reasonably dialed so I've been very lazy about the data entry over the last couple years.;)
 
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creekx said:
Mine is a google sheet spreadsheet/table. It’s essentially a database with a few simple categories (columns) that include:

Date
Day of the Week (I like knowing whether it was a weekend, etc.)
Location (State or Province)
Body of Water
Streamflow (I go back and reference this data more than any other)
Companions (who you were fishing with)
Notes: I cram everything else in here such as hatches, notable catches, put-in/take-out, etc.
Click to expand...
Yup. Use a spreadsheet instead of Docs. That way, you can analyze your data across trips to identify the trends you are hoping to uncover... Also, I recommend making your information headings the columns, so each fishing trip will be contained in a row within the same table.

Personally, I would make a column for every factor that you think even MIGHT affect fishing. A few I would add to your list would include Weather, Air Pressure,, Air Temperature, Water Temperature, Moon Phase, Tide Stage, Quality of Fishing (lights out, excellent, good, fair, poor, garbage)....

Tide stage and streamflow remind me that you might also want to maintain different tables for each type of water (rivers/streams, lakes, Sound, Ocean, etc.). I find some factors affect things differently, depending on the type of water you are fishing.

Finally, you may want another table to record your catch for each trip, including stuff like Date (which you can use to cross-reference trips), Species, Relative Size (no need to get down to measurements, IMO), Gear Type, Lure Type, Lure Size....

Basically, I'm proposing a very simple database, which is more complicated than written logs but has potential to be much more useful (assuming you want to use this info to decide when it's best to go fishing or what to use in what conditions, e.g.).

Good luck! I hope you solve the eternal riddle....
 
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