Photo logs worth the effort!

[SenkoSam]

I used to keep a detailed logbook of every outing in order to help me remember certain facts that might be useful and that I would be sure to forget. Entered per body of water was: date, lures used to catch fish, lures that didn't catch fish, fish locations, water temp, depth fish caught, species, weather and a few other bits of info that might come in handy in the future. At the time I started the log, personal computers weren't available and taking photos a bit expensive considering developing cost. So I stopped. The photo's date tells me the season.

Enter the digital age of information storage and cameras. Each outing of photos has its own folder and date. Each picture is dated with time taken. All of the above information is included in the photos. Take these shots for example taken today:



They tell me it was overcast, the area fish were caught was in the north end, the location caught was a shallow flat per sonar, the water temp had gone down to 67 degrees (per sonar), the lure and jig head weight and the species caught in the area. (Pictures of crappie, sunfish and perch caught weren't entered above.) Fish size is sometimes recorded if a lunker is placed on a ruler such as this 13" perch and the lure that caught it and four other species in the area:



I make my own lures and this tells me that the soft cone-tail grub, 2" in length (color not important), was one to always take along as confirmed by many other fish caught on the same design recorded all summer long from other lakes.

The folder of this lake has other daily log photos entered and the number of fish caught is included for each folder's title along with water's name and date taken. The folder name looks like this:
Frederic L 9-28-16 37 fish.

A lot more interesting and informative looking at nice shots than reading a bunch of dry facts wondering ,"what did I leave out?" or "never heard of that (written) lure's name!"

Nice thing are some other facts-to-go-by such as health of lake's fish population by species. This lake has few legal size bass, most being 13" or less, but excellent panfish by size. As long as decent numbers are caught, it's worth going back. Seasonality is another. The example tells me late fall had fish all over the place and in water structure related. Some were recorded on the flat; some were under overhangs; some were in shallow water of 3-4'; some related to deep water, vertical rock walls; a few were caught near a long floating dock. The south rip rap dam and west shore held few fish (similar to summer).

The log will tell me that tying directly to a jig without a 6# test leader worked just as well, though still needed when using braid which is more buoyant. (I use 8# test Suffix mono and a light leader so the lure reacts better to rod twitches. Spinning reels have 10# test braid and the leader.)

Lures that are photographed must have caught at least 10 fish to be qualified as favorites. This way I have comparison data between lures and between waters, knowing how universal and reliable each design is. Three in particular out-fished others such as curl tail grubs. A new surface design debuted yesterday and it got slammed by bass in 4', though no hook-ups because of generally smaller bass, no cover on the shallow flat it got hit three separate times and because it was midday. Seasonally it may not be a fall bait though now it will always be kept in the [url "http://skimlinks.pgpartner.com/mrdr.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fskimlinks.pgpartner.com%2Fsearch.php%2Fform_keyword%3Dtackle%2Bbox"]tackle box[/url] for use on other waters with pads and cover and water over 70 degrees.

I take shots of my watch when fishing excels, telling me am/pm fishing success as a whole and pre- and post-frontal activity. Most important is to dispel misinformation about a water or lures that haven't been used for quite a long time. Proof is in the catching and in recorded images.
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[SenkoSam]

These shots from one excellent day of fishing filled in the blanks of :
fish quality and health
depth and areas in the lake fish were caught
lure designs that worked and what rigged on
weather (clouds, wind)


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[SenkoSam]

It does have its advantages checking the log before going out on a particular water. Wouldn't it be nice if we could ask a higher authority information that would save time finding fish, knowing what not to use to catch them and how to use the right lures for each situation?

Granted, much of my search is broad-area casting over large flats that aren't really flat and along weed lines/ in weed pockets, but I always wished I knew where an underwater wall was, where a point extends and ends, where and what direction a narrow hump is, how steep and deep a vertical drop, submerged trees that could snag my lures, etc.

The whole point of a log and a detailed depth map, is being able to cast to something knowing beforehand what I'm casting to so as to not kill the spot with the [url "http://rd.bizrate.com/rd?t=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.basspro.com%2FPace-Extension-Handle-for-Electric-Trolling-Motors%2Fproduct%2F1211%2F%3FhvarAID%3Dshopping_connexity&mid=18280&cat_id=12180101&atom=10471&prod_id=&oid=2311612658&pos=1&b_id=18&bid_type=10&bamt=b142d75c93947f3d&cobrand=1&ppr=b02a093ca0b3e603&af_sid=36&mpid=1211&keyword=trolling%20motor&rf=af1&af_assettype_id=10&af_creative_id=2912"]trolling motor[/url] and boat shadow. So many times I float over fish seen on the sonar that are on a stump or at the end of a point, knowing that it's very unlikely those fish can be coaxed into giving me a second chance.

The other importance of keeping a photo log is keeping up on which lures work best, when and where to use them, therefore being able to offer a variety. So many times (strange as it is), if I switch to another lure design in another color and fish respond immediately! Yesterday I switched from my usual catch-all-species & sizes to a medium size, bright white Kalin grub (a wide curl-tail, thick body grub). 5-6" bass were all over it; even a small crappie had the 3" bait all the way in its mouth!! Plus I learned that bright white under an overcast sky can be dynamite! (Haven't used that lure in over a decade.)

Another lesson learned in the last few outings recorded on my PC is that 8# test mono can be tied directly to a 1/16 or 1/8 oz jig with no negative effect. Of course I'll still use 4-6# test leaders for 1/32 oz for best lure action.

So now I know that curl tail grubs have potential and will expand to other rarely used lures collecting dust, though some lures I won't try again after they fail on different waters.

Here is what the written log looked like before personal computers:

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[pickyfishy]

Great information! And Great Pictures.

Thank you for sharing with all of us..

[fishon]
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[tubeN2]

The logging ideas has always been a favorite tool of mine. In addition to the varying factors that you have noted, I also add a Barometer reading, moon phase indicator as well as the info for the solar/lunar charts. [cool]
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[SenkoSam]

I also add a Barometer reading, moon phase indicator as well as the info for the solar/lunar charts.

Does that info help?
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[tubeN2]

The barometer is one of the best tools especially when rain is on the way. Many fish decide to bite better when the barometer is just on the rise.

The solar lunar chart is similarly beneficial to the inland angler as is the tide charts for the ocean angler.

Some species bite better during the full moon at night as others that bite during the new moon in the day.

I have logged certain species that cut off from the bite at certain hours which then related to the position of the sun and moon are to the earth. The moon has a gravitational pull which not only affects the tides but contributes to the pressure on the inland lakes.

As a float tuber, I use the tide charts as well as the solar/lunar charts to determine when I am to launch in the ocean in able to afford a safe and timely return to the shores.[cool]
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