Better Late Than Never

You have the boat water ready, poles are rigged up, bait containers are sanitized, and crumpled receipts signify newly purchased tackle. Today is finally the day you put the boat in to kick off the 2005 season. The boat is in the water, the 4 Stroke fires on the first crank, you back off the trailer; maneuver the usual loop to pick up your fishing buddy and you're FINALLY idling out of the bay towards the unknown.
 
With eager smiles you turn to one another and ask, "Where to?"

What if you didn't have to ask that question? What if you already knew where to go? Well, those questions can be quite simple to answer for some and a question to conquer for others. Regretfully, I am one who still asks "where" but fortunately am one who plans to conquer such a question.

Here's a riddle for you: Your sister likely had one and many seasoned anglers keep them readily available, what am I...give up? I'm a journal! Journals are a powerful tool in fishing success but one that isn't utilized or put into practice very often. Perhaps I didn't think I was "good" enough to keep such a tool or maybe just naive to the fact a journal can be more useful than my lucky jig. This year is different, as I have recently developed a finely tuned journal for my upcoming fishing trips.

Quit telling me and TELL me you might be thinking. Well, the journal I am putting to use this season falls under a three-tier system. First, a simple notepad and pencil will be with me at all times in the boat. The trick might be to discipline myself to actually jot down everything but if I'm going to do something I'm going to do it right! Second, after getting home I'll head to the computer to post my outings throughout the Total Outdoor Network and then enter my notes into a database. Yep, that's right, a database. We have fancy electronics for the boat, now why not go a step further and utilize your electronics off the water? Third, when the time comes, I will turn data into information. This information will be organized, meaningful and fast which falls under the important aspect in fishing-mobility!

When creating my database I had to brainstorm to find what data would be useful. After doing so I realized it was just the facts of fishing. Such as, date and time, water characteristics (clarity, depth, temperature, etc), weather conditions (pressure, light, temperature, etc), number of fish caught, what locations, what type of structure, what type of presentations (boat control and lure selection), digital pictures and many other aspects that can be added or subtracted at my control.

The software I've used is something you all probably have on your computer, Microsoft Access. Microsoft Access is an easy but powerful database tool with a good built in help menu and quality "How To" books at any bookstore. Furthermore, if you haven't used Access before, Microsoft Excel is a similar program to Access that can be used in its place.

The advantage of Access is in its power to generate queries and reports making today's notepad obsolete. For example, with a notepad you would have to thumb through endless pages squinting at your handwriting, get frustrated, and throw the notepad overboard. With Access, you would fire up a query and list what conditions you will encounter on your next trip, make a print out, and take it with you. Lets say tomorrow happens to be May 1st, overcast, light wind, stable pressure, etc. You simply include that in the query criteria and push the button. Whalla! In milliseconds you have a report of lures, boat speeds, location, structure, etc that contributed to your past success. You don't have to sit and ponder anymore; you are recycling your past experiences to better your future experiences!

A journal isn't going to give you all the answers or all the success. neither is your lucky pole or lure. That's why they call it fishing and not catching. However, you won't have to read an article in the Walleye Insider or go out and by the Outdoor Life Calendar...you have your own real information from your own real trips.

Sadly, my journal will do little to help me this year but in years to come it will make the "where too" question one of the past. After I have disciplined myself and developed an efficient routine I can see my journal becoming a permanent fixture in my boat. I can't wait to be exiting the water and stop next to another fisherman as I'm shutting down the laptop mounted in the boat when he asks, "What kind of sonar is that?" 

I reply, "Its not, it's my journal." Imagine what the look on his face will be.

A journal can be a powerful tool to all fishermen. If you don't have a journal I'd suggest starting one whether it's a notepad, some simple digital version, or a complex digital version. Remember, it is always better late than never. Good luck and be safe this upcoming 2005 season. Take a kid fishing!

Editor's Note: Tim Sandstrom is an avid outdoorsman with the eagerness to both learn and help others learn from his own experiences. Tim has written a few articles that have been published within the pages of Fishing Buddy Outdors, and continues to show an enthusiastic attitude throughout the talk forums of the Total Outdoor Network.

Top Photo: Tim entering data into his database journal after a day of fishing. Middle Photo: The database fishing journal that can be set up to log your fishing outings. Bottom Photo: Tim with a dandy mid-season walleye caught on a crankbait.