Want in on a simple secret of the best fly fishermen? Keep a journal. Not only do the best in our sport maintain a journal, they also constantly refer to it before and after each fishing excursion, building on their success and learning from mistakes. And the prepared fly fisher would never start the season without one.
Journals serve two central purposes; as a fly fishing database and as a historical log of fishing experiences. Any good fly fishing journal should provide space to record the following essential fishing data and information:
- Date, time, and location.
- Weather data including air temp and pressure, wind direction and strength, and weather general conditions such as the amount of sunlight.
- Water data including level, flow rates, clarity, temperature, tide stage, and surface conditions.
- Fly fishing data including hatch observations, fish observations, fly patterns and methods.
- Fish data including the number, size, and type of fish caught.
- General information and observations related to your trip, including lessons learned.
- Sketches or maps of the location(s) fished detailing depths, current flow, and structure.
Journals come in numerous forms. They can be as simple as a free-form spiral notebook or as intricate as an online web-based form accessed through a PDA such as an Apple iPhone or RIM Blackberry. The advantages of the paper-based journal are low cost and simplicity of use, while electronic-based versions offer quick sorting and data-mining capability.
When keeping a journal, it's very important to record the day's results during, or immediately after the fishing is over. Critical data, such as water temperature, river flows, or the types of flies used can be lost in the euphoria of a good day on the water. The memory of a few good fish may last forever, but the data and information behind the success will quickly fade with time and with that, the possibility of even better days on the water.
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