A fishing logbook isn't just a place to write down what you've caught. It's one of the best tools for really improving your fishing skills. It will help you understand the connections between the weather, location, technique, and fish behavior. And it is often these details that determine whether you will return home with a catch or "just" with a good feeling from a pleasant trip to the water.
Why keep a fishing logbook?
At the beginning, most anglers feel that they remember everything. Where the fish were caught, what they were caught on, and when each bite came. But as the trips add up, the individual days begin to blend together and the details fade away. A fishing diary allows you to return to what really worked and avoid mistakes you have already "tried" once.
Regular entries will eventually reveal patterns that you would otherwise not even notice. It may turn out that in one area, fish bite best when the sky is slightly overcast, while in another, only when the water is at a certain level. Or that a particular lure works great in the spring but fails completely in the summer. It is these small details that make a journal a tool that will save you years of trial and error.
Paper, app, or a combination of both?
There is no one right way to keep a fishing diary. Some people like to write notes in a notebook, others prefer a mobile phone or app. The form is not important, but regularity is. Even a brief note from each fishing trip is more valuable than a perfect diary entry that you make once a year.
A paper logbook is simple, clear, and suits many anglers because they develop a personal relationship with their notes. The digital form, on the other hand, allows for easy searching, data comparison, and returning to similar conditions in the past. For many anglers, a combination of both works well, i.e., a quick note right by the water and later adding details to the app after returning home.
What to write in your fishing log
The purpose of a fishing logbook is to store information that will help you make better decisions on future trips. The simpler the system you set up, the more likely you are to stick with it.
Basic information from each trip
Always start with where and when you fished. The date, name of the fishing ground, and time of fishing are the basics you will return to most often. It is also useful to note whether you fished from the shore, from a boat, or by wading. This can also play a role.
Weather and conditions
The weather has a significant impact on fish behavior. It is enough to briefly note the cloud cover, wind, air temperature, and, if you know it, the water temperature. Over time, you will notice that these conditions often matter more than the choice of bait itself.
Technique and equipment
Write down what technique you used (spinning, feeder, fly fishing, or another style). Details such as the type of lure, its color and size, depth, or specific casting location are also very valuable. It is often these small details that hold the answer to why it worked one day and not another.
Catches (and even failures)
Your diary should include not only your catches, but also days without a bite. Note when and where you got a bite, or why you think the fish weren't biting. Even an unsuccessful outing can be valuable information. It will often tell you what to avoid next time.
How to get the most out of your journal
A diary is truly valuable when you return to it. Occasionally, go through older entries and try to find connections. Does a certain lure only work during a certain period? Do fish bite in a specific place mainly in the morning or evening? You won't have to look for these answers again when you're at the water.
Don't be afraid to write down subjective notes. How did you feel about the water, was the place busy or quiet, what would you do differently in retrospect? It is often these little details that determine whether your next trip will be more successful than the previous one.
Checklist: what to write down after each fishing trip
You don't have to write a novel. Just a few points that will make sense when you look back:
- Date and fishing grounds (or specific section)
- Fishing time (from–to, when the bites came)
- Weather (cloud cover, wind, pressure)
- Water conditions (clear/cloudy, low/high, current)
- Technique used (fly fishing, spinning, feeder fishing, etc.)
- Lures/flies (type, color, size)
- Bite location (depth, current, near the shore, behind a rock)
- Result (type of fish, approximate size, or "no bite")
- Note for next time (what worked/didn't work)
Sample entry in a fishing log
Date: May 14, 2025
Fishing ground: Vltava 28 – section below the dam
Time: 7:00–11:00
Weather: partly cloudy, light wind, stable pressure
Water: clear, medium flow
Technique: fly fishing
Lures: nymph (olive, size 14), dry fly later
Catches: 2 brown trout (approx. 30–35 cm)
Location: edge of the current under a rock, depth approx. 60 cm
Note: Catches mainly between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m., dry fly without response. The trout were low, responding only to a slowly guided nymph.
How to connect your fishing diary with Fishsurfing and the community
Your own fishing diary is a great foundation, but it really comes into its own when you can place it in a broader context. When you compare your experiences with what other anglers are doing in the same areas, your individual notes will start to make even more sense.
That's why it's important to connect with a fishing community like Fishsurfing. It's not about blindly copying other people's catches, but about finding inspiration and confirming your own observations. For example, if you note lower activity in a certain body of water and see that others had a similar day, you can rest assured that the problem wasn't your technique.
Fishsurfing can serve as:
- a place to share catches and trips
- a source of inspiration for where and when to go
- an overview of what is happening in individual fishing grounds
- a supplement to your own diary
Your own journal will help you understand what works for you, while Fishsurfing will show you how it looks in a broader fishing context. It is the combination of the two that gives fishing a new dimension – less chance, more understanding of the water and the fish.
The most common mistakes when keeping a fishing diary
A fishing diary is meant to help, not be a chronicle of successes. Yet the same mistakes are often repeated in keeping it, which over time turns it into just a collection of nice memories instead of a useful tool.
Recording only successful days
One of the most common mistakes is to write down only the "good" days. Trips when the fish were biting, when you had a nice catch or a personal record. But even days without a bite are of great value to your logbook. They show you when and under what conditions the fish are not responding and help you avoid dead ends in the future. A logbook should serve as a map of experiences, not a list of achievements.
Entries without details
Another common mistake is overly general entries. A note such as "the fish weren't biting" or "a slow day" will tell you nothing in a few months. You don't know if it was cloudy, windy, the water was rising, or you were fishing at the wrong time. All it takes is a few extra words: "pressure rising rapidly," "strong wind all day," "only bites in the morning." It is these little details that can change your perspective on the whole day in retrospect.
Irregular fishing log
Irregularity is also a common problem. A few honest entries at the beginning and then a long pause. But a logbook only works if you return to it regularly, ideally after every trip. It doesn't have to be long, continuity is what matters.
Neglecting your own impressions
Some anglers also focus only on technique and catches, but forget their own impressions. Yet subjective notes, such as the feeling of the water, the busy surroundings, or changes in fish behavior during the day, often explain more than a list of lures.
A fishing diary as a path to better catches
Keeping a fishing diary is not an obligation, but an advantage. It will gradually help you to read the water better, predict fish behavior, and head out to the water with greater confidence. No matter what fish you catch or how you catch it, your own notes are more valuable than any general guide. If you want to fish smarter (and not just more), a fishing diary is one of the best steps you can take.
