Keeping a fishing journal is something I have been doing for years. It was started to enable me to look back on previous outings to see how I did. It sort of gave me an idea of what flies worked that day. The streams condition, weather and the fish taken. I was pretty faithful in writing, or should I say just jotting down what happened on each trip. As time went on the entries in the journal began to take a backseat, I would say I'll write in it tomorrow, but that never happened. The journal began to look like this, May 3rd..good conditions..Bomber worked well..a couple brookies. May 29..rained all night..stream high. It was like Swiss cheese full of holes.
So the last few days I have been going through a couple of journals. I found an entry of an outing I made in early Spring. It was to a stream in north east Connecticut. The stream flowed through some of the prettiest countryside one has seen. The lush green banks, towering hemlocks, and briars galore. It twisted and turned over rocks and wood. Its undercuts were deep, and the waters were amber in color. On this day the bomber was the king. It worked its magic and the brook trout it fooled were beautiful.
Reading the entry brought me back there as if it were yesterday. I hope in the new year I will be more faithful in writing down the memories of such days.
Thank goodness for digital cameras/videos. Look at the date and time stamp on the file and the memories come flooding back. I have taken to using YouTube as my journal-of-choice. It doesn't take a lot longer than writing a journal or blog and the pictures/videos store the memories until I can get around to uploading them for posterity. Your blog is a great rendering of a slice of your angling life. Keep up the good work! I look forward to having you share your fishing and culinary accomplishments for many years to come! -Gerry
ReplyDeleteGerry,
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Your right on the dates on the photos. The blog is a good way of keeping your travels along the water.
As far as sharing my thoughts, plus other things on this site I hope to continue for a while.
Alan
ReplyDeleteI use to keep a fishing journal myself and record the essential as far as the water temp, lures/flies, wind direction, barometric reading, water clarity, number of fish, and time spent on a particular outing. I even worked up a chart so I could record each entry faster; but as time pasted I kind of got complacent and stopped the entries. I guess I could say my blog is my journal now. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell,
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You said it well in one word."complacent". That's what I have to change.
I'd like to do more of this. I'm too lazy though. Since I use computers so much I hardly hand write anything anymore.
ReplyDeleteKevin Frank,
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These machines have made all of us a bit lazy, for sure.
I've been keeping a journal for the past three years and have found it very helpful in learning different rivers, when to fish where at different flows etc. I've also used to in the winter months to restock those flies that get the most use and fine tune the sizes etc. They can be a very helpful reference guide from year to year if you take the time to write down useful information (flies that work and don't, time of day, conditions, and other observations)
ReplyDeleteMark,
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Those are all good reasons to keep a journal.
Sometimes lookin back at my past wanderings is all I have. Winter here can be brutal :) Thanks for sharin
ReplyDeleteTrout MaGee,
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It's one those seasons that can really test you.
Reflections of our past through writing is a very human endeavor. I thoroughly enjoy your trips, thoughts, ties, and thank you for sharing them.
ReplyDeletePete
Peter Carlson,
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I enjoy it because of the little things you encounter on an outing. When written down and read years later they seem so enjoyable.
Keeping a journal is important to anyone who considers himself or herself a writer, angler, or some sort of naturalist, if not for other reasons as well. Since my memory has never been all that keen, I'm thankful that I started one regularly when I was 20 years old. Angling became a major part of the journal some 25 years ago, or so. I can look back and reflect and see how much I've learned or failed to learn. Glad to hear that you'll be giving the journal a stronger focus in the upcoming year.
ReplyDeleterivertoprambles,
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Again those are wonderful reasons for keeping a journal. Walt I can relate to the memory issue.
beautiful shot - glad you had that day remembrance.
ReplyDeleteTexWisGirl,
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It was good to see such greenery.
I've kept one since 2008. It started out as the number of fish caught and morphed into a journal. Used it just the other day for an article I was writing. Good thing to have.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz,
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It came to good use for you.
Actually, I always meant to start a journal but never did. I do think it's still a great idea but I forgot how to write.
ReplyDeleteHoward,
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Howard writing is not necessary. Little drawings work too.
Dear Diary, Reminder..keep a Fishing Diary...
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