Keep a Boat Log

When was the last time you changed your outboard oil? What about the gear lube? What was the water temperature on Sept. 16, 2004 and did you catch anything? These questions and many others can be answered by keeping a boat log book. Though its probably one of the last things you’ll consider after spending a day on the water, a log book can be invaluable when it comes to properly maintaining your boat and can help you catch more fish.

Where Do I Start?
Start by keeping a small notebook and pencil in a sealable plastic bag in your boat. Across the top of the page is a good place to put some general headings: Date, Time, Location, and Notes. Whenever you perform some sort of upkeep or maintenance to your boat, write down what you did and any other notes (i.e., oil was off color, etc.). That way, you can compare notes from the last time and perhaps head off a major engine problem.

Details, Details
After a day on the water, take a couple of minutes and update your log book. While you can write down as much or as little as you want, you should record things such as how long your motors ran (crucial for maintenance), where you launched, water temperatures, tide information, who was with you and what you caught. Generally, the more you write down the better off you’ll be. After a few trips worth of log book entries, you can begin to establish patterns: whether or not you caught more fish on the incoming tide, if you’ve had better success in 48 degree water or 58 degree water, and who never chips in for gas money. As far as maintenance, record changes for oil, gear lube, batteries, spark plugs and filters. Write down anything unusual, such as electronics that didn’t work properly. There are many facts about your fishing trip you can log, including

Using The Information
With a well-kept log book, you can make the most of your fishing trips. You can review the log book and concentrate on fishing those dates (and tides) that are most like the dates and tides where you’ve succeeded in the past.

See you on the water,
Action Jackson

(Please send comments or questions to Action Jackson at 268-6944 or www.actionjacksonfishing.com)