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Location: varies | How many of you count (or log) the number of muskie you catch in a season? |
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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | I would say most people do. Many log the fishing trip in general as to pattern fish even if a fish insn't caught. Logging makes you a better fisherman in my eyes, especially when Muskie fishing. |
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Posts: 8717
| I used to log and register every fish. Last few seasons I've gotten lazy. Still mark then on a map though. |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | Used to when I fished more, now it's too depressing.
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Posts: 1937
Location: Black Creek, WI | I kept detailed logs for many years. Prided myself on the "fish per hour" statistic too. Priorities change... and that log has been collecting dust for 2 years now. Now my time spent on the water is more about just that... time spent out on the water and focuses less on the results. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | I've gotten very lazy the last few years but over 20 years worth of logs showed me that all fish were caught on days ending with " Y ". Fishing the same water for over 25 years has put the best map in my head. Years ago I was very competitive and trying to prove something now I just enjoy my time on the water. A lot of my old fishing partners have passed on or are no longer able to fish.
Edited by horsehunter 11/20/2015 12:47 PM
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Posts: 7010
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1M_8ByLMJQ |
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Posts: 1937
Location: Black Creek, WI | horsehunter - 11/20/2015 12:40 PM Years ago I was very competitive and trying to prove something now I just enjoy my time on the water. I agree. And I think I may actually enjoy my time on the water MORE now. |
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Posts: 523
| I keep a log of each trip with several details like air temp, water temp, wind direction and speed, barometric pressure, etc...
I have increased my productivity and maximized my time on the water with each year that passes. I find it very useful to look back through logs and see the patterns that start to stand out year after year on each lake.
I like to compete against myself and past results and try to catch more and bigger fish than I did the year before. This has been my best year to date as far as number of fish and the number of big fish, unfortunately the weather here is bringing this season to an end very soon... |
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Posts: 1080
| jlong - 11/20/2015 12:12 PM
I kept detailed logs for many years. Prided myself on the "fish per hour" statistic too. Priorities change... and that log has been collecting dust for 2 years now. Now my time spent on the water is more about just that... time spent out on the water and focuses less on the results.
I ditto this scenario exactly...
Life has gotten far too busy and hectic to try to over analyze each and every thing. Time spent on the water now has become time to relax and not overly complicate matters by stressing out about making sure I note every single detail. Don't care that much about those stats anymore.
Maybe someday when I'm retired and hopefully have ample time on my hands and can spend more time on the water, THEN maybe I'll get back to those kinds of details? Maybe...maybe not? Who knows?
If I were fishing for a living...if I were a guide, if I were forced and expected to produce numbers of fish, if i were fishing tournaments for money to feed a family (I wouldn't be musky fishing if THAT were the case) then I'd probably be keeping those very detailed logs/stats and data again.
Like J Long...the log books haven't seen the light of day in years. Still have 'em. But don't have any interest in them at this point in life right now.
Edited by MACK 11/20/2015 2:35 PM
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| I can only count to 3 and I rarely get that high in an outing.
I don't write anything down so it's an estimate at season end If one would ask. 
Edited by mnmusky 11/20/2015 2:59 PM
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Posts: 1283
| Never logged a single fish. |
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Posts: 2004
| I'm from Arkansas...enough said |
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Posts: 397
Location: Wisconsin | I keep mental notes. I Have a pretty sharp memory and pay attention to detail well, so I don't write much down. But I do keep track and pay attention to each fish, which lure type, structure, time of year and weather conditions. |
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Posts: 20178
Location: oswego, il | I count them. I am like rain man. |
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Posts: 1100
| I count them all with our euro pike, and note all the 40inchers ( more exactly 100cm or bigger) |
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Posts: 607
Location: S.W. WI | I keep a log, have for 10 yrs but not really a count total. I never really stop to add em up. I have found some important things in my notes. Not as detailed as first 5 yrs of doing it, but I have found some real patterns and some real eye openers on different lakes at different times, and time of year. I would not have seen without my log.
I don't care about fish per hour, or total #'s except that I want alot. I want to be able to catch them every time out. It's also fun to repeatedly see some of the things people swear by- to be a non issue in my boat.
Edited by Rudedog 11/20/2015 9:40 PM
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Posts: 2226
Location: SE, WI. | Been logging 30+ inch muskie's since fishing them? logged close to about 4,000 ...And NO, I don't fish Lake St. Clair  You want Patterns??? " Start loggin". JD
Edited by jdsplasher 11/20/2015 10:05 PM
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Posts: 32785
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I count crappies. We stop keeping them at 10, usually.
Used to log every detail of a muskie catch including barometric pressure and trend at the time someone in my boat caught the fish. I actually did that for many years.
I learned there were trends, but the SVL Rules of Muskie Angling, Book One and Two, in all finality, apply.
There are two.
1) There are no rules
2) The best time to fish for muskies is when you can. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Yep. Steve is right...
Fish when you can, and enjoy yourself.. But.... The Silver Fox has memorized every fish caught on what, when, where, how, and what size.
No need for logs. Life is to short, Enjoy it while you can. |
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Posts: 1209
| I don't count 38"- fish anymore unless I have a super competitive buddy along. Because I know he will count his dinks. I count in my head because I haven't mastered this yet |
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Location: varies | jdsplasher - 11/20/2015 9:15 PM
Been logging 30+ inch muskie's since fishing them? logged close to about 4,000 ...And NO, I don't fish Lake St. Clair You want Patterns??? " Start loggin". JD
Wow JD!
if my math is correct, that's about 2.5 miles of fish end to end at a overall 40" avg.
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Posts: 20178
Location: oswego, il | So a 29 3/4 fish or a 37 3/4 don't count? Granted I catch very few dinks but a musky is a musky. I am not targeting dinks but I do occasionally catch one.
Edited by ToddM 11/21/2015 8:41 AM
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| I have my own rule..If they appear under 40, they don't go in the net/boat. water released and not measured unless I'm with my son who likes to measure all. |
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Posts: 1023
| horsehunter - 11/20/2015 12:40 PM
I've gotten very lazy the last few years but over 20 years worth of logs showed me that all fish were caught on days ending with " Y ". Fishing the same water for over 25 years has put the best map in my head. Years ago I was very competitive and trying to prove something now I just enjoy my time on the water. A lot of my old fishing partners have passed on or are no longer able to fish.
I agree with that post. I just enjoy my time now. I have nothing to prove. When someone who is young and new to the sport gives me a fishing lesson at the launch I just let them go and say thanks. I see no need for logs or maps. I am so addicted that I can remember every spot and fishing "event" like it happened yeaterday. Yet I am forgetful in daily life. |
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Posts: 1220
| I think the phrase "counting fish" adds a negative label that wouldn't apply to a different sounding one like (say) "keeping records." It's the idea that numbers are used to fuel your ego, and records are used to improve your skill. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | I keep track of fish over 30" in my boat...basically use that number from Muskies Inc .. I use to keep more detailed logs.. now I only know the total in the boat and hours on the water... I don't keep track of how many I have vs. others in my boat as it is more about the boat catching fish than me....heck last trip to MN I casted all of maybe an hour and let a 10 yr old have all my sucker hits! it's just plain fun to see big fish get caught no matter who is doing the reeling... I do think keeping a log does help you on the water year after year....
on trips like to LOTW I do keep a journal in my phone of follows/hits/fish caught etc...interesting to go back and tally up a trip and see how many fish you contacted, how many hits you had, how many ended up in net etc....
Edited by BNelson 11/21/2015 11:33 AM
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Posts: 69
Location: Phoenixville, PA | I log every trip in Excel and have a tab for each year. I log the date, body of water, and number and types of fish caught. I keep notes on the trip and the weather. For me, it is fun to look back and see how one year compared to another. It amazes me how much I forget. The weather data is helpful, too, especially river levels. |
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Posts: 20178
Location: oswego, il | Everybody has a different standard on what is countable, 30, 38, nothing under 40 in the net, I am thinking about a slot limit. Say next year, I am not going to count muskies between 32 and 42" and will only count 1 above that. I think this will work.
Edited by ToddM 11/21/2015 4:20 PM
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Posts: 537
Location: Gilberts IL/Rhinelander WI | I put a fish icon on every musky caught in my gps, that's the extent of any log. |
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