Firstly, I can analyse my season pretty easily

My diary is in some ways a bit too detailed, but in other ways not enough is recorded. I include a column for unusual birds that I have seen during my fishing trip, as I am also a keen bird-watcher, but I do not record which position the fly is on the cast. Diaries are a very personal thing. I happen to like the way that I write mine, though I am open to suggestions as to how I might improve mine. I have thought about putting my records onto my computer, but stray away from this concept simply because I feel that the “personal” touch will then be missing. I think that I can best illustrate that by scanning in an entry from my diary from 1998, when I spent a year teaching (and fishing) in New Zealand. The relevant location and conditions are important, but in so many ways, the way that the angler responds to conditions is far more important. I like to try to include a photograph here and there, or better still (although I will be the first to admit that I am no Charles Jardine) a sketch. If you are going to consider keeping a diary for the first time this year, then stick to the basics. Record the fly that you caught your fish on. Record the size of the fly. Record the area that you were fishing and the conditions. When you start getting into the habit of doing these items, you will then, no doubt, think of other considerations that you might find more useful.My diary enables me to do several things: Firstly, I can analyse my season pretty easily – I can total the number of fish caught, I can look at the flies that were successful, and I can check upon the areas that were good at certain times of the season.Secondly, I can compare one season with another – that is a most important aspect of your trout fishing. There are certain trends, and if you can spot them, then you can be confident that you will catch a few fish on your outings.Thirdly, you can make certain predictions – armed with a few seasons’ worth of information, as to what you should be doing on a given set of conditions. This has to be a help in your efforts to either catch more trout or do better than someone else, but if you are in any way like me none of the above will be too important.My most crucial reason for keeping records of my fishing trips is so that in months, or years to come, I can look back at a particular entry and recapture that day. Sentimental maybe, but in many ways so enjoyable! Get into the habit this year – it really doesn’t take a long time to at least record the bare facts of the trip!

Happy recording!