Fish Diaries

[mwardncsu]

As the year comes to a close, it is time to think about competing and submitting your Fish Diary - this data is an important way you can help contribute to the on-going management of our fishery. DGIF uses this data as a monitoring tool on the health of the fishery and to use in their assessment of any changes to regulations which might need to be made.

DGIF has paper books you can get to fill this out, and if you'd like one you can contact Dan Wilson at DGIF, or PM me and I might be able to help coordinate getting one to you.


VA-DGIF, c/o Dan Wilson, 1132 Jefferson Road, Forest Drive, 24551

Alternatively you can enter the data into the attached spreadsheet and e-mail to Dan.... one row / trip. The format is pretty straight forward - for Time of Day - D=Day, N=Night, B=Day & Night. For Bait Type - A=Artificial, L=Live Bait, B=Both


And ENTER YOUR SKUNK TRIPS - these are as or more important than the trips where you caught fish.....

He needs them back by mid-Jan at the latest so that he can roll his data.

If you've not kept track this year, please consider doing so next year - request a diary and keep it with you to log going forward to turn in at end of 2014.... this is an important tool and there is not enough data coming back in at the moment.....


A couple of other tips/updates:

- When entering your time on the water - count "fishing time" - i.e. don't count time spent chasing / catching bait - but you would count time running from one spot to another.

- You can start this any time - of course it would be great to get a full years set of info, but there is no reason you can't start whenever in the year and record the info - recording your skunk trips too - as more data is good data.



Here is the Excel spreadsheet version of the template that you can fill out and e-mail if you'd rather vs. using the hard-copy book.
Angler Diary Template.xlsx (19.98 KB)

[deerview]

This is a great idea. I have been thinking about doing this for myself. My memory is getting as thin as my hair. Can we get the data on a yearly basis at SML and other fisheries?

[mwardncsu]

Our local biologist (Dan Wilson) collects and processes the data from SML. I am not sure what other bodies of water he does this for that he manages (he looks after Claytor, SML, Leesville and some other smaller waters - but not ones east like Buggs or Anna, etc).

One of the benefits of submitting the diary is that he will send you a PDF of the summary results once tallied (usually sometime in the spring) that shows things like average catch rate / hour, C&R vs harvest percentages, size bins, etc.

Also, there is a bounty for submitting the diaries - ranges in value based on random draw - if I recall correctly it is $5 - $50 (obviously more $5 prizes than $50), but its something to help make it worth your time....

[Gator]

I like the spread sheet. Just finished copying all of the info from my hard copy to the spread sheet. Only have info from August but it is a start. We all need to be stewards of the fishery and help Dan as much as possible so we can continue to enjoy the fishery.

[mwardncsu]

Gator - Great!

Dan likes the spreadsheet as well as he can copy/paste and it drops in without him having to transcribe the info..... just make sure you don't change it by adding columns or such as it may then break down and make it tougher on him to merge.


That said, he's happy to get the info in any form, so don't let it hold you back....

[mwardncsu]

Some more info from Dan...


Anyone who wants a diary book can just e-mail him your phsycial mailing address and he will mail one to you.

His cut-off is Jan 31. After Jan, he will start compiling the data so any entries so get them in before then. At this point he only has one diary so far for 2013 so needs a lot more. This data is very important and he can’t do as good a job managing without the data.

Dan's e-mail is: [e-mail]

[CorneliaGale]

Thanks Mike, that is a good way to keep up with your time, and then to help out DGIF another good thing. Also a good way to remember where you were fishing, temperatures and conditions for you report on the forum.

[bob347]

Do you know if this is only for Stipers or does he want the info for LM's as well?

[BentRod]

I think they get plenty of LM data through gill net surveys.

[mwardncsu]

Bob - this is specifically for stripers - not sure if they do something similar for largemouth or not - you could drop him an email and ask....

[Gator]

Mike, do I need to compile info through January or the end of December? I am thinking 'til the end of 2013.

[mwardncsu]

Gator - capturing all of 2013 is best, so if you still have some fishing to do this month just wait and send it off once we roll into the New Year!

[CorneliaGale]

Mine is on the way for next year, Dan sent a interesting group of graphs back in a email. well worth the time it took to send a email to get the diary.

[deerview]

Here is some information that Dan sent me on past years. I will send more on next post.

Attachments:

Dan Wilson.docx (13.66 KB)



SML Tables AD 2011.doc (100.5 KB)

[deerview]

Here is more info.

Attachments:

SML Tables AD 2012A.doc (206.5 KB)

SML Tables AD 2012B.docx (19.28 KB)