Author Topic: trapline log books (Read 490 times)

poncho97 · « **on:** July 27, 2004, 08:07:02 AM »

i am wondering how many trappers here keep a serious log book of their line from day to day. I personally keep a very detailed log daily, i record every catch even rats. i note what kind of trap used, what size, what kind of set, placement, lure or bait used, location, size or condition of animal and the sex of the animal and of course the weather and date.
keeping this log allows me to review things in the off season and evaluate certain sets form year to year. from this i can see what lures work or not and what sets are the fur producers on my line. there is to much information that can be disected from these logs for me to discuss but my question is how many of you keep these logs and how do you go about it. is there anything you keep track of especially, and what do you look for when you review these logs. thanks for the input.

FALL IS COMING SOON

Mallard · « **Reply #1 on:** July 27, 2004, 08:58:21 AM »

I keep a fairly detailed log of the water line, and a very detailed log of the canine line. For water, I have slowed some on the notes I keep, as Ive been doing it for several seasons and have a fairly good idea of what works for me in my locations. Im trying to get a better understanding of movements, so lately its been more weather related than anything else. As far as the canine line goes, I am still very much in a learning state, and will no doubt be that way for a good many years. I try and keep track of lures, set types, locations and make special notes of avoidance and possible reasons. I also try and see what lures work together, and with what type of sets.

One reason I do keep a detailed log of active sets, and their location for both lines is in case something happens to me during season. I work alone in most cases, and wouldnt want my steel up and working when Im down and out, or worse. Its peace of mind knowing that someone can grab this little black book and retrieve all my steel. Every chance I get I let DanMich know where my sets are, and know if something happened, hed be there to cover for me.

jim-NE · « **Reply #2 on:** July 28, 2004, 02:12:27 AM »

I keep a very detailed log each season. I carry a very small, shirt-pocket sized spiral notepad that I use to jot down notes on sets, locations, lures/baits used, model/size of trap, set type, and catches. I spend a little time prior to opener and draft up about two weeks worth of blank log sheets in this little notebook, based roughly on my scouting of where I am anticipating some sets (mostly land-based, canine or cat sets). 1-page per set, with a log based on my note-taking style and data needs. Then all I have to do is "fill in the blanks" as I punch in sets and check them daily. After season is over, the furs are put up, equipment put away, etc. I go back and transfer my little notebook information over into my computer into a database I built for tracking the info. I use Microsoft Access, and by coding my data accordingly it is fairly easy to query 10 years worth of set data. Kind of interesting to see performance of certain sets, environmental conditions, trap size & model performance, lures & baits, etc.
It's a lot of work to keep the data current, especially if I am running late on time or energy, but its something I've committed myself to also. I feel if I keep my own set history that I will have something very valueable for both myself and my kids someday.
Jim-NE

Dave Lyons · « **Reply #3 on:** July 28, 2004, 04:38:03 AM »

Well I never really have keep good records personally. But Mallard is the most organized person I have meet when it comes to this issue.

I have seen his maps. He even knows what is where and keeps the pockets going all season.

I have learned a lot from Bill. And just think I have only been on his line in the summer time.

Some day he is going have to teach me how he keeps track of all the different lures he uses.

Dave

Mallard · « **Reply #4 on:** July 28, 2004, 06:18:32 AM »

Dave,
Sounds like that cat has too much time on his hands. lol
Jim,
Pretty cool deal there with trapping data going into the computer. While I havn't done that for trapping, I have done it for my fishing logs including everything from wind direction, temp, time of day etc in hopes that one day, after years of data, I can type in the date and weather conditions, and IT will tell me where to go and what to fish for. If the wife is hollering for me to cut the lawn I can say "but the computer is telling me I should be bass fishing on Lake Michigan". lol

Macthediver · « **Reply #5 on:** July 31, 2004, 05:15:24 AM »

I've never kept a true log book on the line. When I partnered years ago with my brother in-law he kept a pretty detailed log book of our line. I have never been as meticulous as my brother in-law but I do keep notes. I have not so much a log book but a sheet that I worked up on the computer. It has a place for the date, lection/farm name, type of set, lure used and any catch made. The biggest reason I need the note sheets is to remember where everything is. My longest lines run around a 100 miles a day and are between 100 and 150 sets. I do fairly well when I first put my line in remembering everything because I've run the same line for years. But as I start moving things around, if I have no notes, I loose track of what is pulled or moved. If I'm only running a dozen traps on a weekend my note might only be how many traps and what lure on each set. If I'm in a creek setting 20 traps for rats the notes might just be number of traps total at that location.
Biggest problem I have with notes or logs is remembering to make the notes immediately. If I get in a hurry and don't write something down as soon as I'm back in the truck, well it just might never get on the page and that can be a problem for me.
So far in over 25 years or more on my line I have only twice that I can remember had to go back for a trap I left. It can be pretty embarrassing when a farmer calls couple days after you have pick up and says you have something in a trap by the woods. The one time this happened to me my daughter was making the notes, as I set the traps. I trusted my memory over her notes when I thought I had picked that trap up. Two days later the farmer proved my memory wrong and he even laugh at me. It could have been a real bad deal with a different farmer or the wrong person finding it.

Mac