Download a fishing log you can print, keep on your device, or open in a spreadsheet. The worksheet and CSVs are free to use for personal and club sessions. No account, email address or FishPal subscription is required.
Download the templates
- Printable fishing log PDF: trip sheet and catch record sheet
- Trip log CSV: one row for each outing
- Catch log CSV: one row for each fish
The PDF contains two A4 pages. In your print dialog, use “fit to page” if your printer uses another paper size. The CSV files contain headers without invented catches or example data; open them in your preferred spreadsheet and add your own rows. They are standalone templates, not an app-import or app-export feature.
Keep the session separate from the catch
Use the trip sheet even when you catch nothing. Choose a trip ID that makes sense to you, then reuse that ID on the catch sheet. Record the general water, local date and time zone, method, start and finish, and minutes actually spent fishing. Note the number of anglers and rods so that a later comparison has enough context.
Put effort on the trip record once. If an outing produces several catches, repeating the full session duration beside every fish and then adding those values would overstate the time spent fishing. The separate CSVs keep that distinction visible.
| Record | What belongs there | If the trip produces no catches |
|---|---|---|
| Trip sheet or trip CSV | Outing details, fishing time, catch count, observations and next test | Keep the row and record a catch count of zero. |
| Catch sheet or catch CSV | Trip ID, catch ID, species confidence, presentation, measurements and outcome | Leave the catch table empty. Do not invent a fish row. |
Record what you know
Use confirmed, tentative or unknown for species confidence. Add the lure or bait and the presentation you actually used. A description such as “small paddletail, slow retrieve along the outside weed edge” gives you something to repeat or change later.
Length and weight fields support centimeters and inches, and kilograms and pounds. Use the unit you measured and leave the other field blank unless you convert it. For example, a measured 30 cm (11.8 inches) length belongs in a length field; a guess from a photograph belongs in the measurement note, clearly marked as an estimate.
Keep air and water temperatures separate. Both Celsius and Fahrenheit fields are included. Mark whether a condition came from a measurement, your observation, or an outside weather source. Unknown details can stay blank. The measurement guide explains how to make records more consistent.
Use one question for the next outing
After the trip, record one decision to test. Perhaps you spent too much of the available time moving, changed presentations without noting when, or could not reach the water you had planned to fish. A useful next test follows from what happened, including a blank session.
Use the catch-analysis guide to interpret small personal records carefully. Browse species collections and season collections for a reading list that fits the outing rather than a universal fishing prediction.
Keep sensitive places out of shared copies
The template asks for a general water name rather than exact coordinates. If you share a worksheet with a club, instructor or friend, review any location details in the notes first. You can keep a separate private reference if that suits your record.
Complete detailed notes after appropriate fish care. Neither this template nor a catch record establishes current access permission, fishing rules or consumption advice. Check the responsible authority for the water and date; the regulation-checking guide can help you organize that step.
Use the log with or without FishPal
You can keep using these files on their own. If you want a photo-based record with automatic context and trip review, explore FishPal photo logging and trip analytics. FishPal keeps fishing records private by default, with optional live trip sharing as a separate choice.
For clubs and editors, this page is a stable place to link when sharing the worksheet. A link is welcome, but it is not required to use the templates. The files are versioned October 29, 2026.