Need your input on the Fishing Log

[NCangler]

Hi guys. I've compiled a list of possible information to include in the Fishing Log program. A member placing an entry in their fishing log can input as little or as much as they want. I'm including what I have in mind below but I need your input on refining the choices. The idea here is that the Fishing Log would enable the user to search their database of fishing log entries over time to get a profile of where/when/for what they are fishing and getting the best results. In order to facilitate an effective search I need to know a) what should be searchable and b) what items can we assign specific choices for the answers, making the database easier to search and the information more reliable. For instance...instead of having a text input box for "Water Clarity" where the member could say anything, we might have a 'drop-down box' with choices for "Clear, murky, muddy," etc.

If you are interested in assisting with developing this Fishing Log would you take a few minutes to look at the list below and give me an idea of what choices you would include for items that specify 'drop-down boxes'? It would also be helpful to know what you would like to have as "searchable".

I welcome any other comments that you might have. The programmer is awaiting this input before finalizing the program so I will compile your answers this week and provide to him. Thanks for your help!

Caught Fish (yes/no)
Attach Photo (Radio Button to photo attachment option)

Trip Time/Date:
- Date of Trip (date dropdown selection)
- Time Fish Caught (dropdown time selection)

Trip Location:
- Location Name (input box)
- Location Description (input box)
- GPS Latitude (input box)
- GPS Longitude (input box)
- Waypoint Name: (input box)

Fishing/Catch Information
- Catch Information (big textarea box)
- Best Fish: Weight: Length: Girth: (input box)
- Species: (input box or drop down if we list all the species we want to log-better solution and easier to enter)
- Bait (dropdown-'live shrimp', 'pogies', 'worms', 'bloodworms', etc. - I need a list here of bait for saltwater and freshwater)
- Lures used (textarea box)
- Water Depth (dropdown box - 1-30', then 5' increments?)
- Structure Description (textarea box)
- Gear used (textarea box)
- Presentation (textarea box)

Weather/Tides
- Moon Phase (dropdown - what moon phases?)
- Tide Info (dropdown - tide descriptions?)
- Tide Notes (input box) (to record specifics on tidal affect when fish actually caught)
- Sky conditions (dropdown Sunny; Cloudy; Partly Cloudy; Overcast; Rain; Thunderstorms, others?)
- Air Temp (input box)
- Water Temp (dropdown box - what minimum to what maximum temp?)
- Water Clarity (dropdown box - what to include?)
- Water Lake Level (input box)
- Water Salinity (input box?)
- Seas (dropdown box - 'flat', '1-2', 2-3', 3-4', 4-5', 5-6', 6-7', 7-8', 8-9')
- Barometric Pressure (input box?)
- Wind Direction (dropdown - what to include?)
- Wind Speed (dropdown - what to include?)
- General Weather Conditions Today (textarea box)
- General Weather Conditions Previous Day (textarea box)

Tournament Details
- Fishing Tournament? (yes/no selection)
- Tournament Name (input box)
- Tournament Location (input box)
- Finish Place (input box or dropdown?)
- Winnings (input box)

Misc.
- Notes (textarea box)

Boat/Fishing Expenses
- Fuel Consumption (input box) (gallons example: 5.3)
- Fuel Cost (input box) (cost per gallon)
- Fuel Expense (input box) (gallons used x cost per gallon)
- Boat Launch/Ramp & Fees (textarea box)
- Misc Cost (textarea box)

The choices are for a "textarea box" (a window area much like where we edit our posts); an "input box" (a small one line text entry box); "dropdown box" (you click on it and you have a set number of choices to select from); and "radio buttons" (buttons that you click such as "yes" or "no"). Thanks for any input in making our Fishing Log program more effective.