Give each dot a sentence
A waypoint name identifies a place; a short note explains its value. Record what you found, the observed depth and whether the mark represents cover, a catch or boat position. 'Brush on outside point; fish bit above the top' is useful. 'Good spot' is a message from your past self refusing to cooperate.
Keep the water-level context
The same structure can fish differently as water changes. Record the date, level reference when available and depth observed on that visit. Do not overwrite the structure description with every changing depth reading. Keep the lasting feature and the trip observation distinct so you can interpret both later.
Save the presentation geometry
Describe where the boat sat, the casting direction and how the lure passed the target. If an angle mattered, save a separate boat-position mark. A crankbait reaching depth from one direction and a jig dragged into branches from another can produce very different outcomes on the same object. The coordinate alone does not explain that difference.
Keep evidence and rumors apart
Mark whether you saw the structure, caught a fish there or imported the location from another source. Date borrowed information and retain any limits on sharing. Check a few imported points against recognizable places before trusting the whole file. A precise coordinate can still describe a guess with impressive formatting.
Review the collection after the trip
Rename fresh marks, attach the useful notes and back up before removing duplicates. Keep old productive locations with their context unless you have a reason to remove them; conditions may make them useful again. When sharing, export only the intended subset. The objective is a chart that helps you choose, not a lake hidden beneath a carpet of identical icons.
Put it into practice
- Separate structure, catch and boat-position marks.
- Store observed depth with date and water level.
- Preserve productive casting direction and sharing context.