Apps for the Trout Fanatic
5 years ago an article like this would have received a lot of “I go fishing to get away from technology” or “leave the phone at home”… but times have changed. The mobile device has evolved into an amazingly powerful tool that can be leveraged to help us catch more and bigger fish. Most of us are getting used to our phones becoming a bigger part of our lives. Suffice to say that it is easier for a trout angler to improve his skill set now because of technology than 15 years ago. A guy can get on the internet and learn in a few months what it would have taken years to learn a decade ago.
I used to steelhead fish a lot and a big part of steelhead fishing is timing. Back in the day I had a group of close friends that I would network with. We would work together to gather information and let each other know when the fish were in, river conditions, etc. I would share all information with my buddies and they with me. It took me a long time to build those relationships. Now, with the internet and social media it is easier to network and get information. It will be interesting to see what fishing technology lies ahead. I hope we never figure out a way to get them every time!
Anyhow, here are a few iphone/android apps that are pretty cool. These are just a few that I have found/tried and there are certainly many others for you to explore. Hopefully this helps you narrow your list from the hundreds that are out there (most are not so great). On to the list!
Moon Phase – iSolunar gives you the best hunting times and best fishing times for any date, any location. This free solunar table app includes all premium content of iSolunar™.
Based on the original solunar theory, iSolunar™ Hunting & Fishing Times determines the peak feeding and activity times for all types of fish and wildlife based on the moon position and lunar phase. With iSolunar™ Hunting & Fishing Times, you’ll have all the solunar table information you need to know exactly when the best fishing times and best hunting times will occur for your exact location.
When arranging your next trip, just check ahead to find out the best hunting or fishing times for the date you’re considering. It doesn’t matter what you’re after or where, this incredible app will help you maximize your chances success!
Knots – Knot Wars is based on the hugely popular segment from the North American Fisherman TV show, Knot Wars pits knots in a head to head battle to determine which knot you can count on in a fight. This app assembles all three seasons of the competition, bringing forty of the strongest fishing knots available to the palm of your hand.
Each knot has simple step by step narration and gorgeous animations that walk you through the tying process, but what really sets this app apart is the unique data on critical break strength accumulated through hours of repeated testing for the show.
Find knots sorted alphabetically or by applications like loop knots, line to line or line to lure. Read tips on each knot and slide through the instructional videos at your own pace. Pause and resume playback with the swipe of a finger until you have even the most complex knots mastered.
Weather – The Weather Underground app provides the world’s most accurate hyper-local weather forecasts in addition to interactive radar, satellite maps, severe weather alerts and widgets. Powered by our unique community of weather enthusiasts reporting live data from weather stations in their own backyards, this crowd-sourced data generates forecasts targeted to your precise location. In addition to viewing and sharing weather data, users can also take and upload photos directly from the app!
With free push notifications for weather alerts and Today widgets for iOS 8, Weather Underground is your essential app during severe weather events. Our interactive map (WunderMap) displays animated radar and satellite data to track storms, as well as providing specific map presets for tracking hurricanes and wildfires.
Lake Mapping – The Navionics app is the world’s top selling boating app. With this app you get the same award-winning detailed charts as GPS plotters because it provides the fully-comprehensive, all-in-one Navionics+ package, which includes Nautical Charts, SonarCharts™, Community Edits and 1 year of Chart Updates. Tracks, Routes, Distance, Markers, Wind Forecasts, Sync my Data, Photos & Videos and Sharing! Also with US Govt. Charts!
This app includes all the value of Navionics+, combining three content layers: Nautical Charts, SonarCharts™, Community Edits, plus 1 year of Chart Updates. SonarCharts™ is an HD bathymetry map featuring extraordinary bottom contour detail great for increasing awareness of shallow waters and for locating fishing areas at any depth level. Community Edits are inputs made by users and shared for all to benefit: rocks, wrecks, obstructions, buoys, beacons, etc. Refer to the screenshot above for chart coverage area, for more detail and updates check at navionics.com. Once purchased, Navionics charts are downloaded to the device and stored for easy access regardless of connectivity! US Govt. Charts included too! Charts are provided for the coverage area described, you can add additional regions anytime from Menu>Charts & Upgrades.
Fishing Diary/Notes – FishTales is the fishing journal and log book you’ve been waiting for. There is an old saying that says, “Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat the failures of the past.” FishTales enables you to recall the past and take maximum advantage of your own historical record. Over time you will create a database of caught fish sortable by lure, location, date or a combination of key factors. FishTales is far more than a diary. It is a powerful tool to guide current methods based on past performance!!
Put this app on any of your iOS devices and head out to the water. As you catch fish, use FishTales to log each catch. Date, time, location, and the current weather conditions are automatically recorded each time you add a new entry. From there you can take a photo of the fish and log any information you think is important – the water temperature, the depth of the water, or the depth of the catch. Naturally you’ll want to log what lure you caught the fish with. We’ve expanded on a simple text field to try and describe your lure. We’ve included a virtual tackle box to catalog all your lures. Take a photo of every lure in your box, then name it how you like. We’ve included three different fields along with the picture to catalog your baits. As you catch fish, simply pick the lure you’ve used from the wheel and the fish is automatically logged against that bait. We keep track of every fish caught by every bait in your virtual tackle box. Whenever you look inside your tackle box, you will instantly see which baits have caught you the most fish.
Misc. – Here are a few that don’t fit in the other categories but I find interesting:
The IGFA app – The International Game Fish Association, the world’s foremost global authority on record-breaking fishing, brings you the App anglers have been asking for. The new IGFA Mobile App for the iPhone and iPad will amaze and inspire your fishing adventures. Search IGFA angling World Records, plan your trips, identify your catch with our Species ID section, log your catches, find the nearest IGFA Weigh Station, track your Slam Club progress and more all from this must-have App!
Want to know how your catch measures up to the world’s greatest? The entire IGFA World Records database is right at your fingertips! Searchable by vacant, approved, or pending records, the World Records database makes selecting your next line- or tippet-class record target easier than ever. The App is automatically updated with the latest records when it is opened and connected to cellular or wi-fi signal.
The Orvis app – The Orvis Fly Fishing app is the essential guide for every fly fisherman. The app includes hours of instructional casting video, knot animations, fishing reports for over 200 of the best fishing spots, and informative podcasts with more fishing tips and information.
Hope you guys are able to mess around with a few of these. You might find an app that will help you catch the next big trout on your list!
Mark Knoch
