Fishing has entered the digital age! You’ll see plenty of technology being used by today’s modern anglers. Drones, depth finders, and mobile phone apps. Most can be downloaded and used at the touch of a button, but which is best?
Today we will look at 16 fishing apps for your phone or tablet!
Some of the apps will show you where and when to fish for the best possible results. If you give them a go, you might find you are hauling in your biggest catch yet!
Want to see some of the best fishing apps you can download?
Read on to find out!
Table of Contents
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The 16 Best Fishing Apps [year ] for The Modern Angler
Deeper App
The Deeper Smart Sonar App is designed to be used in conjunction with Deeper’s popular castable fishfinder.
And the best bit?
It is free to download!
This allows you to view information about water depth, temperature, bottom topography, fish location directly on your smartphone screen.
The app can be customized in lots of different ways. You can alter the settings to give you a perfect reading every time. Fish size filters, depth alarms, display colors and appearance, and switching between narrow and wide beam frequencies! These all help to increase your catch rate!
There are specific modes for onshore, boat, and ice fishing. The latter lets you track your lure underwater and mark ice holes, while the onshore mode allows you to create topographical lake maps.
And there’s more
The app can also be used without the transducer.
Highlights include a lunar calendar and weather forecasting functionality (useful when planning your next trip); It also includes downloadable maps that you can use to mark your favorite spots offline.
You can log your catches in the ‘notes’ function and use the camera mode to share photos of your best fish with fellow anglers.
Pro Angler
The Pro Angler app acts as a one-stop shop offering all the information you need to enhance your saltwater fishing experience.
This includes GPS coordinates to over 15,000 fishing hotspots located throughout the coastal United States, along with more than 1,000 useful services ranging from the local bait shops to public launches and weigh stations.
Pretty neat, right?
The weekly location reports from veteran captains help ensure that you are up-to-date with the very latest angling news.
Use the app’s real-time weather forecasts, tide tables, and lunar data to find the best time to fish. An identification guide provides a list of tried-and-tested fishing techniques for 350 saltwater species.
Another highlight is the easy-to-navigate State and Federal regulations list.
It has plenty of bonus features too!
Like?
Seafood recipes, for starters… Not to mention a shareable catch log. If you want to spend a few dollars, you can upgrade to the premium version that offers live-action updates!
Orvis Fly Fishing App
Available free of charge for iOS devices only.
For iOS users, this app is free to download. The Orvis Fly Fishing app is a favorite amongst tech-smart fly fishermen.
Master the art of creating your own flies with a Guide to the Top 100 Trout Flies. It is really well organized, and you can search by name and type. The Knot-tying animations also come in handy; as do the instructional casting tutorials
These videos feature the director of the Orvis fly fishing school. If it all gets a little technical, don’t worry, the app includes a searchable fly fishing glossary for all the terms used.
The app also includes podcasts by the fly fishing author Tom Rosenbauer, a fly fishing legend. New content is normally added every week. You can save these podcasts and listen to them anywhere!
And there’s more…
The App included fishing reports for over 200 of the best fly fishing spots!
These spots are in North America, Central America, South America, and the United Kingdom. Each one delivers real-time updates direct to your smartphone.
iAngler Tournament
The top app for competitive anglers is the iAngler Tournament is designed to take care of the practical side of tourney fishing. This is so that you can concentrate on hooking the winning fish.
When participating in a registered tournament, you can use the app to log your catch data while still on the water. Compare the stats of your biggest fish with those of your competitors by monitoring the app’s live tournament leaderboard.
One other helpful feature includes the ability to review the lists of the available tournaments in your area.
This can help to register for those tournaments that you’re interested in. The app also sends bulletins about local tournament activities.
After you sign up for an event, you can use the app to watch the weather forecast. You can also keep an eye on the tide tables for the upcoming tournament location.
The iAnglr Tournament could also be used as a helpful data collection tool for marine researchers.
Fishidy
The Fishidy mobile app for Android and iOS works in conjunction with the Fishidy website. This allows users to record their favorite fishing sites and catches and share them with other users.
The app provides fishing maps for more than 17,000 venues, with users able to log catches and favorite places on the map.
In addition, Fishidy includes social features allowing users to share information with other anglers and friends. They can also view a feed of the current activity and reports for individual spots.
A Premium subscription offers more detailed maps and fishing hotspots, fishing tips, and mapped underwater structures.
FishCast
Techcrunch says that FishCast…
“Takes the guesswork out when targeting inland game species like the Largemouth Bass.”
And we are inclined to agree…
Over 12M predictions have been made to-date using this industry-leading prediction and forecast tool. It is trusted and tested by fishermen around the world. The prediction is more than a fishing calendar.
The FishCast app combines 8 different tracked weather-related variables to determine your best fishing times.
Here’s what it offers:
Weather Data
- Temperature Graph: Easily track temperature changes using an easy-to-read graph.
- Wind Graph: Use the wind graph to help determine your drift points and wave conditions.
- Pressure Graph: Don’t miss out on drastic pressure changes when your catch chances drastically increase!
Maps Built for Fishermen
- Turn your smartphone into a powerful GPS Fishing Map device plus more!
- Lake Contour Maps: Scout new fishing spots using lake depth charts.
- Custom Waypoints: Plot your fishing holes, lake debris, hot spots, and waypoints.
- GPS Navigation: Navigate to any custom location in real-time using your phone’s built-in GPS.
A Community Shaped by Fishermen
Fishing can be a little solitary; this allows you to be part of a huge community.
- Log your catches: Each catch is an opportunity to make memories. Don’t lose out on the chance to keep those memories alive!
- Talk shop: Chat with hundreds of thousands of fishermen across the country and be a part of their success!
- Record keeping: you can record your catch along with other details for every fish.
- Fish more, and fish better!
Fishing & Hunting Solunar Time
Fishing & Hunting Solunar Time uses solunar theory to accurately predict fish and wildlife’s movement and feeding activity.
How does it work?
The solunar theory is based on the hypothesis that animals and fish move according to the location of the moon and sun.
You can use this information to try to determine the best time to fish at a given location. The location which the app will pinpoint uses manual entry or automatic GPS. Your choice!
You can then save your favorite fishing spots to access the solunar forecasts with the click of a finger.
These forecasts show you the major and minor feeding or activity periods for a specific fish species. You can also view the moon phases and moonrise, moonset, sunrise, and sunset times.
An upgrade for the app also gives saltwater fishermen the ability to view tide charts as well.
Because the weather can also be a major factor in animal and fish behavior. The app can even offer the current weather information and a five-day forecast. There are also Free and Pro versions that are available.
Pro Angler
Aimed squarely at saltwater fishermen, Pro Angler (Android, iOS) provides a large number of resources to its users. It is a guide that has more than 15,000 GPS fishing hotspots, along with radar weather maps.
It also has easy-to-use state and federal regulation information along with a guide to 250 saltwater fish species.
Users can check out the weekly updates of “what’s biting” in their region. You can read up on fishing reports from professional anglers and captains, experts in guiding their boat into hot spots and artificial reefs.
One of the bonus features includes guides to knots, rigs, and gear. You’ll also get a digital wallet. This is for storing important fishing documents like licenses, not to mention a variety of recipes along with complete nutritional information.
Anglr Tracker App
Anglr Tracker relies on Bluetooth connectivity to send data to your phone. You will need a sensor that attaches to your rod.
Here’s what this excellent fishing app offers:
- It tracks your casting and how many times you have caught a fish. A cast to count ratio? Pretty fancy, right?
- You can keep track of what works and what doesn’t in different venues. By pinning locations and writing the data, you don’t have to remember which fly worked and when. The app does it for you!
- The sensors log other key fishing variables, such as how far you are casting and with what frequency.
- You’ll get a 12-month subscription to ANGLR for free!
This is a great way to take your fishing game to the next level. The tracking ‘bug’ attaches to any fishing rod. It will then automatically capture the most successful variables throughout your fishing trips.
Essentially it helps you to make key decisions when catching fish. Fly patterns, locations, and more are all synced with your smartphone and the ANGLR app.
Want to know how to use it? Here’s what the manufacturer says…
“Sync the ANGLR Tracker with your smartphone and load up the free ANGLR App. The Tracker uses sensors to automatically capture and log key variables and send them directly from your fishing rod to your phone.”
Together with the app and a free 12-month ANGLR Automated Fishing Log subscription, you’ll seamlessly build a log of your locations, memories, and top-producing conditions.
With the ANGLER Tracker and the fishing log, you’ll have a record of every single catch with photos & details behind the locations, conditions, and tackle items used.
You’ll reflect on minute-by-minute trip tracks and select from a variety of way-points to break down your water faster.
Enjoy automated reports of local weather and water conditions to your GPS coordinates. If that wasn’t enough, you’ll be able to compare your cast to catch ratio for every trip and see how you add up.
Learn the successful weather and water patterns, and gain a deeper understanding of your tackle.
Fishing Log
The automated fishing log will let you review the variables behind every catch with local environmental trends (wind, air temperature, moon phase, barometric pressure, cloud coverage, precipitation, water flow, water temperature, gauge, and tide).
This way, you’ll learn what to look for and repeat successful trends to catch more fish the next time you’re on the water.”
The ANGLR app also delivers minute-by-minute timelines and interactive satellite maps of your route. It stores every location, catches tackle, weather, photo, and best fishing memories in one place.
Lastly, the log’s virtual tackle box keeps track of your most frequent trips to help you understand the optimal colors, sizes, and patterns given various locations, species, or conditions.
- It might sound a little technical, but here’s what you get with each kit.
- ANGLR Tracker sensor.
- 12-month Automated Fishing Log Subscription.
- two universal rod mounts, six rubber mount rings.
- a USB charging dock.
- Manufacturer’s one-year warranty.
Fishbrain App
With over five million users and over three million logged catches, Fishbrain is like Facebook, but for anglers! This is the best way to brag about your record catch or share commiserations about the one that got away.
You can use it to log your catches and view historical statistics reports about your performance. The interactive fishing maps can help you find some new fishing spots. This can allow you to view the exact catch positions where other anglers have had success!
You can also connect with those anglers to find new fishing buddies or share tips. Other handy features include a fishing forecast that shows the best time to fish for more than 130 specific species, including bass, trout, and carp.
The app uses real-life catch data to recommend the most effective live bait set-ups for each venue and species. Fishbrain is available in free and premium versions.
DIY Fly Fishing App
The DIY Fly Fishing App is loaded with information to help fly fishers find and catch more fish. It is a great informational tool for developing your knowledge about the places you like to fish.
It is primarily designed to provide information about different fishing locations. You can expand your horizons and find some new great places to fish.
The DIY Fly Fishing App also provides information about more than 27,000 fishing locations. This includes rivers and streams in each of the 50 states. It is constantly updated, and new locations are added each week.
Each location includes some basic information about the river, stream, or lake in question. It includes the fish species found in the water and the best techniques and equipment that have proven successful for other anglers in recent days and weeks.
It’s a really great app. It relies on more and more members providing up-to-date information. By being interactive, you are contributing to the angling community.
The information is provided and collected from state agencies and from other users. So, you can enter some information about your own catches and help other anglers capitalize on your successes. (if you want to, of course)
Here’s a quick rundown of how it works.
When you open up the app, you will immediately see a map of your area (with a 50-mile radius). It will show icons of all the local waters where information has been collected. If you click on one of the icons, a new screen will open up and show what you are looking for.
The DIY Fly Fishing App is available for iOS and Android-based devices. It costs around $2.99 to download, but most reviewers found it was easily worth the extra cost. They also said that it outperformed many of the other apps that are available for free.
Stillwater Fly Fishing App
Fly fishing often takes you far away from the beaten path. But while this can be fun, it also creates a challenge for many anglers. Many of these spots suffer from very poor or no cell phone service at all.
Having an all-singing, all-dancing app is great, but it isn’t so good if you need connectivity to make it work.
Lack of connectivity limits the value of many apps because they only function properly when they have an active internet connection. However, the Stillwater Fly Fishing App will completely eliminate this problem.
The Stillwater Fly Fishing App is designed to work anywhere — even the most remote trout streams you can find. It does so by updating automatically once a week.
This way, the app has the most recent content available, so it does not need an active internet connection for it to function. You can just launch the app and start benefiting from the great content provided, no matter where you are.
Fly fishing experts Brian Chan and Phil Rowley provide all of the content, including photos, articles, and how-to videos. This way, you can rest assured that you are getting the best info possible and that you’ll be catching more fish in no time.
There is also an entire chapter that is devoted to fly-tying. It also has chapters that provide information about your local fishing regulations, insect biology, leaders, knots, and more. You can even check out the current weather forecast, so you know what kind of conditions to expect.
Some of the content provided with the Stillwater Fly Fishing App is free (the app itself is also free), but you’ll need to purchase a subscription to access the entire content library. It is available on both Android and iOS devices.
Fish Rules
If you are a prolific fisherman, you may want to fish all year round in various places.
But here’s the catch.
Different states have different regulations and rules, and it can be a serious drain on your time trying to find out what you can and can’t do.
This app is the answer!
Fish Rules is a handy app and is specially designed for saltwater fishermen. It is available on iOS and Android.
Here’s how it works.
You enter a location (or it automatically finds your own). And from there, you tap an icon that will give you all of the data about which fish are in season and what methods you are allowed to use to catch them!
Fishing Knots
If you can’t tie knots, tie lots!
Actually, no, don’t do that, or you might start losing fish!
The weak point in most rigs and set-ups is the knots. Get it right, and you can pull fish in with ease. Get it wrong, and you are going to have a bad day.
So, what’s the solution?
How’s about a handy app that shows you how to tie tried and tested fishing knots?
This isn’t just a glossary of different knots. There is quite a lot of functionality included. Step-by-step diagrams are just the start! Each knot is given a strength rating, and the app will even show you what knot is best for what type of fishing line.
And the best bit?
This app is free on iOS!
iSolunar
Have you ever noticed how no two days of fishing are the same? Even if the weather seems fairly constant?
This could be the reason.
Fish, like most wild animals, are affected by the different phases of the moon. This is particularly true of sea species. The moon has a direct effect on the strength of the tide. It also dictates how various microorganisms behave in the water.
When you get plankton, you get shrimp, and when you get shrimp, you get fish… Well, in truth, it is slightly more complex than that… But that’s where this handy app comes in.
Back in the day, you would have had to rely on trial and error (and keep careful notes too). Now, at the press of a screen, you can get a forecast on the days and times that the fish are most likely to be feeding based on the moon phases.
Armed with this information, you can arrive when you need to and avoid wasting time.
This app is available for a small fee on iOS.
Are you the kind of angler who likes to venture further afield? If you fish on a boat or a kayak, this app could give you the edge.
Consider this app a sort of GPS-lite. It provides you with detailed navigational charts that show you exactly what is beneath the water in a given location. The maps include sonar charts, nautical charts, and plenty of detail in color, so you can make your way to areas that are likely to hold fish.
One great feature is that the app tracks your route as you go, so you’ll be able to mark all of those great fishing spots to return to time and time again!
And this is interesting…
You may be asking how it can give you depth readings if you don’t have a sonar? Well, this is the beautiful thing. Navionics takes and shares fishing data from all of its subscribers, including those with more advanced gear.
As a result, your data comes from shared sources, meaning it is really accurate, especially in hard fished waters
In Conclusion
There you have it, 16 of the greatest fishing apps for your phone or tablet!
All of these amazing apps are really functional and will help you to catch more fish. We’ve tried to pick a range that offers more than one function.
Whether you want to know the weather, decide to tie a knot or not, or see if you can spot a new spot at sea, they are all fantastic value.
With free and premium versions available with most apps, why not download a few and give them a go before you make up your mind?