Time was, cellphones were viewed with derision by outdoorsfolk looking to get away from it all. But with the extraordinary range of handy outdoor apps now available for today’s smartphones—imagine a seasoned guide with a satellite feed—it just might be time for an attitude adjustment.
iFish
($4.99)
Apps for Anglers
Works with: iPhone.
Key
features: Hot spots, depth charts,
weather, directions and fishing times
for thousands of waterbodies; separate
apps for Alberta, B.C., Ontario,
Saskatchewan and the U.S.
The
promise: “When, where and how
to fish a lake near you.”
Fishin' Guy Deluxe with Henry Waszczuk
($6.99)
Fins & Skins Worldwide
Works with:iPhone.
Key features:
Search hot spots, compare lodges and
resorts, and find guides and charters; fishing
tips for both fresh- and saltwater, and
more than 2,000 videos; free intro version.
The promise: “Learn everything about
your favourite species.”
IGFA Mobile
($8.99) International Game Fish Association
Works with: iPhone.
Key features: Automatically
updated database of IGFA records,
rules and official weigh stations; species
identification charts; log and compare details
of your catches.
The promise: “Measure
your catch against the world’s greatest.”
WFN Fishing Log
($2.99) World Fishing Network
Works with: iPhone.
Key features:
Keep photos and details of your catches,
including the species, size, location, date
caught and gear used; weather and tide
data; trip checklists.
The promise:
“Proving your ‘outlandish’ fishing story just
got a lot easier.”
Isolunar Hunting and Fishing Times
($4.99) RedSnake Enterprises
Works with: iPhone.
Key features:
Uses phone’s GPS to pinpoint your location’s
peak feeding and activity times for fish and
game; calculates local sunrises and sunsets;
works worldwide.
The promise: “There’s
no easier way to get solunar data.”
Orvis Fly Fishing
($14.99) Orvis
Works with: Android, iPhone.
Key
features: Instructional fly-casting videos;
animated knot guides; top trout flies; reports
for 200 hot spots, with updates on river
flows, tides and hatches.
The promise:
“Everything about fly fishing in one place.”
Animated Fishing Knots
($0.99) J. E. Sherry Company
Works with: iPhone.
Key
features: Searchable database
of 21 fishing knots, each with
animated instructions, a picture
of the finished knot and a description
of its use; includes two
hook-removal techniques.
The promise: “Makes learning
to tie knots easy.”
Ufindfish
(Free) Canadian Sportfishing Productions
Inc.
Works with: Android, iPhone.
Key
features: Locate pro angler hot spots
in real time with GPS or Google Maps;
track personal hot spots, log catch data
and share with friends (or not); dedicated
YouTube channel.
The promise: “Get
answers from real fishing pros.”
