For all their distractions and hindrances, smartphones can really improve your outdoor experience. Getting an email from work or a robo-call while on the water is certainly obnoxious. Still, locating a trail, identifying an insect, and photographing the beauty of nature are all great uses for the ubiquitous pocket technology. And everything we do, we do on an app.
Don’t worry. This isn’t an article extoling the value of spot-burning, subscription-based apps. Also, it isn’t going to be any sort of recommendation to sign up for another social media profile.
But the smartphone applications I’ll be sharing aren’t true fly fishing apps either. Look up at the title again: “My Top 3 Apps for Fly Fishing.” Whether they were programmed for anglers to find value in them or not, I am constantly tapping on these three icons. These are programs that I’ve installed and use on a regular basis to help me prepare for or reflect back on my time on the water.
If you like exploring, AllTrails is an essential install. If you have a favorite stream or a pond that you’ve heard about, AllTrails is all but sure to have at least one trail that will get you close. Maps, trail guides, and user input will give you confidence as you go from the parking lot to the backwoods. That last component probably resonates if you’ve ever gone down a “trail” that ends up disappearing into the undergrowth. It is a must have for hikers, but it gives some great access insight for anglers or anyone else utilizing water. There is a paid version with a lot of bells and whistles, but you’ll absolutely be able to get by with the free suite.
This newer app is a lot of fun. The National Park and National Monuments of our country are true treasures. Fishing aside, there are dozens of spots worth visiting. This app gives you all the details you need to pick a park and plan a trip. Maps, seasons, and even some fishing information are available for applicable locations. It is also the best source for NPS news. This can be incredibly helpful as you navigate closures, detours, and even fun things like bear sightings. One of my personal favorite parts of the app is the ability to catalog your visits. It isn’t as fun as my physical park passport, but it makes for entertaining browsing.
Apple Photos
This might sound like a strange inclusion. But hear me out. If you turn your location services on, you can map out where you’ve taken photos. There is literally a navigable map in your photo album. Now I get the whole privacy thing, but if you’re that concerned about being tracked then you shouldn’t be using a smart phone at all. Anyway, this is a quick way to archive where you’ve fished and what you’ve seen there. Pics are timestamped, which means you can pinpoint when you had that great day last season. Plus, it helps finding photos for showing off that much easier.
Do you have a favorite smartphone app that helps you with your fly fishing? Let me know in the comments below.