Mobile apps for fly fishing

This contribution to ‘Reader’s Fish Stories’ is written by Ralph Sherder, an award-winning writer and photographer whose work has appeared in hundreds of fishing and hunting publications over the past 25 years. He is the owner/publisher of Dark Skies Fly Fishing Magazine.  Click here for more information on this publication.

Two mobile apps a fly angler should have

Technology and fly fishing may not seem like natural companions. After all, one of the reasons we wade into streams and cast flies is to step away from screens and reconnect with something simpler. But used wisely, a few modern tools can enhance your time on the water rather than distract from it. Two mobile apps in particular, DIY Fly Fishing and IdentaFly, are worth adding to your kit if you want to spend less time guessing and more time catching fish.

DIY Fly Fishing: finding water made easy

Ask any angler what the hardest part of a trip is, and many will tell you it’s figuring out where to fish. Specifically, the best way to access the waters they want to fish.

Access is everything. Streams can run through long stretches of private property, gauges can be buried on government websites, and directions to legal pull-offs or parking areas are often vague at best. And if you’ve ever solicited fishing groups on social media, you probably know that other anglers simply aren’t a reliable source when it comes to access information! The most common answer is…”Figure it out yourself.”

Which is fine. It’s incredibly rewarding to do the research and put in the time to learn a new place from scratch. But sometimes it’s nice to just have a starting point.

That’s where the DIY Fly Fishing app shines. Think of it as a digital fishing guide that lives in your pocket. The app compiles detailed information on hundreds of streams across the United States. With just a few taps, you can:

• Locate access points. The app provides turn-by-turn directions so you don’t waste time circling back roads or wandering down questionable dirt lanes.

• Check real-time conditions. Integrated USGS stream gauges show current flows and water levels, so you can decide if it’s worth heading out or if you’ll be better off waiting a day or two.

• Plan smarter trips. Beyond directions and gauges, DIY Fly Fishing often includes notes about regulations and local tips.

(Want to watch a video that shows exactly how to use the DIY Fly Fishing app to locate access points to a new stream? Check out this video on the Dark Skies Fly Fishing YouTube channel: “Find the Seams, Find the Fish: A Day on Wiconisco Creek.”)

The DIY Fly Fishing app removes much of the uncertainty from trip planning. Instead of spending hours scouring maps or worrying about trespassing, you can arrive at the water confident you’re in the right place at the right time.

For traveling anglers, this is particularly useful. Heading out West? Looking for a new Pennsylvania freestone? With DIY Fly Fishing, you can explore streams you’ve never fished before with the confidence of a local.

IdentaFly: matching the hatch in real time

Once you’ve found the water, the next challenge is figuring out what the fish are actually eating. Every fly fisherman knows the phrase “match the hatch,” which is just another way of saying tie on something that resembles the insects currently hatching in that stream. But knowing what’s hatching, and when, can feel like a mystery, especially considering the variances between watersheds.

That’s where IdentaFly comes in. This app is like having a pocket entomologist on the stream with you. It helps you identify aquatic insects and understand their seasonal patterns so you can make better fly selections.

Here’s how it works:

• Hatch timing. IdentaFly gives you a month-by-month breakdown of what insects are likely hatching in your region. If you’re fishing in May, for example, you can quickly check which mayflies, caddis, or stoneflies should be active.

• Specific locations. The app has a searchable feature that allows you to pinpoint the hatches within specific watershed basins all across the country. This allows you to prepare for specific hatches on the exact waters you intend to fish.

• Visual identification. The app provides pictures and descriptions of common species so you can match what you see on the stream to a fly in your box.

• Practical fly suggestions. Once you know the insect or hatch you’d like to match, the app can suggest fly patterns and sizes that imitate it – and provide patterns for how to tie those patterns. That takes the guesswork out of fly selection.

Another neat aspect of the IdentaFly app is that it can help you I.D. the patterns already in your fly box. Its built-in AI recognition scanner can help you identify the patterns you tied years ago but have forgotten what they were as well as those given to you by other anglers over the years – which helps you select the right fly to tie and use on the water.

IdentaFly is especially helpful for newer anglers who might not have years of entomology knowledge tucked away in their heads. But even veterans will appreciate the reminders, particularly when traveling to unfamiliar waters where hatch schedules differ from what they’re used to at home.

(Want to watch a video about how the app works? Check out this one about matching a little black stonefly hatch: “Early Season Hatches: Little Black Stonefly.”)

How they work together

Individually, both apps are valuable. Together, they form a powerful one-two punch for fly fishermen. DIY Fly Fishing gets you to the right stream at the right time with reliable directions and stream conditions. IdentaFly helps you zero in on the right fly once you arrive.

Think of it this way: DIY Fly Fishing solves the “where and when” of your trip, while IdentaFly solves the “what and how.” The result is more time spent actually fishing and less time fumbling around trying to figure things out.

A great feature of both apps is that they also have website versions. You can access everything available on the app on their respective websites. Also, both apps are reasonably priced at $29.99, compared to similar apps which cost twice as much.