For me, every outing starts the day before (or days before) I actually go fishing. I start by researching the best fishing holes in the area using several trusted apps, websites, and of course Google. It’s worth noting that I do not use paid versions of any apps. I’m not against the idea of paying for a reliable and trustworthy app that really helps put me on the fish, but I haven’t found that perfect app yet.
Fishing Apps:
Some of the apps I’ve started to play with include Fishbrain, FishAngler, and Fisherman Navigator.
Fishbrain seems like it could be a decent app. I use the free version, but there is also a paid version that costs $74.99 per year. Using the free version, I get a fairly detailed map that is tied to my phone’s GPS. On the map, I see several different dots at supposed fishing spots and it shows how many fish were reportedly caught there. When you click one of the dots on the map, you can get more details on that spot, including an overview (complete with pics of fishermen showing off their catches), a list of species known to inhabit this particular water, top recommended baits (by species), best bite times (again by species), a weather forecast (complete with temps, wind speeds, air pressure, tides, plus sun and moon phases), community reviews from past fishermen, and a leaderboard showing who has reported catching the most fish at this location). I guess more advanced fishermen monitor this kind of thing. I mostly check the forecasts to see if I will be too cold, too hot, or too wet.
FishAngler initially seemed to be like Facebook for fishermen. Lots of stories and photos of people fishing and showing off their catches. This app also includes a detailed weather forecast complete with similar variables to the Fishbrain app. There is also a map where fishermen can mark their favorite spots and post details of their catches at this location.
Fisherman Navigator also features a similar map of the area with little markers showing how many fish were reportedly caught at that location. This app allows you to download maps to use offline (for a fee). They also allow you to save points onto the map and give directions so you can find that super-secret fishing hole again someday. There’s nothing worse than knowing you had a super fishing hole but forgetting where it was.
Fishing Websites:
I visit a number of different websites during my research phase too.
www.hookandbullet.com – As the name might suggest, this site is made for those who fish and/or hunt. When you click the “Fishing” link at the top of the page, this very helpful site lets you research by state, then county and then by the various bodies of water. When you select a specific body of water, it then gives a brief description, fishing reports, driving directions, other nearby bodies of water, and even shows the best time to fish this water. It’s not an exhaustive list. I know there are many lakes and rivers here in Berkshire County, MA that are not listed, but they do continue to add and improve the list.
In my state, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife offers a variety of resources for anglers. One of my favorites is an interactive map showing the general locations and times of trout stocking in our area. I suspect other states have similar tools available. Ours is at: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/trout-stocking-report.
Getting onto the water:
Once you choose a river, lake, or stream, you need to find a good access point that’s safe and legal. Sometimes that is harder than all the other research. I do a lot of scouting with Google Earth. You can really zoom in on roadways near your target water to spot parks, pull-offs, bridges, and other possible access points. It’s not perfect and tree cover certainly interferes with the satellite’s view, but Google Earth definitely helps.
And lastly, there is always a lot of driving around. Nothing beats boots on the ground (well, wheels on the road) for getting a close-up look at possible access points. Find a target river, find the nearby roads and just go. Odds are you’ll find a good access point sooner or later.
In the comments section, please tell us how you find your fishing areas. What apps, websites or other resources do you use?
Happy fishing.