Why do you need a bass fishing app in the first place?
One of the most straightforward ways to enhance your bass fishing proficiency is by maintaining a log. Record detailed observations regarding the lake, the conditions, the bait utilized, the technique employed, the location, the weather, the moon phase, and any other significant information. Once you have accumulated sufficient data, you can review it and identify patterns that can help you determine what approach and gear to use on different lakes at different times. You can even use traditional paper to log your observations and organize them by month, season, lake, or other categorization that suits your preference.
Paper logs have two drawbacks:
- Time to maintain – At the end of the day, you should sit down and write that stuff down. Furthermore, you must write or take notes while fishing.
- Tracking down what you’re looking for – Finding information can be difficult, especially after years of logging. There is so much paper and pages that getting the information you need for a trip takes forever. Here’s where fishing log apps come in handy. There are many different types of apps; some are so automatic that they appear to be from a science fiction film, while others require quite a bit of manual input. They also come in a variety of price points. So we did some research, spoke with some developers, and compiled a list of apps to help you get started on your serious quest to become a better angler this year.
Check out these 5 bass fishing apps!
5 of the Best Bass Fishing App
ConnectScale
ConnectScale is an Android and iOS Bluetooth smart digital scale and fishing app. When you weigh a fish, it enters the information into the app without requiring you to pull out your phone. It will also assign a color to the fish so that you can clip a culling ring to it (no holes required), allowing you to cull the correct fish every time.
You will need to enter some information manually at first, but it also has an autofill feature that will use the data from the previous catch if desired. It records waypoints and GPS data, as well as weather data. Simply weigh a fish and the system will automatically enter the air temperature, date, time, and GPS location.
You have the option of sharing via Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Simply launch the app and leave it running in the background on your phone. The app provides plenty of space for notes and details, and the summary includes pie charts and time charts, as well as pins on your map. You have the option of sharing GPS or not. ConnectScale plus the Clip-N-Cull is available for $119 online at connectscale.com.
Fatsack
The Fatsack app can do a variety of things. It keeps track of your tackle box (including a scanner! ), keeps a catch log, allows you to create and join tournaments, analyzes your data, allows you to post to bragboards, and even includes articles and videos about all things fishing.
The app also integrates with ConnectScale to make maintaining the log even easier. Simply weigh a fish, and all pertinent information is automatically recorded. Instead of typing, you can simply speak to the app to add more information. Favorite rigs are created by combining all of your best gear, which can also be added to the log.
When you first start using it, there is some manual entry, as with all apps. If you want to keep track of your lures and equipment, you must enter them, and if you do not have the ConnectScale, you must log each fish you catch. But it’s as simple as pressing a button, which resembles a fat sack of fish.
This app also includes a pre-fish page for many waterways, so if you’re fishing somewhere new, you can get some pointers before you go. Some even have hotspots identified. You can look for tournaments in your area or even start your own, which can be public or private. Fatsack is available for free with in-app purchases of waypoint packs for $10 each. iOS and Android versions are available.
Fishbrain
Fishbrain is a social app that allows users to log their catches and locations. It’s free, but it costs $5.99/month or $59.99/year to plan your trip with forecasts and unlock all the shared fish catch locations and best baits. Yes, you can share your catches and locations using other free apps like Instagram, through its link in bio (if you don’t know how to, check out this post on How to Add a Link to Instagram Bio), but with Fishbrain, you can “follow” other fishermen, and the app will look through your contacts for you.
The majority of the data is entered by hand. You record all of the information you want and then decide what to make public. However, the app improves as more catches are made public. It is compatible with iOS and Android.
Fishaholics
Fishaholics is a social app similar to Fishbrain, but there are no in-app purchases. It’s also simple to use, with no unnecessary clutter. It uses GPS to mark waypoints and drop pins (which you pay for with Fishbrain), and any user can view all of the shared data. It works even if you don’t have internet or cellular service – and it’s all free. It automatically records weather, location, and moon phases, and the map shows where fish are caught.
You can share whatever you want, and with 15,000 users in 40 countries, you can get advice from your fishing buddies no matter where your travels take you. It also accurately logs weather data from old photos and will notify you when fish are caught nearby. There are built-in photo filters, and all you need to do to log a catch is take a photo of it. The app is currently only available on iOS, but an Android version is in the works.
Anglers’ Log Fishing Journal
If all you want is an app that will create a fishing log for you, the Anglers’ Log Fishing Journal is free. It allows you to log information such as photos, baits, and techniques, as well as automatically acquire your location and weather for each catch. However, you must tap the fields to get these, so it is all done manually. However, the app is free, which is a huge plus – if it gets you to start keeping a log, it has accomplished its goal. It is compatible with both Android and iOS.
The modern angler has an incredible number of options for keeping a fishing log, and the only mistake is not keeping one. Get out your old notebook or go online to get an electronic version. Your options include automatic or manual sharing, sharing with everyone, or just your squad. It is entirely up to you. But keeping a fishing log WILL make you a better fisherman, so even if you haven’t done it in years, start today.
