In this article I am sharing some of my favorite apps for planning fishing trips. This review isn't necessarily the “top five” fishing apps on the market—but Navionics, MyRadar and OnWater are the Apps I’ve come to rely on. Some are brand new to my routine and have really impressed me, while other apps like the Windy app have been an essential tool for quite a while. Not all of them are fishing-specific either—but they all serve a clear purpose that makes my life easier when I’m on the road, in a kayak, or exploring a new waterway.
When it comes to planning a successful day on the water, there’s more to it than just loading up your kayak and heading out. Whether I’m chasing bass in my local lake or exploring coastal waters, I’ve found that a few powerful mobile apps have made a massive difference in how I plan, fish, and stay safe. Here’s a breakdown of the top fishing apps I use all the time—and why they’ve earned a permanent spot on my home screen.
Navionics App
If you’re looking for detailed mapping, the Navionics App is hard to beat. Navionics is now owned by Garmin, this app offers contour lines, fish attractors, buoys, boat ramps, and speed tracking. It’s a paid app—available via monthly or annual subscriptions—but for serious anglers, it’s worth it.
I especially love using it on local lakes like W. Kerr Scott Reservoir. On Navionics, I can download maps for offline use, see depth changes, and even access tide data by selecting the nearest tide station. This is especially useful in coastal areas where tide swings can leave you high and dry—literally. Knowing when to get off a flat or hit a particular tide window can make or break a day of fishing.
MyRadar App
When it comes to weather, it’s all about radar and wind—especially when you’re in a kayak or small boat. I’ve yet to find a single app that does everything perfectly, but for watching storm cells, lightning, and tracking rain movement, MyRadar App is hands-down my go-to radar app.
I love this app because you can toggle different layers—radar, lightning, forecast winds, hurricane tracking, and more on MyRadar. I keep things pretty simple, but I always have the radar and lightning layers turned on. That gives me a quick, visual read of where storms are, how fast they're moving, and what direction they're headed. That’s the kind of information that can make or break your day on the water—or keep you safe in sudden weather shifts.
Even the free version of the app works great (though you might see a few ads). For what I need—real-time storm awareness—MyRadar delivers.
Windy App
If you fish in a kayak like I do, you know that wind matters. It dictates where I can safely fish, whether I can sight-cast effectively, or if I’ll even want to be on the water.
Windy is the app I use to see exactly what the wind is doing—and what it’s going to do. You can tap anywhere on the map and get a readout of wind speed and direction, plus zoom out to see large-scale weather patterns. The color-coded visuals (green = calm, yellow = breezy, etc.) are easy to interpret at a glance.
You can also scrub forward by the hour to see how the wind will shift throughout the day or over the next few days. That kind of forecasting helps me plan which side of the marsh to fish or whether I’ll need to tuck into protected backwaters.
I use this one specifically for wind—it’s just that good at it.
Fishing Knots App
I fish a wide range of species in a lot of different places, which means I’m often switching up rigs and gear. That’s where the Fishing Knots App comes in. Whether I’m tying braid to fluorocarbon, rigging up a fly line, or just need a refresher on an old knot I haven’t used in a while—this app saves me time and frustration.
It has clear illustrations and covers just about every knot you’ll ever need. It’s not flashy, but it’s functional, and it’s one of the apps I open most often on the water.
Fish Rules App
One of the most important parts of being an ethical angler is knowing the regulations—and that’s where the Fish Rules App comes in. It allows you to search quickly by species, like snapper, and immediately see all relevant regulations for that fish in your state, like Florida. You can set your location manually or enable location services for automatic detection.
Beyond regulations, the app lets you create a profile, view maps, and even access useful tips. It’s a simple, fast way to stay compliant with local laws and avoid any unwanted surprises on the water.
iSolunar App
While I don’t live and die by lunar phases, there’s no denying that fish behavior is influenced by the moon—and the iSolunar App helps you make the most of that knowledge. This app shows you the best feeding times based on moon phase and location. You can view major and minor activity windows, and even look ahead to see which days might offer better conditions.
When conditions are tough—like in the middle of summer when fish tend to be sluggish—checking these feeding periods can give you an edge. For instance, if I planned to leave at 1 p.m. but see a peak feed coming up at 1:30, I might hang around a bit longer. It’s not a magic bullet, but it’s a helpful tool in the right context.
OnWater App
The OnWater App is the one I’m most excited about right now. OnWater started with a focus on rivers but has expanded to include lakes, contour data, satellite imagery, wind and weather layers, and so much more. Think of it as Google Maps for anglers.
OnWater shows rivers, creeks, public and private access points, tackle shops, outfitters, and even flow conditions—all in one place. I can view real-time river data like CFS (cubic feet per second) and water level, and save my favorite gauges with custom parameters for safe and ideal fishing conditions.
You can also measure float distances between put-ins and take-outs, which saves so much time compared to manually marking maps. And with downloadable maps, you can use all this data even when you’re out of cell range.
Best Fishing Apps
Each of these weather and fishing apps fills a specific need—from staying legal and safe to timing your outings and understanding your fishing environment. While you could rely on a single app, I’ve found the best approach is using a combination: one for regs, one for timing, one for mapping, and one like OnWater that ties it all together.
If you’re serious about catching more fish and making the most of your time on the water, I highly recommend checking out these weather and fishing apps. They’ve become essential tools in my fishing toolkit—and they might just help you land your next big one.
Read an article about popular hiking apps by Mike Fink from Epic Trails TV.
