What App You River And Creek fisher Using?

[ATA]

I wonder what kind of app you are using to get info on your river and stream fishing. Coz I have new interest to go after river small mouth while looking for trout.

[moguy1973]

Not really an app but the USGS website has river levels on this map:

 

https://m.waterdata.usgs.gov/

[TnRiver46]

We don’t need no stinking app!!!

[Finessegenics]

Don't think this is the kind of info you're looking for, but Google Maps and Google Earth is all I use when looking for new places to explore. A lot of the time with small rivers, it's hard to get a good look at them as trees and stuff are usually blocking the satellite view on these areas. I still think it's worth a shot. 

[Tennessee Boy]

I've used the TVA app.   I don't think it's very popular in California.

[HookInMouth]

I use the river app for water levels. Google earth for everything else. 

[schplurg]

Google maps here. Extensively when I bank fish new areas.

[schplurg]

I did a video or two showing how you can sometimes get Street View near rivers if there's a walking path nearby.

 

I knew a gal who was a pedestrian version of a Google Camera car and she'd walk trails with a backpack and the 360 camera over her head. Sometimes people upload photos to the maps as well.

 

One important thing to find is where to park and how you can access the river, so having as many roads mapped out as possible is ideal (Google). You also need to know where private property is, sometimes the map can help.

 

Once I find a spot I will sometimes do a general web search and see if anyone has fished there. Youtube videos for sure. Every bit helps. Sometimes it's a well known spot, other times I find no info.

 

Finally, sometimes you just have to go out there and get dirty. I bring a machete and get a lot of foxtails in my socks, but if you do this you can find some great spots that are rarely fished, seems that way anyways. Sometimes if there's no path then you are on the right path!

[ATA]

25 minutes ago, schplurg said:

I did a video or two showing how you can sometimes get Street View near rivers if there's a walking path nearby.

 

I knew a gal who was a pedestrian version of a Google Camera car and she'd walk trails with a backpack and the 360 camera over her head. Sometimes people upload photos to the maps as well.

 

One important thing to find is where to park and how you can access the river, so having as many roads mapped out as possible is ideal (Google). You also need to know where private property is, sometimes the map can help.

 

Once I find a spot I will sometimes do a general web search and see if anyone has fished there. Youtube videos for sure. Every bit helps. Sometimes it's a well known spot, other times I find no info.

 

Finally, sometimes you just have to go out there and get dirty. I bring a machete and get a lot of foxtails in my socks, but if you do this you can find some great spots that are rarely fished, seems that way anyways. Sometimes if there's no path then you are on the right path!

ill check your channel to find that video.

[bulldog1935]

My fishing buddy Josh is a Google Earth Apostle. 

He overlays NOAA Navigation charts, and links wind, tides and water level from NOAA stations...

 

Here's his tutorial on how to link USGS Real-Time Streamflow Data to Google Earth

http://www.texaskayakfisherman.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=251189 

also lake levels

 

That TKF thread also links to his Basic and Coastal Google Earth tutorials. 

[Bdnoble84]

River data app in app store

[ATA]

5 hours ago, Bdnoble84 said:

River data app in app store

I got the free version of it, Have another version which is paid application, which one you have?

[Bdnoble84]

Free

[OldManLure]

https://water.weather.gov/ahps/forecasts.php
 

This NWS site is excellent and, in my opinion, invaluable.  It provides on one graph real time water levels, flow rates, and forecasts rise/fall in levels based on weather forecast.  Of course the information won’t be very meaningful until you get on a river and see firsthand how the river looks at the various levels/flow rates provided by the graph.   Eventually, and sooner than later, you’ll be able to look at graph and know exactly what to expect when you get to your section of the river.

 

[schplurg]

I just did this whole Google Maps creek fishing thing a few days ago.

 

I discovered that one nearby creek is still flowing. Looked it up on a map - it's kind of suburban. Found some places on the map where the creek looked wider and accessible, then figured out how to get there from what looked like a dirt trail best I could.

 

This isn't the most difficult area to explore but it's just an example.

 

There's also a bike path nearby. The entire bike path has Street View, so I could use that to see how the creek looked in some spots. Are there thick trees? Is it too steep? Fences?

 

Then I followed that path on the map to find places I could park my van. I used street view to find trail entrances, even read the street signs, see if parking is allowed, and ended up parking exactly where I planned on the map.

 

I hiked along the creek almost entirely off the path, crashing through branches, sticks, trees, over rock piles. I hiked about 5 - 6 miles overall.

 

Water was gin clear and I saw zero signs of aquatic life. No frogs, guppies, snails, or anything else except for ONE TINY fish or frye, like less than an inch. But I fished anyways.

 

Was a fun day. I met a few people along the way, saw some deer and almost got a thorny branch straight into my crotch. Almost!

 

I was trying to step over it I guess and ended up with a leg on each side, and I was baaaarely tall enough! Then came a moment of deep thought. "Okay, don't panic, but there's a thorny branch between my legs pressing upwards on my pants. Think very carefully about your next move, Mike"

 

Made it home in one piece, tired, sore, fishless and that was fine.

 

[Standard]

Like others, I mainly use the NWS to check river levels before I go, if available.  

 

There's actually portions of the Mississippi and Rum river up here in MN that are on street view.  Someone went down with a canoe / boat and a 360* camera attached.  Pretty cool to be able to look at portions I haven't fished and get a feel for how the banks look.  I'll also use street view if it's available at any bridge crossing over the river.

 

Navionics has depth charts for a good chunk of the bigger rivers, but best used as a general guide.