As evident on this blog, I’ve been using GIS data for some time to analyze streams and assess the current status of brook trout in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania has a wealth of data on our fisheries and hydrology. This data is immensely valuable to anglers for multiple species, and putting all of this data together in one easy-to-use map has been a goal of mine for a long time.
Enter TheFishLogic.com. TheFishLogic is an easy-to-use mapping tool that works on phones (iphone and android), tablets, and of course, any PC/Mac web browser. The tool uses public data sources to analyize weather (barometric pressure and rainfall), USGS flow data, and lunar data paired with biological data (fish & insects) to drive intelligent angling predictions and reports.
Below is a quick demo showing some of the features. NOTE! The app has evolved since this video was created, and there are more features available today.
Here is a current feature list:
- USGS Realtime Data – Quickly visualize the current flow conditions across the state. We use realtime flow data with historical averages to determine the current conditions and use colored “pins” to display the current conditions.
- Flow Trends – We use predictive models and current realtime data to indicate flow trends on most of PA’s trout streams.
- Fishing Forecast – Five day forecast for the best (or worst) fishing days. We use barometric pressure, lunar, rainfall, storm front, and USGS flow data, along with biological data for fish and insects, to predict hatches, spawning activity (lake species), and the best days to fish.
- MuskyLogic™ – Lunar/Solar data, barometric pressure, weather and biological data to predict the best windows to target Musky.
- Species Lists – Each lake lists commonly found species, their current behavior and fishing tips based on time of year and current conditions.
Future Feature List:
- Location data – Quickly shows your current location on the map
- Directions – Use your current location to get instant Google Map directions to any body of water in the app.
- Favorites List – Create your own list of your favorite waters so you can quickly see current conditions.
- FAQ – Common questions on species and angling tips.
- Predictive Flow Analysis – Underneath the hood, the map is driven using USGS HUC12 (Hydrological Unit Code at the 12 scale) to predict flows on streams without USGS gauges. In a future update, we’ll use rainfall data along with surface area to predict future flows across all streams on the map.
