Review: Mobile Solunar apps for iPhones & iPads

Fishing Days iPA Version 1.02

Whether we like it or not, bass fishing has been transformed into the information age of sophisticated electronic equipment. With the introduction of HD video depth sounders which display sonar, side and down images integrated with GPS and HD contour mapping and a host of other data, it’s no wonder published solunar tables are being replaced with “smart phone” applications.

These mobile applications help to determine the relative activity level of wildlife for any specific location and date around the world. That means no more paper tables with complicated recalculations for different locations and dates. The question is, are these applications ready for prime time?

To test it out, I downloaded three such apps to my iPhone 4, iPad 2 and iMac. I worked with these application simultaneously on my Apple devices and testing their usefulness, intuitiveness, reliability of data, and helpfulness.

General Comments:
There was a difference between each application as to the relative wildlife activity per day, length of activity and duration of activity. This was most evident while traveling from Central/South Texas to Southwest Washington State down to Central Costa Rica and back to Texas. The variations ranged from poor to moderate to good for the same day at the same location.

My personal conviction about the use of solunar tables is that the information is just one of many factors influencing wildlife activity. These application do address various factors which affect activity in their information pages. In my guiding business, I use solunar data to select best activity days and most favorable time (morning, afternoon, or night) for my clients. Following are my personal opinions about the three applications tested.

Fishing Days: version 1.02 by Oleg Ovechkin @ www.bulbax.com
Features: This application is available is English and Russian and is the most unique concept of the three. It is based on fish species, only European and Asian species at present. It identifies, by picture and name, a large number of species along with the relative feeding activity for the day. Once you click on the arrow to the right of the picture, additional species specific information is displayed. This information includes favorite baits, location likelihood, typical hook sizes and line sizes.

Evaluation: The concept is unique and I believe has potential, especially for beginning anglers. The “How it Works” information is well written and explains the details behind using solar/lunar tables. However, with limited features, minimal species information, combined with inaccurate or unclear wildlife activity information, I must give this application version a thumbs down for usefulness in the US.

Solunar: version 2.0 by K Solution LLC
Features: Typical solunar tables which include sun and moon rise, set and transit times. Major and minor activity periods are listed along with relative activity indices displayed as 1 to 6 fish icons. The moon phase is graphically displayed with the various moon shapes and locations can be manually entered or automatically acquired via GPS.

Evaluation: This mobile application delivers adequate solunar information. There are no bells or whistles to get in the way and the data is delivered in an easily understood format. The only real negative was the extended length of time necessary for the GPS to triangulate my position. I am not sure if the 6 fish icons verses typical 4, or the sun’s transit add any value, but overall, I would recommend this application for its ease of use.

iSolunar: version 2.1.4 by RedSnake Enterprises, LLC @ i-solunar.com
Features: This application displays all the generally accepted solunar events for determining major and minor activity levels, including the event 12.5 hours after the moon transit, which determines when the moon is directly underneath. The relative activity levels are notated as 1 to 4 fish icons. These icons can also be changed to different species of fish, animals and even turkey. Other very important information includes the barometric pressure as well as current weather conditions plus 4 days forecast for that same location. Other features include the “Trophy Room” were photos and specific data about that event can be stored, then shared via email and Facebook. You can even send a week’s worth of solunar information for any location via an email with just a few clicks.

Evaluation: Impressive and well worth the cost. This is the application I will use in conjunction with my guiding business. Because the iSolunar application is worthy of an in-depth review, I will be writing a special full length article about this mobile application in the near future, so watch for it.

Barry Dodd

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