IdentaFly: The App Revolutionizing Fly Fishing, One Hatch at a Time

The Fly Box LLC
May 20, 2025
4 min read

This interview was conducted by The Fly Box and featured in Casts That Care, our charity-driven fly fishing newsletter.

Casts That Care brings you real stories, big ideas, and the heart of the fly fishing world—all while donating 50% of subscriber fees to a different fly fishing charity each month.

Subscribe today and use promo code: "IdentaFly15" at checkout for 15% off your first month, and we’ll donate 25% more to conservation efforts, supported by IdentaFly!

Fly fishing is a sport rich in tradition, passed down from angler to angler over generations. However, the complexity of choosing the right flies, understanding seasonal hatches, and adapting to varied conditions can overwhelm even experienced anglers.

IdentaFly is changing this narrative by introducing cutting-edge technology into the sport, making fly fishing more approachable without losing its authenticity. This integration of AI could profoundly enhance how anglers connect with nature and master their craft.

Origins: From Curiosity to Innovation

The idea for IdentaFly emerged from a childhood experience of Jeff, one of the app’s co-founders.

At 12 years old, Jeff asked an angler who was catching fish constantly what fly he was using, only to receive the dismissive response, "Go figure it out." Instead of discouraging him, this moment inspired Jeff, driving him to deeply understand fly fishing and entomology. As a certified entomologist and leader of Colorado’s High Plains Drifters fly fishing club, Jeff envisioned a tool to simplify fly selection.

In spring 2023, Phil, a software developer recently laid off, connected with Jeff and embraced the opportunity to combine his technological skills with a new passion. This collaboration highlights the potential for personal circumstances and shared passions to ignite innovative solutions.

Bud, the third co-founder, has been fly fishing since the 1980s when he caught a smallmouth bass on his very first cast. He’s been tying flies since junior high, experimenting with both traditional and modern patterns. As a longtime board member of the High Plains Drifters, Bud plays a key role in education, community outreach, and maintaining fly fishing’s sense of shared knowledge.

Bridging Tradition with Technology

Although fly fishing is typically enjoyed as an escape from technology, smartphones have become a practical part of outdoor adventures. IdentaFly integrates naturally by addressing practical questions like identifying current hatches or selecting appropriate flies without overwhelming the angler. This thoughtful integration could pave the way for technology to enhance traditional outdoor experiences rather than detract from them.

How IdentaFly Works: AI Simplified

IdentaFly’s core feature is its AI-powered image recognition tool. Anglers snap a photo of a fly, and the app analyzes image quality and pattern to provide accurate matches and confidence scores. Recognizing an insect's identification was less reliable due to photographic challenges. AI-based fly recognition faces inherent difficulties such as poor lighting, blurry photos, and fly variations. Phil notes that user-submitted photos often add complexity, but ongoing improvements and user education have substantially enhanced accuracy.

To answer the main question asked, Can this app recognize bugs? the team developed the Hatch Forecast, predicting local insect hatches based on geography and season, even without connectivity.

The Hatch Forecast feature addresses outdated and confusing traditional hatch charts by offering clear, interactive timelines and real species photos. Using GPS, anglers receive precise local hatch data monthly and soon weekly, even in remote, offline areas. This kind of accessible information could significantly improve anglers' experiences and confidence on the water.

Community Contributions and Accuracy, Education and Engagement

IdentaFly encourages community contributions but ensures accuracy by requiring patterns to have verifiable references or commercial availability. This balance maintains an informative and manageable database, underscoring the value of curated community involvement.

IdentaFly serves not just as an identification tool but as an educational resource. Over 95% of patterns include complete tying instructions, helping anglers improve their skills. The free fishing journal tracks successful flies and locations, fostering ongoing learning and engagement. This comprehensive approach can elevate user knowledge and enjoyment significantly.

Future Vision: Enhancing Angler Knowledge

The future of IdentaFly is focused on creating genuinely useful features driven by collective user insights. Phil envisions a database enriched by user observations, offering comprehensive regional hatch data benefiting both anglers and conservationists. This forward-thinking approach could revolutionize how angler communities contribute to and benefit from shared knowledge.

Discover IdentaFly Today

Interested anglers can download IdentaFly on the Apple App Store, Google Play, or explore via their web app at my.identafly.app. New users are encouraged to try the free fly pattern database, hatch forecasts, and fishing journal. Phil emphasizes that while there is a learning curve, support is readily available. IdentaFly stands poised to significantly enhance every angler's time on the water.