"Mobile communication devices are encouraged for safety reasons but their use is prohibited during tournament hours for the purposes of finding or locating fish." A rule I see a lot in tourneys. I have a question about this rule. I understand you're not allowed to call anyone during tourney to solicit advice but what if I wanted to use an app that would help me find a spot I'd like to fish like navionics or something like that? Would that be considered against the rules? Not sure how it's any different than using a fish finder.

Totally legal as far as I know. If not ive been doing illegal things for quite a while. Like you said it's basically like having another graph on while fishing/running. I love my Navionocs app on my phone. Even though I have the chip in my graph i tend to use my phone more because i can move it around faster.

Yeah I figured it was ok but just looking for confirmation because I don't want to break any rules.

I use Navionics in an iPad. Too. It's ok.

Ask your tournament director. They said the use of the Navionics app was specifically ILLEGAL for non-boaters at a FLW event I fished last year.

That's weird. I wonder why they wouldn't allow it.

When driving in the dark, I often have my partner help me navigate with his phone so I can keep my eyes on the water in front of me to watch for stumps or trees. Its a lot safer that way, especially on an unfamiliar lake.

I think there talking about the co angler, to keep them from marking the boaters spots.

Ask Luke Claussen..

My assumption as well.

When I read the word "phone" in that rule I interpret that to be communication device. Using the other capabilities on there is okay.