Registered: 01/28/11
Posts: 536
Loc: San Diego, CA (in TX often)
Hey Guys,
I needed to make it a catchy title to get you in here haha. Well, I recently purchased my first bass boat (used) and hit the water a few times with it and seem to be doing well with my setup- A Humminbird 997c at the console and a 787c at the bow (which I'm upgrading to a 835c DI soon).
Anyway, I can't understand why you would get Navionics and what you would do with it when you get it? Maybe I just don't use this mapping/GPS stuff since the lakes I fish are not miles and miles long? Or maybe I'm not maximizing my fishing?
I was hoping you all can chime in and explain in simple terms what Navionics does in addition to the features that are already on the Humminbird electronics and why would I want Navionics? Also, how do you use it once you put the chip in if I was to buy it? Lastly, do you need it for each unit or just at the bow or just at the console?
Thanks for educating a rookie who is still trying to figure out how to get the most out of his DI/SI combo.
If you fish same water then no sir prolly not worth it but if u go to a lake you are unfamiliar with it will sure help u find creek channels ,ledges,points,ect and you can see all of that sitting in your driveway at home....also mark waypoints before you ever get there of stuff u may wanna check out. I will never be without a navionics chip but that's just my .02
personally I use mine a lot, getting depth ranges, slopes and channels, co ordinance spots. I have found them useful for the price, also if im on a lake I have not been on, I have a good contour map of the lake to start with.
_________________________ www.wd4entertainment.com us reels at the sound of my name, fish tremble proud owner of a 2002 tr22 triton yamaha 250 vmax tournament dir. bassmasters of east texas 6263 http://bmet6263.com "I humble myself before God, there the list ends" Sam Houston
In years past you got very little in the way of maps on units, you are correct now, especially the high end units (like the 997) have some solid maps on them. Before you make a purchase of a Navoinics card watch this video, if the lakes you like are available on the LakeMaster card it has wwwaaayyyyy more features.
Registered: 05/22/02
Posts: 177
Loc: Hot Sprngs Village, Arkansas
I think the mapping/GPS feature is the most important part of your unit or at least for me. I really use the maps to find the structure I want to fish like drop offs, ledges and humps. Then I can navigate to those areas and ensure I'm right on the ledge. Then you can use your side imaging/down inaging or 2d sonar to see what cover or fish are holding there. Without the maps I feel your flying blind. Also agree that the Lakemaster maps are much better but yes fewer lakes. The only reason Navionics is still the leader is they got a head start and Lakemaster is about the only compitition. Once Lakemaster has the lakes I fish I will switch in a heartbeat!
x-ray as the great Ron Burgundy said "We'll just have to agree to disagree", you know in German San Diego means "Whales va..." nevermind. I have both Navoinics and LakeMaster on this unit, there is signiciantly more detail on the LM card. And remember not hitting the hair....
x-ray as the great Ron Burgundy said "We'll just have to agree to disagree", you know in German San Diego means "Whales va..." nevermind. I have both Navoinics and LakeMaster on this unit, there is signiciantly more detail on the LM card. And remember no hitting the hair....
One thing I like about maps on units, whether it be base maps or chips, is the fact that you don't have to fool with a paper map in the boat. Reading a paper map in the wind or trying to re-fold it is a PITA. Another thing about maps is if you are on a new lake, it is impossible to get lost, it shows your boat position on the map. Before electronic mapping you would pull out a map and say "we must be just outside of this point, let's run up here 5 miles and fish this." You run five miles thinking you are headed to your next possible fishing spot and wham!! That point you thought you was just outside was a different point and now you've wasted five miles of running and are still lost.
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Originally Posted By: JCBfromTHF Water Dogs rock!!!!!
The water is always clearer, on the other side of the lake. ><>
I think the mapping/GPS feature is the most important part of your unit or at least for me. I really use the maps to find the structure I want to fish like drop offs, ledges and humps. Then I can navigate to those areas and ensure I'm right on the ledge. Then you can use your side imaging/down inaging or 2d sonar to see what cover or fish are holding there. Without the maps I feel your flying blind. Also agree that the Lakemaster maps are much better but yes fewer lakes. The only reason Navionics is still the leader is they got a head start and Lakemaster is about the only compitition. Once Lakemaster has the lakes I fish I will switch in a heartbeat!
+1. Its too bad they don't have more lakes in Texas and aren't compatible with Lowrance. If you fish Fork a lot and run Humminbird, lakemaster is hands down the way to go!
Going to our favorite spot on the lake I was cruising along and the depth shot up to about 2 feet in a flash. I about had to put on some new britches. Then I looked at my mapping card and noticed the hump in the middle of the lake that when it is high water( as truman usually is) its at least 6 foot deep. Too bad for me the lake was 2 foot low. Moral of the story is no matter how well you know the lake a mapping card can save your buns.
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