How beneficial have you found the contour line trolling to be? Is it more so a novel idea and less of a practical/well executed feature?

It’s a useless novelty. I sold my birds after I tried it. Went with Carbons. Everything worth having on the Ultrex works on its own.

I don’t use it very often but it has worked great the few times I have used it.

You're that much happier with the Lowrance?

In my case, absolutely! I went from second gen Helix units with severely crappy looking side images to Carbons with AI and 800khz beautiful side images. It was like going from a VHS to BlueRay. Also the Carbons can control the PowerPole stuff and added audio/video capabilities for days when the fishing ain’t so good.

If I had the Solix stuff, I might have forgone the Carbons, but I didn’t.

Follow contour isn’t any good if there may be stumps.... it also is a pain to restart when you go get in snagged etc.

I dont Use it.

I never use it. I rarely use any of the link benefits. I know it only takes a a few seconds to a minute to activate it on the unit (follow contour, go to waypoint, etc.) but I am too impatient to actually work the trolling motor from my graph.

+1, I rarely use my birds to their full extent

Great tool for deep water fishing. Works great with my Ulterra and Solixs units.

You're essentially circling the offshore target/area, yes?

I use the jog feature. Perfect to move a few feet at a time.

I will also mark schools of fish and than use the contour lines feature to move in that depth and to move around them.

Just make sure to set your lake offset.

On deep banks, flats and ledges, it’s the bomb

I actually use the advanced I pilot mode more. Instead of using the contour I will activate the advanced I pilot and a black and white checkered line will appear on the Hbird unit as a projected path. You can change the projected path as you go by turning the motor as well .Set the cruise control and then I can follow that projected path at the speed I choose. I can do this without a lakemaster card also, works great

I personally use it and like it. Only issue i have is when having to change course for a snag and having to reset it.

I have both but I've yet to actually utilize the feature. I think its pretty cool when I hit spotlock, it makes a spotlock waypoint. I like having it though.