Navionics and Hotmaps

[Brax]

I own many Hot Spots fishing map, was one of the first to buy the Hot Spots CD and now have started with my first Navionics chip. I bouht it even after reading all the grumbling on this board about the accuracy. Just yesterday I was on the Fox river at DePere in a friends boat. When we motored up by the dam his GPS showed us on land and not on the river. Mind you we were at least 200 yards from land at the time. His chip was from 2001, so we took his chip out and put in my new chip, the 2004 version. To our suprise the map on the GPS showed us in our correct spot. We swaped them back and forth a couple of times and always the results were the same. Point being the new chips are better, at least in the Fox River.

I have been thinking of the accuracy problem and think I have a solution. I read a post about some software that you can make your own lake maps with using your actual sonar data. Then it dawned on me. Why don't Hot Spots or Navionics set up a data base that real fishermen can upload real on water readings? They can then use this information to create more acurate maps. Most units that can record this information are at the higher end so the information should be of a high quality (depth and GPS). They can then create a point cloud of all the points and have the computer average them to produce a very acurate map. Isn't the way Lakemaster has created their 1' and 3' maps? For us fishermen, they can offer us rewards for uploading info, like for 100 mgs of infor you get a free chip or something like that. We also get access to better maps and that is what we all want anyway.

To me this is a win-win idea, I know it would not be easy to setup but once it was, Hot Spots and Navionics could save tons of money and years in surveying lakes. An on lake survey is the ONLY way to get this accurate info.

[Cold Front Illinois]

Call Jeff at Navionocs. I have found him very receptive to any ideas I have come up with, and he could maybe tell you it would work or why it would not work. He knows the ins and outs of the product.

I know he reads these posts reguarding his product, so he may already be coming up with an answer for you.

I do have conflicting reviews though. Navionics help line will tell you for fishing purposes, the classic is better even in the new color units, but the catalogues state Gold version for color units and Classic for the Black and White units. Has anybody used both the classic and gold in a color unit for inland lakes and rivers? If so, which do you prefer?

Thanks

[perchjerker]

I think its an interesting idea.

Speaking of Jeff, he is going to be my guest in the chatroom on April 7th.

[Caveat Emptor]

I went with the Classic HotMaps for my color Lowrance units. Why? Because some of the maps on the Classic chip have MORE contour lines than the Gold chips. :( Next time your at the store, ask them to demonstrate both chips in a color unit. For Wisconsin, look atv Lake Winnebago. Zoom in on some of the reefs and you'll see what I mean.

Don't get me wrong, the Gold maps are nice. I like the color differentiation. But knowing precisely where I am on a break is more important than a prettier picture.

[BraxII]

Perchjerker,

Please mention this to Jeff. I think this idea should be researched seriously. I talked to the people at Lakemaster and they said it would be quite awhile before they did on lake surveys of Wisconsin lakes. This may be the only we can get the 1' survey maps of Wisconsin lakes for in the next few years.

[perchjerker]

Just come on in to the chatroom. You can ask Jeff yourself and get his take on it.

[Pitts]

I just recieved my updated area #5 to area #10 MN, IA and I have used it on pool 3/4 and it is way better I am no longer up on shore while going down the river:)

I hope all the other lakes are this good.

Every 100 waypoints adds another lake to your chip after all the lakes are covered you get the chip for cost only:)



Pitts