Hey guys and gals,
For those of you using Navioncs mapping, are you satisfied with what you got. Building the wish list for next year and this one is high on the list...

Also, Anyone know of a good PC mapping program that covers the west? I fish mostly Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Kansas... I'd love something that was good for looking at contour and then plugging gps coordinates into the finder...
Todd

I have the navionics great lakes chip and the eastern hot spots chip and I use them both, sometimes the water depth might be off a little but the lake water level changes. I completely happy with both
not just for contour lines but also for the map, I have used it in the fog to navagate.

I use a Navionics Gold + FishNchip for the great lakes also use a Navionics Hotmaps Premium for smaller lakes and I am very happy with them.

I use a Navionics Gold + FishNchip for the great lakes also use a Navionics Hotmaps Premium for smaller lakes and I am very happy with them.

how do you use the fish n chip ?
I have one too and never used it, do you load it instead of the great lakes chip ?

Hot Maps Explorer

http://www.fugawi.com/web/products/navionics_hotmaps_explorer.htm

Its not a bad chip. To me, its over priced. If I were you, I would search out a left over chip. With the new ones coming out, they should be out there. Last year, Cabelas was selling the old ones for 59 bucks.

how do you use the fish n chip ?
I have one too and never used it, do you load it instead of the great lakes chip ?

Yes, its either or, you can't load them both together, and you still have go in the menu and select the area you're fishing, great detail for fishing.

Where it stands out is fishing and exploring new big water like the great lakes. Some of the additional data that you get that others skimp on can be invaluable. Like that 9 pounder who just returned the favor and set a reef runner treble in your hand. Now where is the best place to get some assistance or at least nearest marina.

Will it show you head waters of trout streams when you want to find some brookies or search for cutthroat.... I don't know.

What I can tell you is that when I bought my most recent boat and didn't have the chip yet I felt like I was fumbling around in the kitchen in the dark. I had the base map with depths and such but again it was like the kitchen analogy.... the counter corner should be just in front of me .... now... as I smack into it.... I knew where I was but had trouble finding the specific structure I knew was there with the base maps