Hot Spots GPS Maps

[Worm Dunker]

Any one know when Fishing Hot Spots is coming out with lake maps you can load on a gps that have contors,depths ect.?
Thanks the Worm Dunker

[Brian/MN]

Funny you should ask. There's a press release just out about a release of FHS maps for Garmin mapping GPS units.

[Someday]

Is this what you are looking for?: http://navionics.com/FHS/

[Sunshine]

So which Lowrance product(s) do I need for this to Work?

[Mike Michalak]

Good question! Fishing Hot Spots, as a company, isn't coming out with GPS maps. We supply all the maps and fishing information used by companies like Navionics, Garmin, Lowrance, Raytheon, etc.

Right now there are a couple ways to get it. First, through Navionics at www.navionics.com. Check out the HotMaps link and you'll see what's available for any Navionics compatible unit out there, like the Lowrance LMS160, Raytheon RC420 and others.

Then, in March, and this was the news release eluded to, Garmin is coming out with MapSource Fishing Hot Spots. A CD-ROM for nine different regions of the country with select maps. This is an initial offering and the lake selections will get better later in the year we're informed by Garmin. There's nothing up on their site as of this morning, but I'm sure that'll be changing soon. Garmin dealers were made aware of the new product a couple weeks ago. Right out of the box the new 162 & 168 sounders and the eTrex units can use the data.

These maps are all seamless and offer the traditional and updated fishing info we have in presentations that are really pretty good and quite complete. The new Lowrance X15 won "Best Of" honors at a recent trade show with FHS info on-board.

So, keep an eye on your dealers...their websites and if you want to drop me a note here from time-to-time, please do so and I'll answer what I can.

Mike Michalak
President
Fishing Hot Spots

[Lund_Dude]

Mike:

I hate to sound like a broken record. Do you have any idea when the Lowrance version Hot maps will be available. As we have discussed in the past, I ordered some in August and was told they would be ready in 30 days...I am still waiting. The navionics folks have been telling me that they are comming soon. Any help? Thanx!

[Mike Michalak]

We're aware of the situation and will be meeting with the president of Navionics at the Miami Boat Show next month about that and other issues. I can tell you it's a complicated process to bring this infomation to the screen and sync it to the GPS.

Be patient (I know it's hard) and allow me to see if I can nudge them into getting things out sooner.

Mike Michalak
FHS

[Mike M (again)]

Oops, I forgot to mention that Lowrance is slowing down the availability too, as they gear up their new units for the year. They're going through some software changes and haven't added the HotMaps library in its entirety yet.

Mike M
FHS