Map/bottom profile software

[Chadster]

What is the difference between the Lakemap product vs. Map Source, Global map, or Navionics? Aren't they all the basically the same? I do see more lakes available through Lakemap. Is one more universal? Hope to use with a handheld or possiblly Lowrance 15MT. Your help in explaining this would be appreciated.

[Mike Michalak]

Chadster,

There is no standard for GPS mapping. The brands you mention all have proprietary programs to handle contour information.

There are only a few sources on the planet for lake data. Lakemap draws theirs largely from public domain (state) information in a few states. It's not fully compatible with OEM units and needs some extras to execute the program. But there are a lot of lakes available, if the particular state has them mapped and available digitally.

MapSource is a Garmin product that licenses data from various companies, much of which, again, is information in the public domain. The exception are the goverment (USGS/NOAA) charts of navigable waterways. That means big water usually. They also license data from us for their inland freshwater lakes. It's a slow process to convert all this stuff into a useable form, but the lake list grows monthly.

Navionics does pretty much the same thing. Their HotMaps brand features FHS data and the list is available online at www.navionics.com. The rest of their data is as described above, but manufacturers treat it differently. Lowrance, for example, converts the information into their own format, depending on the unit. So does Garmin, Raytheon, Furono, Si-Tex and others. It's downloadable, on CD-ROM on MMC chips and the list goes on, again, no standard.

So, what's all this mean to you? It depends on where you fish and what's available for the waters you spend time on. Shop around. The Garmin 168 and Lowrance X15 units are award winners. Raytheon has some fine equipment out there too. Look for lake information that will give you what YOU want. If all you want are contours, there's a lot to choose from. If you want fishing info, the list gets smaller.

GPS units are turning into mini-computers for your console. They are putting intelligence into these boxes now and that means you do have some more choices. While it may take a little more effort on your part, I believe it's worth it. Good luck out there...

Mike Michalak
President
Fishing Hot Spots, Inc.

[Chadsater]

Thanks Mike, this is a start. Do you know off hand if any of the handhelds out there can display the contour info? Also, when you say Fishing info, what do you mean? I have several of the Hot Spots paper maps. They are great. Is all of the information that is on the paper maps availible electronically?

I am having difficulty finding a retailer in the SE michigan area who carries the big names in electronics and really understand their products capabilities. If anyone out there has suggestions, I am all ears.

Also, I would love to hear from the users out there. What do you guys think? How accurate/valuable do think bottom contour info is in your fishing strategy?

[SeaCat]

I am now in SW Michigan, but when I was over near Lansing I would head down to Lakeside Sports in St. Clair Shores and got good info.

As for use of the contours, I have a Magellan 6500 handheld (no longer made -- new one is a 410 I think) and it takes the C-Map NT chips. For Lk Mighigan I use it in the early spring for shallow fishing and off Ludington in the fall to stay on the 70-120 line off of the state park. On Erie, I have the cart, but aside from over by the islands in Ohio have not found it too useful. The "problem" with C-Map is that it covers big water well but not so good for inland.

Saw some mapping software at the shows this spring -- sorry the name escapes me right now -- and it looked great and "supported" a lot of GPS units and had lots of lakes. After some further investigation though, it did not actually download the maps to the GPS, but only the waypoints. Looked great on the PC and had a built in fishing database, but relied on other mapping or just used the unit's track plotter to diplay the waypoints. Close to ideal, but no cigar from what I can figure out.

Ryan

[dogfish1]

Mike,

Am in the process of ordering a Garmin 182 mapping unit. I live in WI. Wondering when Hot Spots will come out with contour info for Winnebago chain of lakes? Would think it would be a big seller. Or is it out already. I see that it is in digital format for pc and also Navonic's has it alvailable for Lowrance products.

thanks for any info,
Jason

[Mike Michalak]

df1...

I can't speak for Garmin or Navionics. Both have licensed our entire database and we don't know what's released and when. A check of their sites periodically will let you (and us) know what's up.

Winnebago was just updated and both companies have the latest version.

Mike

[Mike Michalak]

Chadster,

There are several portable units capable of handling the map data. Thumb through a Bass Pro or Cabelas catalog to see which does what.

As for the fishing info...if the manufacturer includes it, yes, it's the text from our maps. Fishing areas, tips, techniques, the works. And thanks for the kinds words!

Mike

[dogfish1]

Mike,

Thanks for the info, I'll be looking for it.