Navionics Hotmaps

[stuck1]

Does anybody use these? I saw a video tutorial on them, and it looked really interesting. I was just wondering how good they really are?

http://youtu.be/Iy2BFf6-lew

[pct]

I use it with my Lowerance 522Ci which is now not supported but it does work. I use it up at Lake Erie to help me find the reefs and at Lake Cumberland. I like it but it does run a little slow in my unit. Just make sure your unit is supported.

[smashdn]

If you want to try out the Navionics maps you can download the Navionics APP to your smartphone. I think it was 9.99. So far I really like it. I wanted to see what quality of maps I was getting before I bought the SD cards for my Humminbird.

The APP is so easy and so good I don't know that I will even need to purchase the card for the plotter.

[Ritchie270]

I just recently got the Navionics East map chip and I think it's definitely worth it. I also had the iPhone app before getting a plotter with gps and while it was ok, it's nothing compared to the actual chip.

The actual chip gives much more detail with more contour lines. Also, it comes with a reader where you can view the map on your PC and plan out everything at home before you go. You can even set waypoints from your PC I believe, although I haven't done that yet.

The problem I had when using the smartphone app, was that the gps didn't update very often since it used cell towers to triangulate your position instead of actual satellite signals. Since it seems that I don't get very good cell service on some of the lakes I fish, that really hurt the effectiveness of the app for me.

I'm not sure if it's worth the extra $50 for the platinum maps or not, as I don't think the HD bottom scans are of any of the lakes in our area.

[SLP]

I just bought the Hot Maps Premium East. Does anyone know where there might be an owner's manual or instruction online? I was surprised that it didn't come with any instructions.

[Astrobass]

You can go to the website and read all about it. I bought the East map earlier this year and it was one of the best purchases I've ever made for fishing! I love mine, the detail on the HD lakes is absolutely outstanding!

[Ritchie270]

You can go to the website and read all about it. I bought the East map earlier this year and it was one of the best purchases I've ever made for fishing! I love mine, the detail on the HD lakes is absolutely outstanding!

Which lakes in our area are the HD lakes exactly? I know they have several in our area listed, but they appear to have been updated so I was just curious. It may just be that I haven't used mine yet on a lake that isn't HD, as I'm usually just on Nolin and Green.

[Fntsyfbgod]

I use it and I love it. Its great for checking lakes out before you go especially if the lake you are fishing is in HD or you are going to a new lake.

BTW the Navionics site says what lakes are available and which ones are in HD.

[Astrobass]

Which lakes in our area are the HD lakes exactly? I know they have several in our area listed, but they appear to have been updated so I was just curious. It may just be that I haven't used mine yet on a lake that isn't HD, as I'm usually just on Nolin and Green.

Green and Nolin are HD.

Ones that are not HD include Guist Creek, Willisburg, and a lot of your little lakes, also not on the chip is Cedar Creek.

[SLP]

You can go to the website and read all about it. I bought the East map earlier this year and it was one of the best purchases I've ever made for fishing! I love mine, the detail on the HD lakes is absolutely outstanding!

I know I must be getting old, but do you remember where on their website there are instruction or an owners manual? I have looked, and can't see it anywhere.

[SLP]

A couple more questions.

I went out today and used them for the first time. I was expecting to see the depth listed on some of the contour lines. Is there different way to set it where it might show the depth on the lines, or are just the lines all you get?

I thought I saw in some add they show fish attractors and things like roads beds, similar to hand help maps you can buy. I didn't see any of that.

I do like it though, it really helps to see when you are approaching certain drops etc.

Thanks for any help.

[Ritchie270]

A couple more questions.

I went out today and used them for the first time. I was expecting to see the depth listed on some of the contour lines. Is there different way to set it where it might show the depth on the lines, or are just the lines all you get?

I thought I saw in some add they show fish attractors and things like roads beds, similar to hand help maps you can buy. I didn't see any of that.

I do like it though, it really helps to see when you are approaching certain drops etc.

Thanks for any help.

1) Usually about every fourth or fifth contour line will have a number on it for the depth and the contour lines are usually every one foot. They just don't number all of them so that the screen isn't cluttered. You just need to zoom in or out to see more or less detail.

2) From what I understand if you bought you chip after 2008 there is less information as far as road beds, etc that you typically see on the paper Hot Maps because that data was copyright protected. However, what they have now is a community layer where waypoints and notes from other users will show up on your map if you choose for it to do so.