GPS microchip

[Vermilion trout]

Do these chips show the land like it really is? Do the chips show way points and water debt? What brand is a good buy? I have a Lowrance GPS

[mleg1972]

Standard Mapping LA1 card is awesome.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[alphaman]

get with wishiwasfishing we have Google over lay on our hds units

[Boarider]

I have the Legend Geaux card, does the complete coast line.

[rustyb]

Originally Posted by mleg1972

Standard Mapping LA1 card is awesome.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

#2

[Marque]

If you fish VBay and your GPS shows you that you are rolling across land, slow down. I actually like to know if the water I am in was land a few years ago for safety and fishing purposes. Dramatic changes in contours of the sea bed are places fish hang out. I had a Navonics chip but it slowed down my unit so much I chucked it. The contour lines were nice, especially since I haven't had a functioning depth finder in a year, but it wasn't worth waiting for my unit to process what was on the chip. I don't know if all chips are like this but mine is. Unless I am looking for a reef the size of a basketball court I don't much use the GPS unless I am coming in from offshore or trying to save gas. I just go slow and trust in my skeg guard. When you plow into something enough times you eventually learn where it is. The whole driving on land thing drives my OCD brother nuts though. If you are OCD it might be worth the investment.

[wishin i was fishin]

Originally Posted by Marque

If you fish VBay and your GPS shows you that you are rolling across land, slow down. I actually like to know if the water I am in was land a few years ago for safety and fishing purposes. Dramatic changes in contours of the sea bed are places fish hang out. I had a Navonics chip but it slowed down my unit so much I chucked it. The contour lines were nice, especially since I haven't had a functioning depth finder in a year, but it wasn't worth waiting for my unit to process what was on the chip. I don't know if all chips are like this but mine is. Unless I am looking for a reef the size of a basketball court I don't much use the GPS unless I am coming in from offshore or trying to save gas. I just go slow and trust in my skeg guard. When you plow into something enough times you eventually learn where it is. The whole driving on land thing drives my OCD brother nuts though. If you are OCD it might be worth the investment.

Ha, that is funny. What kind of unit do you have?

[Marque]

I have a Garmin Chart plotters set up on a network. A 720 and 5212. Came with the boat. The chip bogged both but the 5212 is worse and thats the one I use for the map. I do like the perspective 3d chart view when I am going through the pass, keeps me right in the middle. I have gone through there probably 1000 times and it always looks different. I don't know what it is about that place. I think the visibility changes so much in that area because there always seems to be weather systems converging right there.

[Johnsaul]

Originally Posted by Boarider

I have the Legend Geaux card, does the complete coast line.

OK... A couple of years ago I heard of technology that allowed overlays of "Google Earth®" like photos on your sounder. So instead of 24K topographical representations on your sounder, you would literally see the marsh around you as it appears to you while in your boat or kayak. I found this potential to be quite an advancement and especially useful when traveling in low light or night situations or exploring areas not familiar to you. And for kayak fishermen specifically, this technology could (will/does) enable easy navigating through broken marsh. For instance, instead of hoping for an open pond through a small opening, you'd know there was a pond on the other side of a tiny opening because you'd be able to "see" it on your sounder! You could back-track your route to get out or find (or pre-plan a route) through the marsh as it exists (as you see it). These are just a few options making this technology very useful to fishermen. See compatible units and more info below and note the special too.

http://www.legendcartography.com/louisiana.html

Special on all things "Legends" through Christmas. Enter the code merrychristmas for discount.

[wishin i was fishin]

V Trout, Here are maps from my perspective. Before I start there is something you should know about areal photo overlay and that is the date the photo was taken. This is not mentioned by any of the manufacturers. With the aggressive coastal erosion you will have some degree of inaccuracy with the overlay but not as bad as the base maps that come with the units.

Standard Mapping
http://www.standardmap.com/
pricing $80-$399 depending on Map.

Areal photo overlay, no depth. I have the E55 Marsh Island, Vermilion Bay HDS card and it is good but tends to grain out when you zoom down. 1st pic is from my HDS7.

Legend Cartography
http://www.legendcartography.com/
Pricing $199-$229

Areal photo overlay, no depth. I cant comment on this card but I would assume that it would be comparable to the standard map.

Navionics
http://www.navionics.com/en/
Pricing $199-$349 plus $99 if you wand updates.

Nautical chart type overlay with depth. Navionics is nice and is update able with a subscription which means you will have fresh information but you will loose detail of smaller bayous etc. This is made more for maritime navigation and the big bass lakes, but it is handy since it shows depth. YOu can go to their website and look at the webapp and see what their map looks like.

Now the depth part gets tricky. they collect depth data from subscribers that record sonar data when data is uploaded they update the map and you can download the new version. I have heard this can take up to 6 weeks though. subscription is usually $99 a year. I have recorded alot of sonar data and know some depths are not that accurate.

the good thing about Navionics is you can get the app for your phone for $5 or $10.

Lowrance Nautic Insight
http://www.lowrance.com/en-US/Products/Mapping/
Pricing $99-$159

Lowrance is carbon copy of Navionics but a little cheaper. Through Insight Genesis you can upload sonar logs and create custom fishing maps.

So as you can see you have a bunch of choices and they are quite expensive.

There is a way to create your own but it takes a bit of computer work to pull it off.

I faced the same choices as you did but went a different route. I made my own photo overlay for free thanks to google and purchased map making software. Now I record my own sonar data and write my own maps. the best part is the photo overlay and depth map is less than 2 years old so i have the freshest data available.

I have offered the depth map to anyone who contributes but have only received 1 sonar log to date. Not sure why...

With the dyn-o-mite fishing in VBay I will be reluctantly breaking off in the spring and start mapping Big Lake.

Hope this wasn't too long but with the fishing being slow we all need something to read.

Below are pics from my units
1st - the standard map on my HDS.
2nd is the same area on my HDS 12 with my overlay and contour map.
3rd is a zoomed in shot.

[Marque]

Great explanation. Could you create an overlay from Bing maps? I've messed around a lot on Google earth trying to spot drains and tide lines. It's good depending on the conditions that were present on the date of the image. One day I stumbled onto Bing maps and went with the satellite view. There must've been a strong north wind and all hard falling tide on a 2006 shot because every reef out there was exposed when the satellite was overhead. It really gives you a great idea of how they are laid out. I know the USGS has some great aerial photography shots that's a lot clearer then satellite imagery from SPOT or Landsat, but I haven't messed around with it since I was in the Marine Corps. We used to use it for domestic training to get around the intelligence oversight restrictions.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[wishin i was fishin]

Originally Posted by Marque

Great explanation. Could you create an overlay from Bing maps? I've messed around a lot on Google earth trying to spot drains and tide lines. It's good depending on the conditions that were present on the date of the image. One day I stumbled onto Bing maps and went with the satellite view. There must've been a strong north wind and all hard falling tide on a 2006 shot because every reef out there was exposed when the satellite was overhead. It really gives you a great idea of how they are laid out. I know the USGS has some great aerial photography shots that's a lot clearer then satellite imagery from SPOT or Landsat, but I haven't messed around with it since I was in the Marine Corps. We used to use it for domestic training to get around the intelligence oversight restrictions.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bing-o Marque! (that was a bit corny huh...) That is the overlay I am using and why I am using it. the imagery date is from 2006 but I am able to compensate for that with the contour map.

If you notice in the pic you can see the reefs underneath the red highlight. I am able to troll all of the maps Google, Bing, nautical, etc. and create shapes marking the reefs and points of interest.

I also have old shoreline of marsh island and other areas traced out and added to the map. You mentioned that above.

Best of all I am able to do all of this for under $200.

[Johnsaul]

Legends Geaux Louisiana is the entire coast of Louisiana including inland bayous and marsh It also has markers, navigational aids, above and below surface hazards, nearshore oil fields and platforms and structures. It also has tides and tides with current conditions (where you are in the tide cycle). This is subject to weather conditions like wind and such. Also it has information related to the tide. For instance if fishing Caminada Pass the software can predict with a good degree of accuracy the tide fall through the pass in MPH. The photo data is spot on for me and I have been throughly impressed with the software. In terms of ease of use it is literally plug and play. Slip the chip in your unit and in a couple of minutes all the data is available. That's it. Never ever get turned around no matter where you are. It's perfect for exploring new places. I find it especially useful when kayaking and running in the dark (slowly). Questions?

[Robert Haynes]

Does this card only work with Lowrance or will it work on Hummingbird? I just purchased a new (used) 22 ft Skeeter Bay. I now have 2 units to choose from, a Hummingbird 997c and a Lowrance HDS-7. The Hummingbird is slightly larger display and I am use to it. Which do you guys think is the better unit?

[Johnsaul]

Works with Lowrance. Others too but unfortunately not the Humminbird. It's worth the switch IMO. Check the site to be sure. Hit the link on one of my previous posts. They have all compatible units listed. Also keep in mind you can use the Nautics Insight products in addition to the Legends card if your're so inclined... I don't believe you can use them both at the same time though. I'll need to check on this. The Legends card must be loaded in the slot for it to work. It does not download to the head unit memory for obvious reasons. Still a super-bang-up combo if you're interested in this sort of function.

[captfields_sc]

Check into Navionics Platinum+ Chart Cards. They offer satellite overlay. You can change the intensity of the satellite overlay for different situations. I love mine. Fishing from SC to LA every year I have really come to depend and rely on my Navionics Platinum+ Charts. I love the satellite overlay they have.
Here is a link to view: http://www.navionics.com/en/platinum-plus
[IMG]http://<a href=&quot;

Photobucket (Videos)

Photobucket (Videos)

target=&quot;_blank&quot;><img src=&quot;

Photobucket (Videos)

Photobucket (Videos)

border=&quot;0&quot; alt=&quot; photo Screenshot 2016-02-04 21.24.21_zpstjq6opyd.png&quot;/></a>[/IMG]