TOPIC:

I am thinking about getting a map card for my hummingbird fish/depth finder. Not so much for the big lake but for the other lakes I go it. I was wondering if others here have them and if they are worth the money? Since the main lakes I visit do not fall into a single region I would need to go with something like the Navionics $200 card that gives you as many lakes as will fit on a card. Also if you like them - what would you say are the things you like the most and if you don't think they are worth it - why.

Thanks for the info.

Which Bird unit do you have?

Wallin wrote:

Which Bird unit do you have?

688 ci HD DI

I run lake masters great lakes in my Humminbird Helix 9. The pro's for me are the obvious for finding contour lines when fishing weird lakes like Maxinkuckee where there are more saddle and drop offs than I can remember. I also love the chips because if you have friends like me you can buy different chips and swap them out with each other when going on trips and essentially have all the lakes between the few of you. To be honest in my opinion Navionics contour lines didn't seem as spot on as Lake Master. Does your graph have the capability to autochart and save to an SD card?

And if you would like to borrow a card for a week or so let me know!

I have a navionics on my 899 bird and I don't leave the launch til I look at the contour lines and I figured out where I wanna fish another perspective is let's say ur catching walleye or any fish for that matter n there all on 12 fow next to a sharp break n that break weaves back n forth with that chip u will be able to stay right on them.. most importantly for me is leaving the launch and assuming that the entire lake his boat friendly in some cases they may be but another's there could be a few hundred feet of two fow water and you could potentially run aground or midlake humps that you are unaware of

They don't tell you but you can also buy just the HD chip per lake, like Brookville or Maxi for $10.
Not all the lakes have an HD.
My helix 9 does great with the HD, what a difference.

I have Hummingbird and several Lowrance fish finders. The Hummingbird is for I-pilot to Follow the Contour which requires Lake Master with I-pilot logo on chip. I have the $200 Navionics chip and several regional chips. The $200 chip may not have been worth it as it covers a lot of States which I will never fish. Recommend going on Ebay and buy regional chips that are several years old, likely the North and East chips is all you need. These older chips do provide a lot of detail.

Bruce

Thank you everyone. Glad to hear the over all consensus is that it is worth getting a chip. Now it comes down to which chip

My vote is Lake master and whichever ones gives you the most lakes you fish

I had the Lake Master from my Helix 5 and it works in my Helix 9 now and I have bought just the HD chip $10 for the lakes I fish and didn't waste the money for the other lakes I don't. I also have the I-link thats tied to my Helix 9.
Good Luck.