Wayne P.

One of my spinning rods is a Ducket MicroMagic, don't know what the guide sizes are. I use 40# superline and sometimes use a 20# flurocarbon leader of about 3'-4'. I have no issues with the Uni-Uni Knot with 6 turns on both knots and the tag ends cut flush with the knots. I use the fluorocarbon line for weight to make the braid sink for weighless presentations like over there <--------

Or Vexilar Sonarphone T-Pod http://www.vexilar.com/blog/2014/08/28/new-sonarphone-available-for-any-open-water-situation Or Deeper http://www.amazon.com/Deeper-Portable-Smartphone-Compatible-versatile/dp/B00GOJWQ08/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1430059638&sr=8-3&keywords=smart+cast

This is Navionics Sonar Charts and an example of fixing an inaccurate contour area. This is the same lake as above- it is electric-only. The whole lake, 420 acres, was given contour lines (interpolated) when it was first created using a few of my sonar logs. The extended point was not recorded so there was no data to create it. Note the waypoint co-ordinates are the same This is the way it was: This is the Google Earth track I did to collect the data: This is the way it is now: If you do this program, after your data has been processed, you are sent an email informing that it is ready to be downloaded and included with that email is the Google Earth track. I print that file so I have a record of where I have collected data and I can see where data needs to be collected. This is a composite of a lot of tracks at that lake a couple of years ago when I first started collecting data, and everywhere that is not red is inaccurate. The whole lake will not be accurate until it is solid red. Not long after providing that composite track map, Navionics started including the Google Earth track in the notification email. In the words of Paul Harvey, "now you know the rest of the story"

One thing you will find out when doing the map creation is how inaccurate the commercial maps really are. No one gathers data for every square inch of terrain. Data is collected in intervals and fake (interpolated) lines are drawn between data points. The farther apart the data points are, the less accurate the contours will be. When using Navionics Sonar Charts Live and Lakemaster Auto Charts or Auto Charts Live, contour lines are created left and right of the actual data point. A sonar unit can only read range and the only accurate depth range it can record is directly under the transducer. This shows a single Sonar Charts Live track over a Sonar Charts contour map that I supplied data to create. I did the single track at the top and some overlapping tracks in the lower part that looks dark. It demonstrates the fake (interpolated) lines created by the mapping program. My travel path for the top one started where the + is and ended at the blue highlighed point. Those fake lines are probably 50-100 feet wide. The Lakemaster Auto Charts does the same thing.

It is not complicated. Any place you do not pass directly over will not have accurate data. You choose how detailed you want your map and your travel pattern. You can do it over time and just keep improving the accuracy. You can do sonar logs with any mode of propulsion, paddle, electric motor, gas motor, etc. The slower you go, the more accurate the contours will be. Typically record at a track point per second with recreational equipment. The mapping companies have equipment that records many times per second so they can cover water faster. A track point has the depth and location used to create the contour lines.

It takes the iPilot Link to take advantage of the Humminbird "follow the contour" Lakemaster feature. Otherwise the iPilot is a standalone function with the depth displayed on any brand sonar unit-just need the transducer adaptor for the sonar brand. Really don't need a sonar/GPS unit at all to use the iPilot.

The 2015 issue should be the microSD in a SD adaptor. Did you check to see if your card is a SD adaptor with a microSD card inside? You use the microSD in the adaptor for your computer and then remove the microSD to use in the Helix.

Bigger screens, favorite view buttons, linkable to other units to share data, double the memory card capacity, and faster processors, plus some other stuff.

Use the Texposed hook insertion method for soft plastics. You can do any bait that way.

No, there is nothing at Briery Creek but some fishing piers and lots of shore access at the dam area

After the wind forecast I saw early this morning, I decided not to go. The air temp this morning being about 30 degrees lower than the water temp, was no benefit either.

Yes, it is called Sonar Charts Live. You can see the depth contour lines being formed as you record. The connection between the transducer and device app is WiFi. BUT that data is automatically uploaded to Navionics when in a WiFi area to add to the shared Sonar Charts mapping layer. I use the Sonarphone/Navionics Sonar Charts Live process. I also use the Navionics Sonar Charts program with Navionics Hotmaps Platinum and Navionics+ cards with my Humminbird units. Been doing the Sonar Charts program since it was started in the US. Sonar Charts is FREE with those map products. FREE processing of the data and FREE use of the data transfer. With Lakemaster Auto Chart, you purchase the computer software and Zero Line map card to process your recorded sonar longs and convert them to contour maps. It is yours only. Bottom line is, do you want to share your data or keep it private? You have two good choices for your mapping creation needs.

Yep the shallow fish are getting more numerous. I fished there Tuesday 21st. Had about a dozen over 4#, nothing over 6 though. The COLD for the next few nights is not going to help with that situation. With the 58 bass I caught added to the others for this month, my Briery April total is 121 bass so far. My avatar was the top producer--sort of tough with the windy conditions lately though, but I manage. I just let the wind be my friend. The air mixed with the water clouds up the sonar images some like this. I did catch the bass in this image though since I could watch it move about in the laydowns--it was one of the 4# class bass. Most of the others were done that way too.

I was fishing Lake Guntersville the week it first opened. As soon as I got back, I went there. Caught over 100 bass each day until the lake closed for the Winter. The next year, I went around the lake with a handheld GPS unit and marked all the visible brushpiles, did a video of those features describing them and the location plus other good looking stuff that was going to be submerged when the lake was full. That year I had a best 5 fish for one day almost 31#. I took pictures of them and gave them to the guy at the check-in and he had them stuck on the wall for a couple of years. This is one of the brush/log piles before and after: I have pretty much seen the whole lake bottom with Side Imaging while doing the sonar logs to get that map created. I have over 75 waypoints there for "stuff". The big tree North of the island out in the middle that was visible at low water is still there:

Look at the map I made of the lake in the check-in shed. You can get that on your smartphone with the Navionics Mobile App or for your sonar/GPS unit with either Navionics Hotmaps Platinum or Navionics+ with the Sonar Charts layer. This is part of it:

I fished there Tursday 16th and Sat.18th. The water temp ranged from 60 to 66 degrees. Caught a total of 58 bass the two days with a 6-7 and and 6-12 on Sat. Saw some beds Sat.

The iPilot feature that uses a sonar connection is the iPilot Link. That takes a unit that is Ethernet capable. That feature uses the Lakemaster digital mapping to tell the motor to follow a map depth contour line.

I prefer and have the most technology at the bow which is where I am 95% of the time on the water. My stuff is a fishing tool and a search tool.

PM sent

Look through the sceen shots I have posted above to see how I use my equipment and what it shows.

I use superlines by their diameters, not by their breaking strength. Been using superlines since the Stren Kevlar and first edition Spiderwire. At a minimum I use 20# rated for clear water/open water and small bass, several have 30# rated and most have 40# rated. The largest diameter is 8# mono equivelent diameter. Smaller stuff has very little shock strength. For baitcasting small stuff like topwater and Traps, I use 30# and most of my others have 50# and higher rated strengths. The 50# is 10# mono equivelant diameter.

I adjust for the transducer depth with my Humminbird units. I do a lot of sonar logging for contour mapping and want accurate depths for the contour lines.

It has a momentary contact switch to turn the motor on and off. If you are moving too fast, take your foot off the switch.

Sonar is SOUND pulses broadcast in the water. ANY unit that uses the same frequency/s can detect those pulses. Cross-talk is when the sonar pulses overlap and each unit detects the other's sonar pulse. The units don't even have to be on the same boat. I see cross-talk from other Imaging units hundreds of feet away since Imaging broadcasts the sonar pulses to the sides. This is cross-talk on my 360 from another boat with 360:

Those units cannot be linked with any connection. I suspect you are getting cross-talk with both units operating at the same time. If you are getting RFI from the trolling motor, call Humminbird Customer Service for help with that. Did you put a trolling motor PUCK DI transducer on the trolling motor? XTM 9 DI 25 T