Changing River Mapping With Navionics Sonar Charts

[JDFishing]

Hey Bass Resource!

Im in the process of writing an article for a popular publication on how Navionics newest introduction of Sonar Charts is changing river mapping. I figured I'd throw up a little intro on here and get a few perspectives from others to use in the article.

For those that aren't aware of what exactly Sonar Charts is, I'll give you a quick run down. Navionics recently introduced Sonar Charts as an additional feature to accompany there industry leading and award winning mapping. Basically, they've made it so you as an angler can record your own data while out fishing and later load it into the Navionics system in which they will turn the data received into a new, highly accurate map available for the rest of the fishing and boating public to download onto their Navionics card. All Navionics needs from you is a recorded sonar single matched with GPS location. If you need a full explanation, please follow link: SonarCharts

I instantly saw the benefit of this as the public can do a thousand times what a solo survey crew can do. Once I started seeing the results of powerhouse lakes like Kentucky Lake and Lake Erie, I seriously thought this was the mapping of the future.

What I didn't think of right away and what is probably the most significant in my book as a tournament angler, is how this introduction would make mapping major rivers not only possible but largely accurate. Think about it, your traditional survey teams can't get into all the stump flats that are littered amongst any major river, but I can with my Phoenix while I'm cranking them stumps with a squarebill. More so, growing up fishing the upper Mississippi River I know how dramatically a river can change every year, leaving mapping companies to frown on spending the money to survey something that will be highly inaccurate in a few short years. Bottom line, rivers change.

Here are some screenshots off Navionics Web App showing what they've already accomplished in a few short months. Imagine how much better it will get as more charts start coming in.

Upper Mississippi River (Before and Afters)

Arkansas River, OK

Alabama River, Montgomery, AL

Red River, LA

http://i42.tinypic.com/2zny5gi.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/10p6qn4.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/20utt9c.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/2rxjg5c.jpg

[Sam]

Kool.

 

Not only do you see the humps but the holes, too.

 

Thanks for sharing. Good luck with the project.

[Wayne P.]

I have used the Sonar Charts to start a HD map of a Virginia lake that has no paper maps or digital map with even an outline of it. I alm still adding data to it to increase the accuracy.

When I first uploaded some recordings from there, Navionics created the zero line for the outline and then applied the recordings to create the depth contours.

 

[camovan]

Do they have a timeline for adding Lowrance support?

[FD.]

How do you adjust for changing lake levels/tides?

 

Wayne - Are you running that on you 1198?

 

Several of my favorite local lakes have no cartography available or only have 5ft contours.  I would like to know how to do this myself.

[Wayne P.]

How do you adjust for changing lake levels/tides?

 

Wayne - Are you running that on you 1198?

 

Several of my favorite local lakes have no cartography available or only have 5ft contours.  I would like to know how to do this myself.

The picture I posted is the Web App on the Navionics web site. That much detail was not on the Navionics server yet when I updated my card last week.

 

Yes, I use the Humminbird1198 units with the Navionics Hotmaps Platinum East card.

 

The only adjustment you have is the transducer depth when uploading recordings.

You can fudge that number to allow for water depth changes.

For the best accuracy, do your recordings at normal water levels or record the same area at several water levels to get a somewhat average established.

 

I gave done 4 different lakes so far, but the most dramatic is the one I posted about where there was nothing previous.

[Sam]

It would be nice if George at GMCO would engage Wayne or others to map out more lakes in Virginia and North Carolina for publication.

 

Of course it would be for the smaller lakes as George has the major bodies of water covered.

 

Great work, Wayne. Thanks for sharing what you are doing.

[Wayne P.]

Another example of the Sonar Charts program.

This is what Navionics had for this location before Sonar Charts

 

 

 

 

This is the result of my recordings uploaded to the Sonar Charts program: Not only did they add the HD contours, they re-did the lake outline since some of my recordings where shown on land with their outline. They added the docks too.

 

[JDFishing]

Minnow - With Lowrance, you can view SonarCharts, so essentially view others work and use in your everyday fishing. You can also use contour depth shading with Navionics as long as you have a newer Lowrance and have done the 2.0 Lowrance update. Unfortunately, at this time Lowrance doesn't allow for you to contribute to SonarCharts and develop your own mapping.

 

I know the option is their's as Navionics has given them the key to do it, though it's in Lowrance's court wether or not they flip the switch. So no time table is available. Me being a Lowrance and Navionics user, I'm happy that I can view as I used these examples on these rivers already this year while participating in tournaments. Though it would be nice to be able to contribute and have the best of both worlds no doubt. 

 

On another note, Wayne, you're the man. Always impressive Sir.