Garmin Strikers - How Important Are Maps?

[snake95]

Looking at a number of fishfinders for a kayak including the Garmin Striker Plus 7sv.

 

These don't seem to have built-in maps.

 

However, they look like great units with extensive features for the price.

 

Anyone have experience with these?  How important is it to have maps built in?

[Sprocket]

Importants of mapping is up to you. If you fish the same waters all the time and know them then it’s probably not important. If you are a bank beater then probably not important. The Striker series is very nice with really clear images. Easy to use and you can make your own maps while you fish. 

[Boomstick]

As @Sprocket said, the importance is really up to the individual person. If you fish small lakes and ponds you can row around the lake and create your own maps which can actually be quite fun if you have the time - and in real small lakes, you can commit the general depth and slopes to memory easily enough. When I take advantage of the maps is when I am fishing on larger lakes (on a kayak) which is most useful giving me a direction when I'm first starting. You can also use your phone to pull up a depth chart of the lake you are on as well - it's not as nice as an active GPS map, but if you're looking at saving a few bucks on the Striker it's a very useful option to have.

 

The unit I have is the Garmin EchoMap UHD 93sv - the imaging is pretty clear and it's very easy to use.

 

Here is a video that describes how to map a lake and customize the colors on an EchoMap UHD - the Strikers should work similar. One thing he mentions as well is that you can download other user's quickdraw maps as well which you may find useful - although it is fun to make your own and you can set some waypoints as well.
 

 

[Bankc]

Maps are extremely important to me.  Especially is you're fishing unfamiliar or very large waters.  It also comes in handy when the seasons change and you need to look for bass in different areas.  Like if you spot most of the fish holding in 20ft of water, it's good to know where to find 20ft of water. 

 

That beings said, you can usually find depth charts online, and call them up on your smart phone.  It won't show your exact positioning, but you can often figure it out in a general sense and then use the sonar to key it in further.  

 

So I'd recommend having a good mapping software on your fish finder.  It's basically just for the convenience of not having to use two electronics at once. That being said, it is just a convenience.  You can do just fine without one, provided you have a smart phone and internet access on the water.  

[RSmall]

Sounds to me like everyone who has responded is correct.

 

My boat never leaves the 1,700 acre electric only lake that we live by.  Even though my finder has maps, I never use them.

 

On the other hand, if I travelled to unfamiliar lakes, I would think that maps are nearly essential.

 

 

[snake95]

@Sprocket @Boomstick @RSmall @Bankc

 

Thanks all.  I ordered a Striker Plus 7sv.  Members with opinions I respect also make excellent cases on the board for the Garmin Echomap series, the Humminbird Helix, and Lowrance models. 

 

I am still debating possibly going with an Echomap or Helix with maps.  They are quite a bit more expensive than the striker plus.

 

I learned that the Garmin can be used in conjunction with their Active Captain mapping app, which downloads maps uploaded by other Garmin users.

 

You can also download maps, but they sure aren't cheap!

 

When you look at the price of the maps for the App, the combo of Striker + App is not cheaper than just buying an Echomap.

 

I will update once I figure out which route I am going to go.

 

 

[Boomstick]

@snake95 The 7" is the perfect size if you mount it on the tracks on the side of the boat like most people do.

 

As far as the EchoMap vs the Helix, they're kind of polar opposites among fish finders. Garmins are very easy to use, and do not require a whole lot of settings changes in different waters. Hummingbirds aren't as user friendly and are a bit more finicky, but they have some pretty amazing imaging. I went the EchoMap route myself, but my second choice was the Helix.

[snake95]

22 minutes ago, Boomstick said:

Garmins are very easy to use, and do not require a whole lot of settings changes in different waters.

Thanks @Boomstick I managed to see them side by side in a store and that was my initial impression (also get that from Garmin's website setup too).  I can see them both being great units.  As I get older I gravitate to simplicity over most other factors, including customization.  

[Lead Head]

Garmin makes a 6" echomap. For around $300 you can get everything except side view and touch screen. If you like the idea of maps more than side view its worth a look.

[snake95]

4 hours ago, Lead Head said:

Garmin makes a 6" echomap. For around $300 you can get everything except side view and touch screen. If you like the idea of maps more than side view its worth a look.

Thanks @Lead Head.  I thought the SI would be valuable based on comments from others on the forum.

 

The price difference for the latest 7" Striker Plus vs the latest Echomap 7" with SI is about $500 vs $800.  The Humminbird of course is an attractive competitor.

 

I decided to go with the Striker over the Echomap and the Helix but it was a tough choice.  $300 means different things to different anglers.  Once you start sinking money into kayak rigging you can kind of justify the extra expense by the rationale "heck, at this point, what is another few hundred."

 

Ultimately my rationale was that I can view maps for most major lakes using Garmin's app or other sources to get the lay of the land regarding bottom contours.  Many places I will fish are smaller waters that will not have maps.  I may decide this was not the right way to think about it.

 

At this point in the season, there are no discounts on the latest units anywhere though as I think you are pointing out, some models that are aging are not going to cost as much yet still have all the technology and functions.

 

I haven't rigged it up yet, but intend to contribute to the forum about my experience with it after I get it on the water.

 

To add to this: Navionics boating app provides mapping on mobile phone for about $25 per year.