New Technology and Challenged – Help..

Hope this is the right spot to ask this question. It has been since 2012 since I had a boat and it had 2004 technology (X96 sonar and 1st Gen GPS mapping)…. So I just bought another boat and current/new electronics..

I have a gen 4 Helix 8 and just ordered the MN lakemaster premium chip to install.

My question is: Getting started with building core published well known waypoints into my unit, I’m thinking I need to get a paper Fishing Hotspots Map that has all the public gps spot published and manually input them into my unit so I then have a starting point to work from..

Is there a smarter or more efficient way to do this? Am I missing something?

Boy step away from the fishing scene for 12 yrs and I feel like I’m a Dinosaur from the last century and overwhelmed at todays available technology.. Uff Da.

Thanks in advance.

Rod in Zimm

The map chip will be pretty detailed and will allow you to highlight certain depths. Do you have side imaging ?

Craig, Mega Down only..

Those maps could help give you starting locations, but i probably wouldn’t spend the time creating points on each spot.

I only waypoint specific structure that I find and stands out, rock, gravel/mud transitions, lone weed clumps etc etc. Otherwise I use the shading to pick out points, certain breaks etc to fish. not creating way points on these unless i have a reason.

Ok, thanks for the advises guys. Update, I spent time in the garage and on some water and I believe I’ve cracked the code to unlocking the secrets to the Lakemaster Chip. Exploring the ML HD map on chip I was blown away by the detail.. It’s all there and more.

Now to figure out away to study the Lakemaster maps without having to sit in the boat..

Thanks Craig and 10klakes for your time..

Im sure you have found it but depth shading is very helpful. It makes points/reefs etc really stand out. It really helps me with boat control too.

Rod in Zimm wrote:

Now to figure out away to study the Lakemaster maps without having to sit in the boat..

Navionics website has a free contour map viewer which is good for scouting lakes. Other wise hummingbirds one boat network app on your phone will give you the same HD lakemaster maps, I think its $30-40/a year? Well worth it for ice fishing alone.

10k & You Betcha, thank you for mentioning those topics..

I’m learning to use the shading which is amazing, the autochart live mapping is incredible.

And I was wondering about the one boat app, would I be able to sit on my iPad or fone and just look at the same map? Will I be able to mark waypoints from my easy chair to investigate later? Hmmmmm?

Again thanks guys..

Rod in Zimm

Rod, one thing I found helpful is to make sure when in water less than 24 feet, hit the check mark key to change the transducer ping rate to its slowest rate, you will see this in the left lower corner of your screen, you will see more detail when using side or down imaging in shallow water,, think being zoomed way in with the higher rate and not being able to see the forest for the trees.
Once you think you have it so screwed up nothing makes sense, go to your settings page and hit restore factory defaults.

Now to your question on maps, the detail is something else for sure, with ever changing water levels lately I use them for reference only and being lazy I dont go to settings and change the offset to compensate, I calculate that in my head, I mean its pretty simple to deduct 2 from 4 in my mind and as I said for me its a guideline, I would much rather look at my side imaging and sonar to tell me whats there,,,,or not lol.
Enjoy and embrace what you have!! it beats the crap out of my old paper graph of yesteryear!!

I think it’s really pretty simple to go in and change the water level offset as conditions change. Just do it once if you notice your map contour depths are off and you’re done for the day. If you want to stare at depth readings and map contour depths that don’t agree all day that’s up to you, but I prefer mine t match if possible.
I think it’s especially important to at least try to have the water level offset set the best you can when one is using i-Pilot Link and the “follow the contour” feature which I do alot.
Iowaboy 1 is right when he says to embrace what you have but I think that should mean to adjust your water level offset when needed.

Karry, I agree with you in that you should familiarize yourself with all of the features, while you are busy pushing buttons I’m busy setting the hook lol.

IAboy and Karry, thank you! Yes I fully believe in what you both say, Embrace what I have. The technology is incredible and truly does help me visualize what is down below, provided I learn it to apply it properly. Doing just that will be something I will study up on this winter (YouTube and sitting in boat, thankfully my garage is heated.)

Now the other learning curve I need to is digest everything on this forum and other sources about Mille Lacs. Never fished it, never been on it and now have a boat again so I have a steep learning curve ahead of me. I’m looking at getting a guide to go out with just to learn part of the lake and other species besides walleyes. Never fished smallmouth before and have always enjoyed catching northerns. Where I am going with this is: Thank you guys for the responses, information & encouragement.

Rod in Zimm

Rod, this pic is in approx. twenty feet of water using down scan, all of those little blips are crappie, they were at many different depths as you can see, I spent an hour having a blast and I guarantee you I didnt catch everyone of them.

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Thank You IAboy, great teaching tool…

Iowaboy1 wrote:

Karry, I agree with you in that you should familiarize yourself with all of the features, while you are busy pushing buttons I’m busy setting the hook lol.

At the end of the day. I’ll have set the hook more than you.

Rod, Use YouTube videos to learn the Helix 8 you have. You can spend all week watching videos at work and get nothing done, your boss will be real happy. LOL