Lowrance just replaced my fried depth finder with a combination FF/GPS (HDS-5). For fishing the Columbia River (Astoria to Boardman), which of the GPS map chips to folks believe have the best detail for this area?
I'm in the same boat you are. I just bought a HDS 7 and I can't seem to find mapping software that will show lakes and rivers both. I understand rivers fluctuate so the depths may not be accurate but I'd like to at least find one that shows the river channels.
I have the HDS-7 with Insight USA. It shows the Columbia and Willamette in great detail, including bottom contours, all the marinas, ramps, buoys... pretty-much everything you'd ever need to see. However, I don't think it shows much detail on Oregon lakes.
...Oh yeah, I almost forgot: It show's great detail at Astoria.
I bought the Navionics Hotmaps West region(about $100-150)...covers a lot of lakes and also covers in great details the Columbia and Willamette. The same as the Marine maps. I haven't been out in any of the bays but was told it would cover there as well. Mine was plug and play on a Humminbird.
Just a thought here but many chips have multiple modes. You have to go into a menu and select a different map number to access the lakes when you have it on ocean/river.:twocents:
The the old lowrance chip (nautic path) if it still work in the new units is good for cheap. I use the navionics and like it but use care on all chips in that river because its always changing.
I have a navionics chip in my lowrance LMS 240. It is labeled Columbia River , date March2003, code US728S S. It has saved my life at Buoy 10 and other heavy fog areas too many times to mention. It came with my Duckworth 7 years ago. While hardbooting my unit with the chip in the machine, I have erroneously erased all files ( checked @ Lowrance booth while at Sportsman show) I do not have a program or backup!! Navionics does not have a replacement as my machine is outdated. Can anyone make me a chip or give me the missing files or????? email at conseng@msn.com. Bill at Fishing the Northwest
Bill,
Trying to copy or backup a Navionics chips will cause it to self destruct (mission impossible). Seriously, it will damage the data on the chip. You'll have to buy a new one.
Don't forget
If you have a smartphone (android/iphone) you can download the navionics map for our region as well....nice little back up if your ff/gps goes out. Only cost about $13.
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