Name:	RadioActive -	Reply
Subject:	Chartplotters / sonar with Lake Martin cartography
Date:	12/28/2017 10:28:40 PM

Surprised to see that none of the Humminbird chartplotter / sonar units have any built-in charts for Lake Martin. 

You can get them for several hundred (additional) dollars more from Navionics, but you have to buy a stick that has Florida to Nebraska to New Mexico coverage (really!).

I called Humminbird in Eufaula on Wednesday, and they confirmed this was true.  Strange for the biggest lake in the state.  

Are there any other chartplotter / sonar units other than Humminbird that have decent Lake Martin bottom contour charts?  

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	Chartplotters / sonar with Lake Martin cartography
Date:	12/28/2017 11:21:49 PM (updated 12/28/2017 11:35:08 PM)

Check this out. I would call Garmin. Also post on the Lake Martin Fishing topic. Contact some of the local guides and the Marine police. They also show some other maps whic I assume are new under the title Lake vu. 

Hold off and go to the BASS Elite tournament at Lake Martin in February and ask the pros what maps they are using for Lake Martin.. 

Let us know what you decide to buy.

http://www8.garmin.com/cartography/inland/g-alse.html

https://www.bassmaster.com/tournaments/2018-bassmaster-elite-lake-martin

Name:	Bamanole -	Reply
Subject:	Chartplotters / sonar with Lake Martin cartography
Date:	12/29/2017 4:46:09 PM

On the Navionics web site, it looks like the map you describe is $149. Not cheap, but not several hundred.

Name:	deerhunt -	Reply
Subject:	Chartplotters / sonar with Lake Martin cartography
Date:	1/4/2018 8:37:32 PM

I hear Garmin is the way to go.  The maps are free to download and you don't have to buy a chip (@$125) and renew every year (@$99/year) like Lowrance and Hummingbird.

The new Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 73sv (sv = side view imaging) is getting rave reviews right now.  This 'Plus' model has builtin wifi to download your maps instead of doing all that chip mess.  7" wide "touch" screen display.  Since Garmin scanned lake Martin last year, I understand it is one of the 17,000 preloaded maps that come with the unit.

Name:	RadioActive -	Reply
Subject:	Chartplotters / sonar with Lake Martin cartography
Date:	1/7/2018 5:25:35 PM

Thanks to all that have replied.  After quite a bit of looking, it is indeed the Garmin unit that I intend to purchase.  For these old eyes, I think I am going to go with the 9" display, which I think is the 93MV Plus unit, or something like that. 

The Garmin unit does have built-in charts for Lake Martin.  It has 5 foot contours for navigation, and one foot contours for fishing.  Much better than paying for third party charts, plus as you've said, the updates are free. 

See you on the Lake.....

RadioActive...

Name:	deerhunt -	Reply
Subject:	Chartplotters / sonar with Lake Martin cartography
Date:	1/9/2018 4:41:02 PM

I like the 9 inch screen too for the same reasons.  I’ll probably go with the "Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 93sv Chartplotter/Fishfinder Combo".  Word is BPS is going to offer incentives such as free installation or big price cuts on these in February so I may wait until then...  See ya on the lake too!

http://www.basspro.com/shop/en/garmin-echomap-plus-93sv-chartplotter-fishfinder-combo

Name:	RadioActive -	Reply
Subject:	Chartplotters / sonar with Lake Martin cartography
Date:	1/28/2018 6:50:26 PM

I've received my Garmin, and it seems to work well in the house on a power supply.  Very pleased that the maps are built in, don't have to come from a third party, and upgrades are free (not sure how often that happens).  

Just have to have some decent weather to install it and the transducer on the boat before the Lake level returns to 'normal'.  Good fishing, everyone, and thanks for your comments!