Changing River Mapping with Navionics Sonar Charts

[JD Fishing]

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

 

[vhype]

Tongue-in-cheek, why would I map my honey hole for other anglers? Hummingbird's new mapping system will let you upgrade our own map to use for your own personal use. Now if Navionics was giving you a kickback for the effort I could see a fisherman doing this. Show me the money! Since I have a GIS background I know how expensive data collection can be.

 

[JD Fishing]

vhype,

I hear ya brother. That's definitely a solid point, one that I first thought as well. However, when I started to think outside that bubble is when I realized just how powerful this has the potential to be. Yes, HB's new mapping system has that going for it but it's an expensive add-on, where the Navionics Sonar Charts are a free feature that you as a user can either choose to be a part of or not. In fact, you never need to contribute but can still use the Charts for your own personal gain. You don't have to give up your "honey hole" per say, but if you travel at all, you'll surely benefit from the Navionics network.

Plus, I think you may be missing my point. Wether you yourself or a survey crew for that matter went out and surveyed a body of water, that is only a fraction of what the community can do over just a little time. This is even more apparent when you consider major river systems that do change dramatically every year. So either a mapping company spends big bucks for a river to be surveyed which would be nice for a user for the first year or two but after that, you'd be buying less than accurate data. Other option, you spend the big money and map your own through HB's system and then still have the same problem over time. Not saying that's not worth it, that's the beautiful thing about having options, you got to make the best choice for you. I was not looking to compare Navionics with other options out there but since you pointed it out, I'll add it in.

Lastly, from time to time I hear that argument about Navionics benefiting off of others hard work. This is very narrow minded in my opinion as they aren't charging for this service and are the ones that had the innovation to see the potential behind something like this. Clearly that innovation costs the company lots of money as well. I for one want the best mapping available to me period, I don't care who or how it becomes available, as long as I have it at my fingertips. We've never had accurate river maps and now we do and they're only going to get better with little time. There's actually people that frown upon that? To me it's innovation and it's exciting at that.

I appreciate your input and can see your point on why the network may not be the best choice for you. Remember though, before you flip the dough to create your own map of your "honey-hole", it may be already in the works for free. ; ) Tongue in cheek of course...

Tight lines fellow basser!