Wayne P.

Typically when the water is cold and warming temps along with sunshine will warm up the upper water column. The warmest area will be downwind if the wind is blowing or the North area of the lake since that gets the most direct sun rays. Rocks are good IF they are near the deepest water where vertical movement would be occurring. Keep a thermometer with you to check the surface temps and fish were the warmest water is.

The water temp is all you need to know, not the air temp. The water temp does not change as fast as the air temp.

You can make ANY sonar unit portable.

It only has the shaded depth setting. It does not have the contour highlighting and depth off-set that Lakemaster has. This shows the shaded depth set to 5'.

I use the Tactical 7' 11" Mag H bait caster for umbrella rigs. It is rated for 1-6 oz. Very light for its size and makes throwing the rigs effortless.

One more thing about Navionics software. A new purchase includes a year of updates. Navionics adds new data to their servers every day. You won't know where, but if you want, you can update your Navionics card every day and have always have current data. If you want to see the maps, they are viewable on-line on the Navionics web site in the Products tab and then Web App. That is updated daily also,. Addtionally you can see the progress of the Sonar Charts program by clicking on the circle at the lower left of the panel to turn it Blue when in the 1000' zoom range or closer. That is the Sonar Chart mapping. When the circle is Grey, that is the Navionics mapping.

The 2014 models of discontinued models are about $500 less MSRP. An example is the 898c SI Combo and 898c HD SI Combo MSRP is $1499.99 Their replacement 899ci HD SI Combo is $999.99 To tell if a Humminbird unit has an internal or external GPS antenna, the internal antenna model will have ( i ) in the model number and Combo at the end of the name. The external antenna model will not the the ( i ) and will have Combo at the end of the name. ( c ) means color display ( i ) means internal GPS antenna

The 598 does not have the three short cut View buttons that the 798 has, It is not linkable to another unit like the 798 is, and it comes with a basic background map whereas the 798 comes with some contour mapping called ContourXD. The display is the same, and the sonar functions are the same. Additionally both units are discontinued and being replaced by the 698ci HD SI Combo for the 2014 model year.

No, that is not the way it works at all. Mapping is read directly from the map card, it is not written to the unit's memory. If you don't have the map card in the unit, you won't have that mapping. GPS data like waypoints are never written to a memory card. They are written to the unit's memory. GPS works the same with or without added mapping. Mapping is just a background on the plotter view. You can have Tracks, Routes, and Waypoints with no mapping. The unit comes with a basic background map just for color. You cannot copy digital mapping. It takes the mfg software to do that and you can't buy it. You can use either the Navionics Hotmaps Premium East region or the Navionics+ software. The Navionics+ comes with no maps, You download what locations you want for anywhere in the country including maps that are on the Gold edition. It is not regional specific. The limitation of that software is 2GB. It also includes Sonar Charts which is user generated data. You record on a body of water, upload the recording/s to the Navionics server and later download a HD contour map of that location. It is shared data, but is not Navionics data and is only as accurate as the data added by the software users. I use it a lot to create HD maps of locations that probably will never be surveyed by Navionics. To do recordings, take screen snaphots, do waypoint management with computer software, and do unit operating software updates, you need to remove the map card and insert a blank, formatted, SD card for those functions. When you register the unit on the Humminbird web site to create an account, you get the current unit software version and HumminbirdPC which is computer software to manage waypoints, routes, and tracks.

If you want an Ethenet connectable 5" unit you had better do your shopping soon. All of them are being discontinued for the 2014 model year. Ethernet shows the waypoints of one unit on the other unit in a different color, it is does not write the data to the other unit's memory. It shares accessories such as a GPS antenna, transducers. temp sensors and it is the connection for several accessories like RADAR, 360, and iPilot Link. Both 898 models are discontinued and being replaced by the 899ci HD SI Combo. Some good closeout sales on those units.

Google is your friend: http://www.minnkotamotors.com/_docs/propSelectionChart.pdf

If you purchase a 2014 year model, you won't have a choice, all of them have internal GPS antennas. Typically for the best waypoint accuracy based on sonar returns, the GPS antenna should be near the transducer. If you are getting two of them in different sizes, it depends on your eyesight. BIGGER is better from a distance in any case, but you may get by the other way. BTW, Humminibird's trade name for the technology is Side Imaging.

Additionally if you can find a Lowrance H2O, H2Oc, or XOG, those read Navionics software, but all are discontinued. Check Ebay. Great little units.

Yes, you need to activate the GPS function of your phone for it to work when not in a cell service or Wi-fi area. Look up the app on your phone and read the reviews. Some have already commented on using the Navionics Mobile App on this site--do a site search for it.

Ford or Chevrolet, which is "better"?

You don't need mapping to create and save waypoints. Waypoints are a GPS function and mapping is not GPS. Mapping is just a background on the display. A GPS unit works the same with or without mapping of any kind. IF you prefer Navionics background mapping, then you have to purchase a unit that is Navionics compatable. Some GPS brands have their own brand of maps such as Garmin, Delorme, etc When searching for a hand held, pay attention to the specs to determine what mapping that brand can uitlize and if there is a freshwater/marine version. You can get a Navionics App for your smart phone that will do what you want without buying a GPS unit. If you go to the Navionics web site you can check the list of compatable units for their map products. It isn't entirely accurate, but close.

I use superline for spinning gear finesse presentations in the 8# mono equivelent diameter and add a 20# fluorocarbon leader sometimes as weight to overcome the floatation of the braid with weightless finesse and trick worms wacky style. Works for me in all water conditions. I only use a max length of 4' with the fluorocarbon line since I don't want the leader on the reel at any point. Senkos are a non issue since they are so heavy. My preferred superline is either Daiwa Samurai or Daiwa Saltiga.

Let the internet do it for you. http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/calculators OR, you can set Google Earth to the format you want to use: Select Tools, then Options, on the left side under Show Lat/Long you can select which format matches your GPS unit and enter those co-ordinates directly.

The transducer depends on the model of sonar you have now. If you still have the little screen unit that came with the boat, that probably has the uni-plug with the transducer cable and power cable combined. The HDS units use separate power and transducer plugs that have lock rings on them. If you have the separate cable transducer, you can use that with the HDS. I will send you a PM later with some mounting suggestions for the LSS transducer.

Is you present transducer here? Or is it here?

wormbirdfishinsectsnake thingy

Additionally if you have the LSS-2 transducer, and don't have a jackplate, you need to attach the transducer under the transom step on the surface where the drain plug is. That thing is like a beaver tail. Send me a picture of your transom from drectly behind with the motor trimmed all the way up and at a level that shows all of the step. I can edit it with the suggested location.

I use the TFO Tactical Series Mag H 7' 11" rated for 1oz to 6 oz. It is light weight and won't wear you out casting heavy stuff.

The water has already passed over a transducer before the prop affects the water. The only way an outboard prop can affect a transducer is if the motor is in reverse.