I have the FHS maps for about a half dozen major lakes in the South and Southeast.  I have found that they are fairly accurate with their contour lines, but when it comes to underwater man-made structure, (roadbeds, etc.) their mapping efforts are half-azzed at best.  Has anyone else noticed this?

I use them for salt water and have found them to be very good i would like to find them for my area.

Peter

Yea buddy & most boat lanes shown on Toledo Bend are off  

Mike, if memory serves you've got a Lowrance H2O GPS reciever.  I figured you'd have a map card for it as well.  Best $150 (or less for previous year's models) you'll ever spend.

I gotta say that FHS maps are really good.  I do not use them for the spots they mark though.  I mostly fish the Mississippi River and it is full of backwater lakes and sloughs.  The US Army Corps. of Engineers produces maps of the channel, but not the backwaters.  If it were not for FHS maps, we would not have maps of many of these areas.

I use them. It is important that you understand that they are an aide only. Many times points of navagation have floated from their original location so be careful when navagating as they can be off,  sometimes a lot.

Burley, you are correct that I have the H2O.  I have also recently up-graded to the Lowrance LMS-522.  I have the FHS map cards for both the South and Southeast regions. I would have preferred to buy the Navionics card that you are referring to, but it isn't compatible with my MapCreate software.  I may still buy it anyway.  My fishing partner and I both have the 522s on our boats and he has the Navionics card.  We'll be doing some testing to find out which one is better.

Catt and Fishfordollars.  I am aware that the maps and cards should be used for reference only.  I found that out the hard way while trying to work my way into Dale Creek on Fork last March.  :-[

FHS maps are very usefull.  I have both the traditional maps and maps loaded in my GPS.  There probably are some discrepancies, but for the most part they are a real asset.

I have the hotspots maps for the southeast.  Many of the points I mark on my gps show up on the bank instead of in the lake and my gps isn't off that far because when I am on a major highway it shows my position accurately on the map.  

I have found that they are great for getting an idea on where to start with your sonar. I find promising areas and then watch my depth finder to fine tune then use bouys.

They don't update the FHS map very often, if at all.  The map I use for Smithville Lake doesn't account for siltation on the upper end of the lake.  The map still shows 25 foot contours where my depth finder shows it is 15 or so at normal pool.  I find that on average the lake is about 5 - 10 feet shallower than the map shows.  

Long Mike,

They are good for a starting point but I'm looking at getting a gps with a map card as well.  I'll be curious to see the results of your comparison or if anyone else has made this comparison, please chime in.  

Burley, you are correct that I have the H2O. I have also recently up-graded to the Lowrance LMS-522. I have the FHS map cards for both the South and Southeast regions. I would have preferred to buy the Navionics card that you are referring to, but it isn't compatible with my MapCreate software. I may still buy it anyway. My fishing partner and I both have the 522s on our boats and he has the Navionics card. We'll be doing some testing to find out which one is better.

Catt and Fishfordollars. I am aware that the maps and cards should be used for reference only. I found that out the hard way while trying to work my way into Dale Creek on Fork last March. :-[

That timber on Fork just does not like a lower unit. There are many other creeks on that lake that will eat up your rig. Williams creek being one,  watch that cleared cut between the north point and the island. There is one stumb in 18 feet that is a killer. Thankfully I was on a hard idle when I found it.

It's interesting to note that it seems that Lowrance is no longer touting the FHS cards, despite the fact that their computer-based MAPCreate software will read ONLY the FHS cards.  It appears that Lowrance has taken an about face and is supporting the Navionics cards almost exclusively.  As a case in point, I received my new BPS catalog the other day.  There is a section for the FHS paper maps, but when you get to the boat electronics section, FHS is not mentioned at all.  If you are an inland lakes fisherman, you can get the Navionics card, or you can use the lake maps that come packaged with your new Lowrance GPS-based unit.

I hope someone proves me wrong.