Mapping with a garmin chip

[TurboJim]

Thanks Steve, I glad you like the videos. Definitely we need to meet up, I'm fine driving to AZ as well. Navajo is an awesome fishery, I think the best in NM. No spoonpluggers live around here and trying to teach my buddies is great but they keep moving away...

I love my old Lund boat, I tightened up several rivets and added new carpet, it gets the job done.

As far as cameras go, I made a video of my camera set up a while back. https://youtu.be/kvGVVtCUclw
I'm using old Garmin Virb Elite cameras but one has gone bad now, so now I have added an old cannon camcorder. Good action camera prices these days are way to high for my blood. I plan to try using old cell phones that record in HD, so I can have more angles. I won't be too upset if a $30 cell phone goes down to the bottom of the lake. It's kinda tough filming solo, so I had to be creative.

Jim

[TN Dave]

Jim,

Great videos!! The video of the landing the big largemouth that got tangled in the huge bouy is a classic!!

Note: Anyone who is new to Spoonplugging and has questions about how to troll with two anglers in a boat, watch Jim’s videos. With the high camera and wide angle lens mounted on the bow of his Lund Rebel, the perspective of the two anglers is perfect. Also great example of near perfect boat control by Jim.

Good Fishing

TN Dave

[TurboJim]

Thanks TN Dave! I was sure that I was going to lose that fish! Glad I use 50lb mono leaders!

Notes on Mapping with a Garmin:

Before recording your map, adjust the water level to match the base contour map that Garmin provides and write the lake offset down. Then start mapping your structure.

If you have previously recorded a map and want to continue in the same area, you must match the depth of your recording or you can quickly ruin your mapped structure if the water level is different. Don't ask my how I know...

I also upload all of my maps to Garmin Connect so that if the contours on my unit get corrupted,(did happen) you can always download and re-install them again.

Here is a map from Navajo Reservoir from my last trip. The first screen shot is from the Garmin Ultra Lake Map 2019, the second shows the passes I made to map the same area displayed in green tracks, and last photo is the almost finished map. I caught several pike and a 12lb cat on this structure. The lake was 56ft low when mapped.

Take a look at the finished map, do you see any potential contact points or areas that you would work?

I plan to make a video on the mapping process using Garmin Quickdraw.

[Mapper]

Hey John, I run a saltwater transducer on the Garmin that allows me to map using Medium Chirp which is a different frequency than what my Vexilar flasher runs on. This way I get the best of both worlds, a simple map and real time depth from the flasher. Here is one of the maps of my favorite flatland reservoir up near the dam. These aids are very useful for me.

Enjoyed your videos, Jim. And of course I loved the pike segment most. But all your footage is enjoyable and fun to watch. Without a doubt, the mapping technology we now have access to is most advantageous to the spoonplugger. I just started to use my “auto charts” feature a couple of months ago and am now learning to manipulate the various settings to achieve desired results for specific situations.

You, Hal, Jim Shell and Jim Duplex have been an inspiration to me through your videos. And I’m grateful for that!!! Keep em coming!