How to Map a Lake with Lowrance Genesis Live or Humminbird LiveChart

Lots of small lakes are not on any map chips.  Thankfully modern electronics have ways we can map lakes ourselves now.  Be one of the only ones with a map of your favorite smaller lakes!

Edwin Evers used Lowrance Genesis Live. I use Humminbird AutoChart, Both work the same.  He’s got some good tips.

• Run a trail as you go so you can easily see where you have gone
• Live charting only records what your 2d sonar shows. It doesn’t capture your side imaging.
• The deeper the water, the greater the area you chart
• Start with the shallows (as shallow as possible) to do the edge of the lake, then go deeper.
• You can map at up to 20 MPH!
• Make sure you have a chip card to map to so you don’t fill up internal unit memory
• Drive in a cross-grid pattern (eg dive north/south, then go back over it going east/west) to get the most accurate view. HIGHLY recommended you do this!
• This is perfect for lakes where there is no map card for (especially smaller lakes). 
• Best times of year are early spring/late fall when the weeds are down for the most accurate maps
• Works great on rivers… but remember river contours change from year to year.
• Good to do even on lakes that you have a map card for… those map cards don’t capture everything. You may find something new
• With a Lowrance, you have to upload the map to save it. With Humminbird Autochart, there is no need!
• TIP – I love to do this on lakes I’m going to target during ice fishing. I just transfer my autochart card to my Helix 7 and use it during ice fishing!