What about Navionics Plus and updates for my chart?

Recently, I wondered if I had the most up to date charts for my fishing.  So, the chip went to Green Top to have them look at it.  Nope, told it wasn't up to date and spent time waiting for the experts to do the deed.  During the last adventure, I noticed that I didn't have the contour lines as in the past.  So, tonight, I did the 45 minute upgrade on my own.  I learned in the past not to use Google for the deed as the changes in the program and crashed my computer.  Have to use Internet Explorer for the deed and all goes well without problem, just incredibly slow. 

While poking around Navionics.com, I realized that I had access to all the mapping on my chip to make future plans and I could even print the maps.  I found that the contour lines I was looking for became evident with the zoom in.  The satellite overlay brings all the roads with the terrain.  Pretty neat!  Can't wait to make a plan for  my next adventure.  Maybe get way points on my graphs to remind me of where I'm supposed to concentrate my fishing effort.

Wanted to print the chart, but .  .  . can't seem to get it right.  Maybe later?

it didn't work well.

  

So, on to another project related to striper fishing.  Here's a  drop light.  It is activated to flash when in the water.  Seems to have a concentrated beam directed out the top and much less illumination around the peripheral.  It may be best to mount it with the top pointed toward the boat?

Here, the drop light sits on top of the planner.  Too heavy and the Bugz planer board and needs additional foam to recover proper floatation.  It's usual for the Bugz planer board to haul a 7 inch blueback herring and it's look alike alewife.

I ordered 10 replacement foams.  Hopefully they have adhesive backs so I won't have to experiment with adhesive to get them installed.  The Bugz boards come with single or double foam.  I ordered one set of the double foam planer boards just to be sure I get it right.  The weights on the bottom edge are meant to balance the board in the water so it pulls correctly.  Adding the drop light to the top messes most everything up.  I'll start with the middle installation so as to try and maintain some of the original balance.

 

I might try the Walleye planer boards as they are larger and the drop light shouldn't make a difference in floatation.  The Walleye also has a lead weight in the bottom edge that can be reduced to get better flotation.  Yet, I see some Bay fisherman adding more foam and flashy stick-ons to their boards.  Maybe a drop light attached to the bottom edge of the planer board would .  .  .

 

Time will tell if this reinvention f the wheel works.

 

The photo below is the Walleye planer board.  I added the reflective material.  Note the vertical pin at the left of the board.  The line to the bait passes inside the slot and the pin keeps it in place.  The pin is spring loaded making it simple to remove and load the planer board.  The Bugz planer board above uses a modified snap swivel that is difficult to use under most conditions.  A loop must be made in the line, then follow the coiled wire in the clip.  Sounds simple, but in low light conditions or with cold hands?  Might be a better choice to see if the Bugz planer board might be modified to work similar to the Walleye planer board.

 

 

 

 The foam on the Walleye planer board is protected by the plastic planer.  The lead can be moved forward or back to balance the board to the weight of the baits.  Usually a 12 to 16 inch eel when I use this planer on the Chesapeake Bay.

 

I think the Walleye planer board will easily carry the drop light piggy back without disrupting the performance.  The Walleye board is easily 4 times the size of the Bugz planer board.