I spent my days off this last week at the Garmin booth in Grand Rapids interacting with hundreds of fishermen interested in buying a new fishfinder or chartplotter. It was thrilling to be able to show them what Garmin has to offer. I have consistently been blown away every year by the products that Garmin’s been designing and marketing. This year is no exception. Here are a couple of things to look for as you wrestle with what electronics you’re going to run in your boat this year:

1. New ECHOMAP Ultra Series. This is probably one of the most advanced units on the market, and yet simple to use. Designed with a touch screen not all that different from your smartphone, this unit is a breeze to learn. I played with the ECHOMAP Plus series and after a short time, I felt like I could navigate it easily. The new Ultra series has Ultra High Def imaging on the SideVu and ClearVu feature and comes with a high end transducer, preloaded with the best mapping software on the market for just under $2000 in the 10” model and $2800 in the 12” version. These units link with each other and other ECHOMAP Plus 7” and 9” units. You fish a smaller, more obscure gem not already on the mapping software - not a problem! You have Quickdraw - and with a couple clicks you’re mapping the fishery that you’ve spent your life learning. From the 7” ECHOMAP Plus on up to the ECHOMAP Ultra 12”, you have built-in support for the full line of Panoptix™ sonars and the Panoptix LiveScope™ scanning sonar system!

2. Panoptix LiveScope. Need I say more! If you look at any of the Uncut Angling Videos that Aaron Wiebe posts on LiveScope, you will see what an incredible tool this can be. What I love about LiveScope is that you get a real time image (live image) of what is happening out in front (or what ever direction you have the transducer pointed), which is where we do most of our fishing. 99.9 percent of my fishing is done casting a bait out in front of the boat and now you can see how the fish are relating to your presentation. This really is the most cutting edge technology on the market.

3. LakeVu Ultra US (split into East and West US). I rely heavily on my lake maps as a guide. In fact, I would say my mapping is probably one of my most important tools on the water. And Garmin doesn’t disappoint. One of the most helpful features of this software is the ability to see high-resolution relief shading giving you an easy-to-interpret, clearer view of bottom structure than contour lines alone relief shading.

All I’ve got to ask is what’s next?! Every year, the technology keeps getting better and better. You have the opportunity to buy the best and allow it to shape you into a better angler. Spend time around a Garmin display the next time you attend your favorite sporting goods dealing and see and experience it for yourself!