Humminbird new leader with Onix System?

Last February at The Bassmaster Classic on Lake Guntersville in Birmingham Alabama I had the opportunity to spend some time at the Humminbird booth and the team there was kind enough to demonstrate some of the features of their new Onix system.  This is an entirely new platform that’s been redesigned and packed with the most amazing features of any graph on the market.  Bar none.  And believe me that I only barely scratched the surface of what this new unit will be able to do.  It’s got all the 360 and side imaging components of the old platform, plus trip log, fuel, internet, tides, and a few others.

To begin with the unit is a touch screen.  But unlike the new models of other manufacturers, the Onix has an optional joystick-type toggle switch that will allow you to navigate the screen easy and efficiently in heavy rain or while wearing gloves.  Anyone who didn’t like having to take their gloves off in the cold to use the touch screen will be delighted with this feature!  The joystick is smooth and very easy to use, but so is the touch screen, so you’re really ok with either that you use. 

What is the most impressive is that when you’re looking at the 2D sonar screen, if you are landing a fish or just not paying attention to the screen and you want to see what you missed you can do that by simply moving your finger on the screen from left to right, and either slide the image backwards (like you’re rewinding the tape), and then forward again if you choose.  If you see a brush pile that you already passed and you think you want to put a way-point on it and fish it you can and then you’ll have it marked.  That feature in and of itself is priceless!

You also aren't limited to having a small number of preset screens anymore.  With Onix you can have virtually an infinite number of screen combinations preset and stored that you can quickly toggle between within seconds.  This will allow you to have combinations for rivers, lakes, tidal waters, specific depths you’re fishing.  It’s very similar to some of the new smartphone software that people use to combine pictures.  It really is an incredible feature and very simple to use.  Just highlight an area and you’ll be taken to screen to choose what presentation you want:  2D, downscan, sidescan, nav, etc.  After making your selection you’re automatically returned to the previous screen to select another.

Onix also has a pinch and zoom feature that I that will allow you to expand an area on your map that you want to look at more closely.  When you’re done and want to go back you can just place two fingers on the screen and you’ll be taken back to the main screen.  Another great mapping feature is located in the settings.  If you want to highlight a particular range, say 20 feet deep, and set it with a variation of 2 feet; your map will then highlight in the color you choose all the places on that particular body of water that are 18-22 feet deep.  So you can see them right away without having to scour the map.  And if it’s a lake with water levels that rise and fall you can adjust that too, and the map will even show you where the new shoreline is and where the old shoreline would be.

The only things this system can’t do are drive the boat, and catch the fish.  That being said, I don’t know another system that can put you on fish better than this one can. 

5 In The Box with Greg Vinson

Ever wonder what it's like in the mind of one the hottest anglers on the Elite Series?  Greg Vinson was kind enough to tell me about The 2012 Bassmaster Classic, his fastball, and being ready to go to war...

 

 

 

Who introduced you to the sport of fishing?

 

My dad certainly had the strongest influence.  He was a hard-core federation angler when I was growing up.  I grew up on the lake too; me and the other kids in the area fished a lot for fun.

 

Does fishing competitively change it for you in terms of being able to just go out and fish for a few hours with your buddies or is it still relaxing for you in the ways that it is for most people who enjoy just sitting on a bank in a lawn chair with a coffee?

 

I absolutely enjoy fishing for fun, even for bass.  Tournament fishing and fun fishing are two different mental places for me.  But, I fish hard when I fun fish.  I still want to catch as many, and as big a fish possible.  It's my competitive nature coming out.  The challenge is what makes it fun.

 

What is your favorite technique, and who do you turn to or watch for tips or pointers?

 

I really enjoy shallow-water power fishing, especially when they're biting a jig or soft plastic.  There's something special about the challenge of making accurate casts to visible targets that all too often become obstacles when a fish is hooked up.

 

Although I know I've learned a lot in the past 10 years or so, I will never quit learning new things that will help me catch more fish.  For that reason, I am always willing to listen to any other anglers regardless of what level they fish at.  Thinking you already know everything will get you beat because the sport is always evolving.

 

 

 

What's your favorite lake?

 

Guntersville.

 

What's your lease favorite lake?

 

Clarks Hill.

 

What do you have planned for 2013 both on and off the water?

 

I have my tournament schedule and practice schedule planned out.  I want to make time to spend with Stephanie and Gaige otherwise.  I'll be doing some filming for several people too along with some fun fishing.  The calendar seems to fill up quick these days.

 

I remember watching The Classic last year and routing for you.  What did you learn at The Classic in 2012 looking back at it almost a year later, are there choices you made then that you second guess now?

 

Missing the win in The Classic was without a doubt a heartbreaker.  Most importantly because of what it would mean to me and my family over the course of a career.  That being said, I'm very proud of my performance, my decision making, and my composure throughout the event.  I've had a lot of time to think about what I might have done differently and I wouldn't change a thing.  I was dialed-in and had the perfect area.  It came down to who got that one big bite in the end.

 

 

 

If you weren't an angler, Greg Vinson would be a ____________.  Why?

 

Realistically, I would probably be working for The State of Alabama monitoring the water quality of our lakes, rivers and streams as an Environmental Scientist.  That's what I did before I went pro and it was a good job.

 

Ideally, I would be a pitcher in the major leagues...LOL!

 

Time for Five In The Box!

 

1.  What's it like in your house on a Sunday morning when you're not fishing?

 

Most of the time I'm cooking a good breakfast and we're planning what we will do as a family that day.

 

2.  Do you have any pretournament rituals or superstitions?

 

Not as much as I used to.  I seem to lock-on to a particular hat or t-shirt during the course of practice that's giving me good vibes.  When I have a bad day on the water I change to something different.  It's a mental way of wiping the slate clean I guess.

 

3.  If you had to guess where your best finish would be in 2013 where would it be, and where do you see yourself struggling the most?

 

The natural answer would be the Alabama River in Montgomery, AL; I live ten minutes from there.  But I know how good the Elite guys are and sometimes being a local and work against you.  I want to prepare for each tournament in a way that I can win on any given lake at any given time.  That's what I did for The Red River in The Classic.  I had never seen it before and I worked very hard to learn it well so I could choose my area based on the conditions and fishing pressure. 

 

The Northern-most fisheries like The St. Lawrence are the scariest to me right now.  Northern waters fish much differently than southern reservoirs and rivers.  I hope I can turn that into a positive and work extra hard this year to improve my game in that area. 

 

 

 

4.  What's the one body of water you would fish in 2013 if you had your choice?

 

I would probably have said Falcon Lake whether we were fishing it for the Elites this year or not.  It's been the hottest lake in the country for awhile now and I've never had the opportunity to fish it until I went there to pre-practice in November.

 

5.  What's one thing that nobody knows about you?

 

I'm pretty laid back most of the time, but "when the lights are on" so to speak, I'm ready to go to war.  I'm an intense competitor and some people miss laid back side because they see me in "tournament mode" most of the time.

 

Thanks for giving us a chance to see the laid back side.  Good luck this year and thanks for your time.