Humminbird FishSmart Reviews

by Joe Coker

Very slow, loses Bluetooth connection too easily. They make you purchase lake map again,
You have to use email to import your way points and when you import your way points you lose your symbols or icons, there just gold dots on the map.
HumminbirdFishSmart is not worth downloading. The Garmin ActiveCaptain app is leaps and bounds better than this piece of crap.

by Jason9-19-1980

I purchased an HD map on my FishSmart app and when I try to transfer it via Bluetooth to my Helix 7 G2N, HumminbirdFishSmart crashes. So in other words, I spent $30 for a map that I can only use on my phone and since it was purchased On the FishSmart app instead of ChartSelect, I can even get this $30 map onto an SD card now. No matter which app you buy it off, you should be able to get a physical copy of it so you can USE IT ON THEIR UNIT....Save your money. Humminbird needs to fix HumminbirdFishSmart. If you’re gonna advertise this “feature” it would be beneficial that it works as you say it does. Very disappointed. Humminbird has always been my go to product but I’m starting to wonder. The last map I buy unless it’s on an SD card.

by Rpa011

App was working better after the latest update but now it is ridiculously slow when trying to view charts. Constantly freezes when zooming in / out to the point it’s un-useable. Hummingbird makes great units / maps but they seem to struggle in the software department. HumminbirdFishSmart has had major issues since it was released and no sign of improvement. Also performing the software updates they release for their units is a 50/50 chance of you having to return the unit because of the update. They really need to start paying attention to these complaints before Garmin completely shuts them out.

by Long Time Customer No More!

Maps won’t show up on phone and iPad. Even if you pay for them thrice. Hours on the phone with their support. How does someone pre-scout a tourny on an iPhone???? Apparently it’s device specific not person who pays for it! Updates happen monthly for their hardware. If you don’t install they don’t work with each other...... who pays ten of thousands of dollars to get the features advertised, but is reduced to paper maps and the time you wish you were fishing updating their controller units?? Unfortunately this guy. Johnson outdoors has forced me to go GARMIN/ Lowrance. 3 Boats, six fish finders, 3 trolling motors later... no longer a customer. It’s just sad....

by Baitchucker

The only thing HumminbirdFishSmart is good for is to sell you overpriced maps. Ok it’s also good for updating software but that’s it.
Here’s my biggest complaint. You can’t send waypoints to your unit via Bluetooth. Stupid. And it gets stupider. Waypoints entered into HumminbirdFishSmart get exported in the .gpx format, but the unit needs the .hwr format. So you have to convert them using software on your computer. So you might as well enter them into your computer in the first place. And HumminbirdFishSmart only exports one waypoint at a time. You can’t ‘select all’.
I’ve been entering waypoint into machines for 15 years and this was the most frustrating. I feel like yelling at someone.

by Mnbassguy

Why should I have to buy maps for my phone that I have already bought the lake master chip for? This is Johnson outdoors charging you just because they can. If you own a humminbird and have the laskemaster chips don’t even waste your time with this. It would be way better if I could Bluetooth my phone to the helix unit I run and see the maps in that unit on HumminbirdFishSmart , I paid for the map card already why would I waste money for a single map. This is the worst mapping rip off I’ve ever seen

by Daisy78may

HumminbirdFishSmart has not worked for almost a year. It’s a known issue and it must be low priority. Meanwhile the last software update screwed the mapping on my Helix unit. They finally have an update to fix it but now HumminbirdFishSmart is down. They will reply to this review by saying that the software update can be done by downloading to a SD card. News flash, not everyone has a computer or SD card. That’s what HumminbirdFishSmart is for and that was the selling point. This company is a joke! Selling my hummingbirds for Lowrance units.

by DSF Minneapolis

Great idea. Doesn’t work. Doing updates on this is a chore and most of the time they don’t work. There is problems of Bluetooth connectivity to iPhones and if it drops the connection while you’re doing an update it faults. Oh

What’s worse is that humminbird doesn’t care. They are aware of these problems. My God just look at the other poor reviews! So sad that they are satisfied with HumminbirdFishSmart that falls so far short of mediocre.

by PNaj_13

Waypoints can only be exported one at a time. Needs a “select all” function to put them all in one .gpx file. Waypoints should also be able to be sent directly to Helix via Bluetooth.

I bought the Helix 7 Mega SI G3N and spent extra to get Bluetooth to update software from Fish Smart app. HumminbirdFishSmart sees my Helix 7 but the update button does not show. So far a waste of money for the G3N. Disappointed.

Also, I own 2 lake maps and only one is showing up on HumminbirdFishSmart .

by MadMacFishin

Could be a great app but will not sync with chart select. This is apparently a known issues with humminbird they say they are working on fix but no fix date is given. Should not be charging for maps until fix.

by Jcub21

Purchased a lake that I fish often from the Fish Smart app. One issue is HumminbirdFishSmart won’t allow yo to mirror (using Bluetooth) from your phone to your tv. This would allow for easier viewing and better see areas you could waypoint and fish. Since I paid for this lake, i called Humminbird and the rep said this was purposely done. I can’t recommend HumminbirdFishSmart to my friends. Very Dissappointing.

by Hmarshall3

Everyone knows that lake master is one of the best maps available. My problem is HumminbirdFishSmart crashes every time I try pulling up a map and I have to try over and over again until it finally works. Then if you have issues getting it on a sd card good luck getting any customer service to help you.

by Zacerick

To start off I really like HumminbirdFishSmart it’s very helpful finding fish and getting around on the lake. The only thing that Could be different is that I wish there was a way to change my icon from a boat to just a dot. It would be very helpful for when it comes to ice fishing season since the boat is kind of obnoxious.

by Jh1286

I already have 3 lakemaster chips, 3 helix’s, an ulterra, and a talon and have had other products in the past. At what point is enough enough and you provide the topo maps for paying Johnson outdoors customers? Other than that the networking and updates section of HumminbirdFishSmart works great.

by Fletchertwc

Pretty cool app!
Feature update request -
Please add a “cancel” button in the request a callback option. Currently, there is an option to cancel a request.
You have to completely close HumminbirdFishSmart .

by SCAngler18

I really like HumminbirdFishSmart for the ease of scouting on my phone. I hate spending extra money on maps I feel I have already paid for with my lakemaster chip, but I think it was worth it for my most fished lakes.

Where HumminbirdFishSmart could improve:

Why can’t we select all of the waypoints from a route and hide them all at once? Selecting 100 waypoints individually and hiding them is a PAIN

Why does HumminbirdFishSmart need to validate my purchase every time I open HumminbirdFishSmart ? This process takes too long.

I wish it would give me the option to rename a waypoint right when I create it. Having to go in and edit it just adds more steps. I don’t think most people use the default naming convention.

It would be nice if we could zoom in as far as you can in google earth.

Why can’t we upload waypoints/routes to our graphs just like uploading FW to the unit via BT?

I use this on my iPad and my iPhone. Why can’t we have a setting to link my devices to share the waypoints between them?

You solve these issues and it’s a home run.

by JC ProAngler

HumminbirdFishSmart is free which is awesome and it gives you satellite imagery of any lake you want to see. The in app purchase of an HD lake is easy and then gives you all the features just like the Humminbird units. Depth highlight, shallow water highlight, water level offset, make waypoints and routes. I use HumminbirdFishSmart on my iPad so I can study lakes and plan trips from my couch. Also take the iPad on the boat and use HumminbirdFishSmart to run the waypoints I made. Favorite feature is the quick ability to hide or show the HD map layers. Use the satellite imagery as the overlay then slide the circle at the lower right of the screen and see things others miss on the imagery.

by Dfox56

Every time I start HumminbirdFishSmart I get a login error, user not found, confirm.

When I select confirm it looks like it’s working. It continues to have a yellow arrow next to Register your Hummingbird. I’ve already registered it. When I go into networks + updates it shows my unit. Confusing.

Still getting used to my Solex10. These two problems annoy me.

When I go to the hummingbird website and login it doesn’t show me having a unit registered.

by 2wheelcowboy

This is a great app. Yes, it doesn’t have SmartStrike on HumminbirdFishSmart . This feature is only half useful anyway on Sonar units. You have to not attention to much more than just pink blobs to catch good fish. So it wouldn’t help at all to have it sitting on the couch.

Having LakeMaster apps on the iPhone and iPad are great. Being able to study an area or section of a lake while not wasting time while you’re on the water is just plain awesome. It makes for quicker plans once you start fishing. I will make 2 or 3 planned routes, upload them, and see what’s working when on the water.

The lakes are not over priced for what you get.

I would like to see the ability to upload your AutoChart love data so you can ya e even more detail to run through.

Overall, it’s a great app.

by The NitroStar

Bought this Chart Select map online for my Humminbird 998. Works great on my fish finder and pulled up on HumminbirdFishSmart after logging into my account. I've added several waypoints and Routes. Download and read the manual to learn how to share, import, and export waypoints, routes, and tracks. I haven't done this part yet though. Great backup if something goes wrong.

by Tait-MN

I had the original version since 2016 with about 20 maps. I had to purchase each map independently and I had no problem with that until they had an update and all my maps are gone. I was told the new version doesn’t support all my maps. Hundreds of dollars gone without any warning.

by Cark13324

If you buy HD maps through HumminbirdFishSmart and later try to add “layers” using Humminbird ChartSelect, the two platforms don’t recognize each other. H’bird told me to get enhanced layers I’d have to repurchase the HD maps I already paid $30 for. What a rip off. I’ve been a Humminbird customer for over 30 years and have spent well over $15K and this is very disappointing.

by Heath26

Downloaded this so I could possibly update my helix software via HumminbirdFishSmart but even though my iphone or iPad is connected by Bluetooth it doesn’t show any devices. App is pretty much useless to me at this point. It’s also a rip off to charge $9.99 per lake. Buy a sd card with the maps on it or use navionics on your mobile devices.

by OHTechDiver

Lakemaster purchase works well, but missing the ability to also download Smartstrike features as well.

by Cwtigerfan

Purchased a $30 map and it won’t come up. Received receipt showing purchase. Nothing shows in HumminbirdFishSmart under purchased maps, not even if I restart or go to “restore purchases”

by Bassn W Buddy

Once I purchased a lake map (Demopolis Lake), I wasn't able to view it. I saw my PayPal email saying it was purchased but I cant see it on my device (iPhone).

by WalliCo

Downloaded HumminbirdFishSmart and used it on a nice size lake without any issues. I wish you could transfer the waypoints to the main unit on the boat.