Ok I know this probably is an age old question but which is your preference for software lakemapping, Navionics or Lakemaster? I'm heading to Winnie in a couple of weeks & am going to purchase one or the other. Navionics has a nice trade in plan if you want to upgrade (if it will be available in a year or to is yet to be determined) & has a wider coverage area which would mean only purchasing one chip for me.

Lakemaster seems to be the maps of choice for most people, are a bit cheaper but is limited to one state which may require me to purchase a 2nd chip at some point.

We are just an above average fishing family who fish Wisconsin & Minnesota when time permits but primarily fish the Mississippi River, pools 5a, 6 & 7 so another factor I've heard was nice is that some have better definition of river obstacles, primarily wingdams which at times would be beneficial.

Any thoughts, pro or con would be appreciated on these two chips. Iv'e never used either one so please help me with my decision.
Thank You
Lunker12

It really a choice which can be made depending on the GPS you own. If you own Lowrance I would buy the Lakemaster MN and WI chip and call it good. If you own Humminbird you have only one choice, navionics. If you own both GPS's get navionics and Lakemaster and compare and contrast.

LakeMaster Pro "08" MN will have the most highest detailed maps for MN.

Available in Garmin, Humminbird, and Lowrance formats.

For large regional coverage the new Navionics "08" Premium North is a good choice.

For MN waters, LakeMaster has a distinct advantage in detail as well as coverage.

I've had both and preferred lakmaster. Navionics background is white and difficult to read.

LakeMaster Pro "08" MN will have the most highest detailed maps for MN.

Available in Garmin, Humminbird, and Lowrance formats.

For large regional coverage the new Navionics "08" Premium North is a good choice.

For MN waters, LakeMaster has a distinct advantage in detail as well as coverage.

When did Humminbird start to be able to use Lakemaster Chips?

I've had both and preferred lakmaster. Navionics background is white and difficult to read.

I've had both running in my Lowrance's and I say the Navionics is much easier to read, without a doubt.

I have run both, and find that both work very well.
Some of the colors on one are better than on the other, but then there are better features on the onther one to compensate.

I think that the main thing is to insure that you have good coverage for the lake in question.

For Winni, I know that the Lakemaster chip is right on and very accurate and easy to use.

Take care
REW

In all the big 2008 catalogs (BassPro, Cabelas, West Marine) none of them have any listings for Lakemaster chips anymore. Don't know why. Unless Navionics bought them out.

2007 catalogs had them listed.

Go to Cabela's web site. Enter "Lakemaster" as a keyword and click FIND. You'll find five Lakemaster chips.

Navionics "08" Premium North Rocks !!!!!

It is the best available chip IMHO. Easier to see and use than lakemaster in my opinion. It has more information that I rely on. It's easier to control/change with user interface.

You can go to both websites and compare the detail levels for the lakes you like to fish. The websites have lists of lakes and the detail they supply for different bodies of water.
Take care,

I have run both, and find that both work very well.
Some of the colors on one are better than on the other, but then there are better features on the onther one to compensate.

I think that the main thing is to insure that you have good coverage for the lake in question.

For Winni, I know that the Lakemaster chip is right on and very accurate and easy to use.

Take care
REW

REW,
Been a member here since 96 when I worked for Crestliner and then Triton, although my new ID only shows since 2002. Anytime I see a post from REW, I know it is a good one. You always know what you're talking about.

Just FYI, though...many times the color on a plotter is a function of the plotter, so check out the various options. For instance, on a H-Bird, you can change the color in 1' increments, and on a Lowrance , under the Map Data menu, you can change the colors in I think 5 meter increments.

You can also change th screen colors on a Lowrance and other plotters for various conditions like night fishing.

Keep up the good work, REW. You are one of the last of the originals from the good old days on WC and there is a reason for that...ya don't blow smoke and know what you are talking about.

Larry Carr
Navionics Inc
AKA:
LC
LCFishes
LCinOH

WishinIwasFishin
><((((((({'>

LakeMaster Pro "08" MN will have the most highest detailed maps for MN.

Available in Garmin, Humminbird, and Lowrance formats.

For large regional coverage the new Navionics "08" Premium North is a good choice.

For MN waters, LakeMaster has a distinct advantage in detail as well as coverage.

FYI - Lakemaster insn't compatible with the bird. I talked to their sales rep. two weeks ago. According to him, they are talking but no deal has been reached. I hope it happens though.

I also agree that Lakemaster has the most detailed maps for MN, although I can only speak to the Northern half of the state. If you ever make a trip out to Devil's Lake, ND you will want a Navionics chip. Lakemaster just came out with it but didn't add it to their '08 MN maps, instead they want you to purchase it seperately for another $100.

Also, I am very happy to see that Navionics is actively involved on these message boards. Could someone get a Lowrance rep. on here?

FYI - Lakemaster insn't compatible with the bird. I talked to their sales rep. two weeks ago. According to him, they are talking but no deal has been reached. I hope it happens though.

I also agree that Lakemaster has the most detailed maps for MN, although I can only speak to the Northern half of the state. If you ever make a trip out to Devil's Lake, ND you will want a Navionics chip. Lakemaster just came out with it but didn't add it to their '08 MN maps, instead they want you to purchase it seperately for another $100.

Also, I am very happy to see that Navionics is actively involved on these message boards. Could someone get a Lowrance rep. on here?

I would love to see a lowrance rep on this site.

LakeMaster Pro "08" MN will have the most highest detailed maps for MN.

Available in Garmin, Humminbird, and Lowrance formats.

For large regional coverage the new Navionics "08" Premium North is a good choice.

For MN waters, LakeMaster has a distinct advantage in detail as well as coverage.


Greetings fellow walleye anglers:
Just curious....I keep hearing that the 'other guys' have more detail and more maps for Minnesota lakes. Please fill me in so we can improve. We will do our best to produce the best product out there and your feedback is essential for us to do that. Good competition helps the end user get a better product and benefits everyone who uses our product. (including me;-)

Just FYI, Navionics has 80 High Def/Survey lales with 1' increments in Minnesota, and 2450+ total lakes with DNR/Standard contours on the 08 HotMaps Premium product.

Just in case, though...
If you want to request a lake be surveyed, or give us input on enhancements you would like to see, you can go to this URL to request a lake: http://www.navionics.com/ProductEnhancement.asp

If you find an error/anomaly, you can also send it in for the geographers and cartographers at Navionics to check out: Go to http://www.navionics.com/AnomalyReport.asp

Keep me posted as to where we need to improve. I am a registered user and have been on this site since 96 when I worked for Crestliner. Just in case, you can send me an e-mail at lcarr at navionics dot com.

Thanks
Larry Carr
Midwest Regional Sales Manager
Navionics Inc.
aka:
LCinOH
LCFishes
LCarr

The LM info, as you probably know, is on their website. The new '08 product has 130 hi def lakes I believe. I recently purchased one, and for me it simply came down to the fact that the lakes I fish in MN (Big and Little Pine in Ottertail County) are available in hi def with the new LM. Now if I decide to buy a chip to use on Erie it would likely be the Navionics product based on what I've read, I just haven't taken the plunge on that one yet.

My suggestion would be to borrow a chip or at least try them both and return the one you don't like.

I purchased the Lakemaster MI mapping chip (Lakemaster ProMaps LKPM-MI) and while it is full of detail and contours - it is miserably inaccurate and worthless for the area I fish on Lake Michigan. So when I compare it to my Bluecharts on my handheld Garmin - the Lakemaster has way more detail in deep water but is all erroneous information as if a child had drawn lines wherever he wanted - not even remotely close to being accurate.....maybe off by 50-100 feet of depth etc on the breaks.

I called the people at Lakemaster and even gave them the coordinates of the area that is so terribly mapped incorrectly (45.01.437 85.47.687) and they were unable to help me or provide any refund or updates - UNBELIEVABLE!! Yes I tried the chip in other machines and have used the chip in other areas (inland lakes and also Saginaw Bay) in the same machine and yes it is still terrible in the coordinates given but does function fine everywhere else I have been.

I hope the fella at Navionics does a better job - sounds like at least he will try for you. Maybe he has a map that I could use in my Globalmap unit that would show the contours with some sort of accuracy.

Lobo1

The LM info, as you probably know, is on their website. The new '08 product has 130 hi def lakes I believe. I recently purchased one, and for me it simply came down to the fact that the lakes I fish in MN (Big and Little Pine in Ottertail County) are available in hi def with the new LM. Now if I decide to buy a chip to use on Erie it would likely be the Navionics product based on what I've read, I just haven't taken the plunge on that one yet.

Looks like we need to survey Big and Little Pine. Ask and ye shall receive. BTW, 80 navionics in 1' and 78 LM on the 08. But if we don't have yours, it doens't help, does it. So we'll get workin on it!

LC

I have both Nav & L.M. I prefer the L.M. for finer bottom detail and better images on the background screen for displays.

N.T.

Good point. I often prefer to use the plotter in "Night Mode" to set off the colors in higher contrast. For me, it just works better.

I got the 08 Lakemaster paper map. Great detail. Has a whole bunch of gps locations. Only problem it, the locations are way off. I was on Cass in June, and I know the lake. I plugged in the coords and when I followed the gps to them, they were way off.

Amen brother. My Lakemaster mapping chip is so far off it is not worth putting back in the machine. It's been a week since I sent the problem into Lowrance and still no reply.

Lakemaster -punted on the deal. No updates. No refund. punt to Lowrance and I wait............

Another opinion in the mix, I own both 2008 chips, running them (alternately) in an LMS 332C, for Minnesota.

Each has lakes I fish that the other doesn't. Each seems to be a better at some than others.
Lakemaster takes it's borders very seriously - trying to plot a run from Kabetogama to the Kettle Falls Hotel cannot be done with LakeMaster, with the strict cut off of the Canadian side of the map, navigation is hopeless. Navionics chip allows that routing to be seen.

Std res of Lake Kabetogama for both: Lakemaster wins hands down. Much more accurate in locations of rocks, and depths. A few rock hazards showing that aren't there. Navionics has lots of extra things showing that don't exist, and misses lots of rock piles and contours - not to be trusted on that lake. Have not seen a high def version yet, although have used the new paper map from Navionics, and that is a tremendous improvement!

For High Res on a couple of the metro area lakes I fish, I like the Navionics better then the High Res Lakemaster - easier to read, seems to be more accurate as to what is where. But, there are examples going the other way, also.

I really like that the LakeMaster just loads when the unit starts up, and is just there. Zoom response is pretty fast. Lakemaster has lots of other stuff - roads, accurate launches, motels, gas availability, etc.

Navionics requires you select the region from the chip (because it covers so much more area). Zooming seems to take much, much longer. Probably a function of so much more on the chip, also. But, a pain in the butt when you're trying to figure out what is going on in the area you're in, vs the larger lay of the countours. Navionics has symbols I haven't got a clue as to what they mean, and shows some non-existant boat launches on one of the lakes I fish, along with other similar artifacts. Less "off water" roads and landmarks.

So, a mixed bag. All I can advise - review the list of lakes, and get the one that has the most number of High Res lakes that you actually fish. Or just buy both.........

I concur, they are both like fine wine.
Every years they get better and more accurate.

However % lakes the same, % lake better on one or the other.

Lakemaster Shines in MN, WI, MI & LOTW's.

Navionics also shines in many parts too of lakes there and they have chips for Rivers, Great Lakes, and 5 regional Chips in North America as well as a partial on LOTW's. They also have an update refund 50% 0r is that now 33%.for upgrading to new chips.


Lakemaster @ $89 is still a fair price with a no upgrade, if your lake, lakes are in it correctly .

In all the big 2008 catalogs (BassPro, Cabelas, West Marine) none of them have any listings for Lakemaster chips anymore. Don't know why. Unless Navionics bought them out.

2007 catalogs had them listed.
I 've been raning Lakemaster s 2007 fof along time now on my h2o, but found out how far off it was on Cass Lke when I got a27c, And Lake Master won,t even do anything for me. I go back to novionics.

Amen brother. My Lakemaster mapping chip is so far off it is not worth putting back in the machine. It's been a week since I sent the problem into Lowrance and still no reply.

Lakemaster -punted on the deal. No updates. No refund. punt to Lowrance and I wait............
They told me I had to load it in aplug and play unit,they can even forsee that they have a problem with there product