Navionics / Lakemaster ?

[YUM]

I have both chips.. both at least a 2-3 years old.

I am wondering if the newer Navionics chips have a better backgroud map built in... similar to the lakemaster which has so many roads including side streets etc unlike the Nav chip which only has highways.

thanks.

[BUCKSNMUSKYS]

I am sorry but I can't answer that, however maybe you could help me out? Which do you prefer and why? I am looking to purchase a new chip for my new GPS Combo and I have a Lake Master currently that doesn't have my favorite lake but Navionics does. Is Navionics comparable to the LakeMaster? I don't care about the roads and stuff since it will not be mobile.

Appreciate any reply.

[BUCKSNMUSKYS]

I read this on another HSOforum if it helps....

Here's the skinny from my point of view. I've had both and I prefer the Lakemaster chip. As it has been said many times before, look at the websites and the lakes you fish... see which has more of the lakes you want. I feel they are both pretty good when it comes to the actuall lake maps, but Lakemaster has more of the lakes I fish and they have Lake Michigan and this years chip has Lake Superior. Since I fish the big water a lot, it's a no brainer for me. I actually bought the new 09 chip to replace my 07 chip this year to add Lake Superior. Lakemaster also has most of the roads on there chip (even many of the unpaved logging roads in the areas I hunt... major bounus!!!). The only draw back that I've seen is that Lakemaster doesn't have a buy back program like Navionics has. As I said I just bought the 09 Lakemaster chip to replace the 07 chip I had because a recent job move has me now fishing Lake Superior instead of Lake Michigan and my 07 chip didn't cover Lake Superior. Now I'm stuck with an 07 chip that I need to sell, but if I was using Navionics (they don't cover the big water I upgraded for, but assuming they did...) I could have traded my old chip in for the new one... The bottom line is if you have a handheld GPS like my H2O, the Lakemaster is perfect, but if it's just going to be in the GPS mounted on your boat, look for the one that has the lakes you fish and get it. Either one will help you put fish in the boat vs not having one!

[BUCKSNMUSKYS]

Sorry, the post was dated October 10th 2009. Don't know when they came out with the new chip.

[YUM]

Well, both chips have many of the same lakes. However, each chips map for a certain lake differs. For example, the Navionics shows much more detail on a couple of lakes I frequent... Coon and Green come to mind. The Navi chip shows 4 humps on Linberg point on Green lake, where as the Lakemaster chip only shows the general outline of the point.

That said, I have also found lakes where Lakemaster's map shows more detail. Also, both of my chips are a bit older and maybe each chip has updated their maps for certain lakes.

Sooooo, any1 have a newer Navionics chip? if so does it show side roads?... dont be shy

[YUM]

Nvm, I called Navionics and it appears they still dont have side streets

[PerchJerker]

Sounds like you already have your answer, which is that Navionics has essentially no non-lake data on their chips, and LakeMaster has lots of info in addition to lake data.

[Shack]

I have both (I think both 08 chips) and I use them for what I need. Some of the smaller lakes around my house have contours on the Nav. chip and nothing on the Lakemaster. I like Lakemaster better than Nav. when on Mille Lacs. It seems to more accurate and have better mapped out structure. Pool 2 the Nav. chip is the best for accuracy. Lakemaster, I believe, has nothing but blue. On pool 2 I am running a Humminbird though.

I agree, if you can get both.