Lakemaster software - 255 lakes vs 101

[shinde]

Question about the Lakemaster software (MN Series). At the Lakemaster HSOforum, I can order a 255 lake MN package for $49. The Lakemaster software available thru FishingMN is the same price, but it says it's only 101 lakes. Is this just an old reference to the number of lakes, or are there two different products? Has anyone ordered that can fill me in? Link to fishingmn order site: http://www.fishingmn.com/lakemap/minnesota-edition.htm

[Guest]

Yes they are the same. But order it from FM. Also remember that the $49 set does not include the Reel Bottom one foot contour maps.

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MILLE LACS AREA GUIDE SERVICE
651-271-5459 http://fishingminnesota.com/millelacsguide/
click here

[shinde]

Thanks - I prefer to order from FM, that's why I wanted to check if it was the same first, I wanted to make sure I got all 255 lakes. How you used the maps, and how accurate have you found them to be (The state package, not the reelbottom series)?

[Guest]

Ive checked accuracy on 6 other lakes outside of the Mille Lacs Reel Bottom and they were right on. Lakemaster has said there may be some that need updating but they were working on it.

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MILLE LACS AREA GUIDE SERVICE
651-271-5459 http://fishingminnesota.com/millelacsguide/
click here

[Rainman]

I have the lake master and tried it on several lakes that I fish and as far as I am concernerd it's not worth a nickle. Lake waconia's map is wrong very wrong they have reefs in the wrong spots and some are not even on there, Wheres cemetary reef that is on the s/e side of the island? I tried to use it on ottertail and that was a waste of time as well. I put about 40 waypoint in my GPS and not a single one was even close! Just my 2 cents worth!!

[Guest]

I am also a little disappointed with the lakemaster software.
It list's pool 4 on the Mississippi river but when you open the file for that area, it has no contour lines at all. I was told I needed to zoom in closer, Well even if i zoom in vary close it still has NO data.
There are also other lake that do the same thing.
I e-mailed Waypoint and didn't really get much help.
I think it's just a way to get someone to upgrade.
racer

[Scoot]

Rainman,

I'm wondering if there is something wrong with your computer-to-gps link or just your gps. I say this because I know a number of different guys who have Lakemaster and love it. A couple in particular have used in on Ottertail and been very happy and impressed.
I'm not saying you did something wrong- it's just that what you reported is very different from the other reports I've heard. You might want to check it out.
My .02.
Scoot

[Rainman]

Scoot, I don't believe that anything is wrong with my GPS because the 200+ waypoints that are on there take me right to the spot everytime.Even waypoints that other people give me to enter on the big pond put me on the spot! And I also entered those coordinates by hand, I don't the cord to hook up my computer to my GPS. Thanks though!

[Guest]

Get someone to upgrade? The upgrade is free.

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MILLE LACS AREA GUIDE SERVICE
651-271-5459 http://fishingminnesota.com/millelacsguide/
click here

[Guest]

D-man, its not free to upgrade to the reel bottem..i guess i didnt make that clear.. sorry

[Guest]

There are only three Reel Bottom maps.The upgrade to the 255 is free. I thought that's what you were refering to, sorry.

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MILLE LACS AREA GUIDE SERVICE
651-271-5459 http://fishingminnesota.com/millelacsguide/
click here

[Guest]

I reported a problem to them, and as DMan stated, they are currently working on some lakes. Mine has a problem with Calhoun, but every other map has been right on.

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-FNC

"Hell froze over last week... glad I brought the Vex"

[Scoot]

Rainman,

Probably you're absolutely right and there's no problem. Something to check though- are you sure that you're entering them into the gps in the EXACT SAME format as you've been given them? What I've seen a number of times is people getting a lat and lon in degrees, minutes, and seconds and entering into the gps in it's default mode, which may or may not be the same format.
For example- If you've got a degrees, minutes, seconds format and enter it in degrees and minutes (with the minutes having several decimal places), you'll end up on the wrong spot.
This is a really common mistake and might be something to check. Probably your right, though. Maybe you're getting bum info or maybe the maps that you're getting info from are not quite right. Either way, good luck in finding out the answer.
Scoot

[Rick]

Your GPS coordiantes will only be as good as the original map.

ReelBottom has been mapped recently using ReelBottom Technology for accuracty to within a foot or as accuarte as the GPS satellites are at the time. ReelBottoms are much more than an upgrade, they are brand new maps made using the latest lake mapping technology. It is highly accurate and will not be a FREE upgrade.

All the other lakemaster maps are taken from older maps just as ALL the other lake maps out there are. Some have gone out with GPS and adjusted the maps slightly like Tutts. On the standard LakeMaster maps, GPS is plotted using the shoreline as a reference. If the original Waconia map is innacurate then the GPS coordinates will be innacurate with respect to structure, but should be accurate with respect to the shorleine. Typically those maps can be off by as much as 1/4 mile depending on the size of the lake and how old the lake maps are. Remember lakes are always changing with respect to contour, even though they may be minor changes.

The non-ReelBottom, LakeMaster Maps just give you a much better tool to reference your position than using a non-GPS calibrated map. Again, it's only as good as the original mapping with lake contour changes adding even more error.

As for the Mississippi River, the bottom contours on that river are constantly changing and they can change very rapidly. Even shoreline will change often on rivers. I would never expect a Mississippi River contour map to be completely accurate from year to year. No matter how it was mapped.

Remember,
what you are looking for is the best map available for a particular lake. The ReelBottom is the best available followed by Custom GPS'd maps on the market (ie; Tutt's), followed by LakeMaster GPS maps, followed by the Custom maps done here, followed by all the others.