is lakemaster/navionics worth the money?

[dunnym]

i was wondering what you guys thoughts are on lakemaster or navionics chip. obviously its a must for putting you on certain depths and structure. I already have the navionics app on my phone and have found it pretty accurate and helpful. Im using my Hbird 597di with ice ducer. it would be nice to not have to pull out the phone to guide me. im wondering if its worth the $100- $200 for a chip for my unit? Am i gaining anything besides seeing depths on my Hbird unit? is there anymore info that you dont get from the navionics phone app?

Thanks

[BartmanMN]

I could see for driving out it would be nice to have the larger screen and increased accuracy, plus if you are using this in the boat too the it's a no brainier. For pulling my shack out by hand I personally like the convienence of my phone.

[Esox_Magnum]

Yes to me they are, I have both chips and on my Droid but use one of my boat units for on the ice for ease of seeing the screen and the fact that I already have waypoints on the boat unitsfrom past trips or pre ice scouting

[Brad B]

I highly recommend the Lakemaster Humminbird chip. you would want this if you plan to use the unit on a boat too. not only does it show the depth and contours with the birds you can set a set depth range and that area will be highlighted in green. example if you want to fish 15 feet of water set this feature to 15ft and then set it for a foot or two offset so it shows a range of say 14 to 16 feet if set with a 1 foot offset and 13 to 17 feet if set with a 2 foot off set. this chip also gives you 1 foot contours (don't know if the navionics app gives that) on most lakes that are mapped in HD. the lakemaster chip is only like $120.00

[amateurfishing]

i have navionics with my 597. use for both open water & ice. it is my backup for ice but still well worth it. i also have navionics on iphone. gps does change things greatly. that said if you are using the unit for open water as well it would be a no brainer to get the software of your choosing. i did get my navionics for $80 @ Rogers store this time last year.

[JuanArellano]

It is worth every penny you spend on it...

[BDiss]

For those of you who converted your 597 to an ice unit, what amp battery do you use? I tried hooking up the 12v 7.2 amp from my ice 35 to it, but it didn't work. My actual unit is a 597 ci hd.

[Esox_Magnum]

I just use a 7ah on my HDS units, are you sure battery is charged?

[amateurfishing]

For those of you who converted your 597 to an ice unit, what amp battery do you use? I tried hooking up the 12v 7.2 amp from my ice 35 to it, but it didn't work. My actual unit is a 597 ci hd.

7 ah....120volt, i have 4 ....1came with portable pack and other 3 last years FF black friday weekend @10/ea. all work great

[showpropserv]

another option is garmin they also make a chip for the upper midwest. Its just a thought. I run it on my streetpilot gps and was right at 100 personally I just couldnt see myself going out and buying a seperate gps

[dunnym]

so now i guess the question is what to go with, lake master or navionics? any downsides to either?

[Esox_Magnum]

See what chip has the waters you fish most in HD, mypreference is Navionics since I fish in different states and the ones I fish in MN are better on Navionics than on LM.

[broman]

I highly recommend the Lakemaster Humminbird chip. you would want this if you plan to use the unit on a boat too. not only does it show the depth and contours with the birds you can set a set depth range and that area will be highlighted in green. example if you want to fish 15 feet of water set this feature to 15ft and then set it for a foot or two offset so it shows a range of say 14 to 16 feet if set with a 1 foot offset and 13 to 17 feet if set with a 2 foot off set. this chip also gives you 1 foot contours (don't know if the navionics app gives that) on most lakes that are mapped in HD. the lakemaster chip is only like $120.00

+1 get the Lakemaster chip.

[richnavionics]

Navionics offers more HD lakes in 1' contours than any other chart manufacturer. Not only that, but Navionics updates their charts on a daily basis. Plus, Navionics just released a new program called sonarcharts, where humminbird users can upload their saved sonar logs to navionics. The next day you get the new data back. Can't beat that for accuracy. check out the site and the youtube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bto1z...ature=youtu.be

http://www.navionics.com/en/sonarcharts.

Plus, you can preview our detailed charts on our HSOforum before you make a purchase. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to email me directly. [email protected]. i am here to help.