lakemaster digital lake maps

[mrjigger]

i few years ago i purchased one of the first releases

of the lakemaster digital lake map software. i believe

the version i have only has 5' contour separation or

something like that. anyway, i've never really attempted

to put it to use. i just seem to go to my old reliable spots

year after year. well lately i have wanted to try some different lakes and use the software to find some good fishing spots. my question is, has anyone out there used that first version of the software and how accurate are the coordinates the software gives you.

[WaveWacker]

I originally used the "original" 5' contour version and on the lakes that I used it on it seems to be for the most part accurate. Now in upgrading to the pro-map 3' contour series and remarking spots on the computer the coordinates that I get are extremely accurate. This tells me that there is just some details missing of the 5' (obviously) that may lead you to believe that the coordinates are off.

Good Luck

WW

[mrjigger]

thanks for the info. anyone else out there with

an opinion on software coordinate accuracy?

[Hookmaster]

The ones I've used the most are the Reelbottom for Mille Lacs and Minnetonka. They are very accurate. For the general maps I've used them for duck hunting but not too much for fishing. They due put you in the area and you can fine tune from there. Still way better than using paper maps without GPS coordinates.

[Gissert]

I have the original Lakemaster software and found it to be quite accurate for most lakes. Some of the smaller lakes seem to have accuracy variances, but I believe this is due to the accuracy of the original DNR lake info that appears to be employed by the software. I have found the accuracy to be more than sufficient in most cases to get me onto the area I was interested in.

I upgraded to the 3 foot contour version for Ottertail lake recently. While the old 5 foot version was very good, this new version is incredible. Accuracy is right on the money in the spots I have targeted so far this winter.

Any of the the lakes that Lakemaster has done the on-water survey should have excellent accuracy.

[computerboy]

Like others that have posted in this thread, I have the 3' contour ProMap series and have found the 50+ lakes to be very accurate. The DNR derived maps are only good for getting you into a very general vicinity and are far less accurate than the 3' contour maps. In fact, I wouldn't even bother with the DNR derived maps for GPS coordinates. So with that said, I would assume that your 5' contour maps are going to be more accurate than the DNR derived maps. I guess the only way you'll know for sure is to mark a precise spot on a 5' contour map (like a small rock hump in the middle of deeper water), download the coordinates to your GPS, then try to locate it on the water.

Hope that helps.

[ice_shack]

I know a couple years ago when I bought mine I talked to them at the ice show. They told me that the 5' contour maps were just basicaly the DNR maps. On the lakes they have done they found that the shore lines don't always match up so needless to say points and humps won't either. They just "fit" them into the program best they could but don't really modify the map until they actually do it themselves. The only maps they have actually done are the 3' maps and they can only get so many done a year as it is time consuming. Worse part is they said they move so fast on the lake it's to fast to be trolling.

[mrjigger]

i'm with computerboy. guess i will just have to get out on the lakes and put the software to the test myself. you wont have to pull my arm too hard. thanks everyone.