Navionics or Lake Master

[seekingwalleye]

I just bought a new 334c and am looking to get the software for it. Not sure if any one has experienced either of the two mapping systems out there, but I would like to know which one is better. I know the Navionics is a litte more money but is it worth the extra $50.00. Has anyone seen the map of Cass Lake on both programs? That is also what I am more concerned about, I want to get the most detailed I can on that lake. Thanks again.

[MIDNIGHT777]

Seeking,

I am in the same boat you are. I just got the same graph and have been researching the same thing. From everything I have read and people I have talked to the Navionics is the better way to go. Navionics has way more lakes than the Lakemaster. Both have certain lakes that have much more detailed and accurate bottom contours than others. Most of which are the same with Navionics or Lakemaster.

Cass is on both chips, but it is not one of the highly detailed lakes. It is probably something close to the old DNR maps or fishing hotspots, which are not that accurate. I had the old fishing hotspots and it was dump. I currently have the Lakemaseter pro for Garmin and it is much better, but only has 3 foot contours which is fine by me.

My guess is you need to decide weather the extra $50.00 is woth the additional (7,000 +/- or so) lakes with the Navionics. Navionics also covers other states. Go to their web sites if you haven't already and check it out.

Hope this helps a little, Matt

[PerchJerker]

There was a lot of discussion about this lately, try searching the archives.

My opinion is that the maps that are not high definition, super accurate, are not helpful at all -- basically, what good is an accurate GPS map if you know the depth contours are not accurate?? So I looked at the lakes I fished the most and looked to see which map chip had more of them in high definition maps, and went with LakeMaster.

Unless Navionics has improved, you cannot zoom in nearly as close with the Nav chip as you can with the LM chip.

[TiredOfWorking]

I have used both on Cass and feel that the Lakemaster is more accurate. Neither is outstanding for Cass. I used the Lakemaster high definition map of Vermilion, and it amazed me.

[Paul Waldowski]

Although Cass is not done in the 1 foot contours it is part of the Promap Series. Which mean it is mapped out in 3 foot contours, which is exactly what the Winnie map is and that one is dead on. PJ is right in the fact that LM is miles ahead of Navionics when it comes down to zooming into detail. If you the chip is just for Mn. then I would go with LM.

[TiredOfWorking]

The Lakemaster map of Cass is in 5 foot coutours. Lakemaster has not surveyed Cass to my knowledge.

[Paul Waldowski]

TOW,

You are right. I stand corrected. It is only 5 foot contours. Thanks for the catch

[MuskyNutz]

YOU CAN MISS ALOT IN 5 FOOT CONTOURS. IF CASS IS YOUR MAIN CONCERN, I CAN'T HELP YOU THERE. WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT ON SEVERAL OTHER LAKES, THE LAKEMASTER IS DEFINITELY MORE ACCURATE. I RUN THE LM AND MY BROTHER RUNS NAVIONICS. THE NAVIONICS DOESN'T COMPARE TO CONTOUR ACCURACY. AT LEAST WITH MY LM, IF IT SAYS YOU'RE IN 22' YOU ARE EITHER RIGHT ON IT OR IT'S BEEN + OR - 1'. MAYBE THIS IS DUE TO THE FACT YOU CAN'T ZOOM IN AS CLOSE ON THE NAV CHIP???

[Northlander]

I went Navionics because LM doesnt have a lot of the Northern Lakes we fish up here and nothing on the St.Louis River and Lake Superior.

[EJ]

The unit will also redraw the screens faster with the LM chip than the Navionics chip.

EJ

[hill7410]

I have both and i can tell you that both chips have there flaws, i have been on lakes where both contour's were wrong, however for the extra 50 bucks i would go with the navionics, it has way more lakes in MN and it also has other states, Lakemaster is good if you are interested in a select few lakes, however navionics has all of the lakes LM has and then more, navionics is the way to go.

[PerchJerker]

Quote:

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I have both and i can tell you that both chips have there flaws, i have been on lakes where both contour's were wrong

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That's the problem with maps that aren't high definition, the contours will be wrong.

Even on the high defintion maps I have found spots that aren't accurate or are missing, it has to do with the way they map the lakes (someone was explaining this to me once). I still say having a lot more maps is not a benefit if most of them are not high definition.

[Rick]

The fact is most of lakemasters maps are not high definition and they have way fewer maps than Navionics. They do have a few of Minnesota's most popular lakes in high definition and it's a big plus if you fish those lakes a lot.

Any map is better than no map and for the majority of Minnesota's lakes Navionics will fit the bill better on that end because they have a ton more maps. Fact is lakemaster might not even have your lake. They also have the high definition ReelBottom maps most the same as lakemasters.

You really have to pick based on what lakes you fish and hope to fish in the future. They each have their flaws and advantages.

The answer really is, it depends on where you fish keeping in mind ReelBottom maps or Promaps are the cream of the crop and highly desirable.