Lakemaster vs. Navionics

[troutkingmaster]

I'm sure this has been debated before but I couldn't find any posts. I am looking to buy one of these. Anyone have any good or bad experiences with either of them. Most/all of my fishing is done in MN, so right now, I don't see a big advantage to the Navionics.

[Meatwad]

The Navionics chip is good, but frustrating at times to figure out which map you need to use, kind of a guessing game in some locations.

Also, they never sent me my rebate, said I didn't send my receip. Please get a duplicate receipt so you don't get ripped off like I did.

[Shack]

What brand of unit are you running the chip/card in?

[troutkingmaster]

ifinder H2O

[Schloogs]

I have both and prefer the lakemaster. Easier to use, just put it in and you are ready. I also like that the roadmaps come with the lakemaster chip.

[eyebjim]

I have both and I use the lakemaster in all my lawrance gps. I have a hummingbird gps/sonar in the boat and the navionics is awesome in it. The hummingbirds are set up to work much better with the nav chip than the lowrance units. Like said earlier it is a pain trying to figure out what map etc to select on the nav chip/lawrance so the lakemaster is much more conveinient.

[Shack]

I have both and I use the lakemaster in all my lawrance gps. I have a hummingbird gps/sonar in the boat and the navionics is awesome in it. The hummingbirds are set up to work much better with the nav chip than the lowrance units. Like said earlier it is a pain trying to figure out what map etc to select on the nav chip/lawrance so the lakemaster is much more conveinient.

Exact same here

[PerchJerker]

I have both, generally prefer the LakeMaster. About the only time I use Nav is for lakes that aren't on the LakeMaster chip.

[caseymcq]

The biggest advantage Navionics has is that they offer an upgrade / trad-in program. LakeMaster only offers it on the LOW/Rainy Lake chip. Navionics has more lakes.

LakeMaster has other features mapped: roads, trails, campsites, etc. If you check out the LakeMaster HSOforum they show some comparrisons.

[katoguy]

troutkingmaster, when I was looking into this a few years back - I went with Navionics because of the lakes down in our area. You'll have to compare the chips based on the lakes/areas you plan on fishing.

As it turned out, I am glad I chose Navionics because my boat graphs (HB) won't accept Lakemaster.

The Navionics trade-in policy is nice, but also compare if there have been any additions or improvements on the maps for the lakes you fish to see if upgrading is something you want to pay annually.

[bassNspear]

LAKEMASTER......PERIOD!

[HUMMER 55]

ill second that b-n-s. no doubt about it, and not even anything in the same relm....

[Shawnny B]

ok there is sooo much information it gets blurred into one thing on these two, I am getting an H2O the black and white, if i remember right the Navionics has a color deffintion between depth ranges correct? How good is the lakemaster Streets or will the h20's streets blend with the map?

Thanks

shawn

[PerchJerker]

The streets and roads on the LM chip will show up just fine on a b/w H2O, they will be dark lines on a light background

[Drewski]

Neither are the most accurate but I would have to go with lakemaster. It still tells you the general area where a piece of structure is located so you can start popping holes.

[magicstix]

When I did my shopping for a chip this summer, I was going to buy the Nav. but got the LM cause it works better outside in the handheld, easier to read cause of the different color contrasts. I got to see first hand right at the store. The salesman had commented it worked this way and it did.

I think in a boat with a different brand/model of fishfinder the Nav may be the way to go.

There both great chips. See which one works best for your application and primary fishing area.

[harvey lee]

I have both and use both. Depending on the lake I will be fishing will decide which chip I'll use.

[slurpie]

whAT hand held gps works best with the nav chips. I have a hummingbird in the boat. And i am undecided on what hand held and chip to get.

[HUMMER 55]

get a color one they are alot nicer in finding the depths and even with the street map it alot better

[caseymcq]

Lowrance H2Oc.

[Kidd]

Any of you guy's ever have this happen to you?

I was on a lake near Grand Rapids and my GPS was showing that I was still on shore. It appears that the lake is not within the proper coordinates. When I switched to the Lowrance map it showed me where I actually was, on the lake. It's almost as though the lake map was shifted.

I know this sounds confusing but I don't know how else to explain it.

I have the Nav chip with the Lowrance LCX-27c

[eyebjim]

With the nav chips in lawrance units you have to select the area of the state you are in in the manu. There are several areas to choose from. it is kinda a pain in the butt. I had the exact thing happen until I figured that out and changed to the correct map area.

[Kidd]

My bad, I should have included that I was in the right map set. So thanks for answering but that wasn't the issue. It showed the lake fine and with all the contours and whatnot, it just appeared to be outside the actual coordinates.

[eyebjim]

Do you have it set to the correct map datum?

[Kidd]

I do believe everything is set properly. I've never had this issue before so I don't know what the difference would be. This is the first lake in the North West map set that I have used.