Lake map choice?

As I try to learn new lakes or even new areas on the same lakes, I constantly have to fold and unfold paper maps. Do any of you use GPS lake map chips in your depth finders? If so, which do you like or think is the best and why, Lakemaster or Navionics?

I have Navionics in my Lawrence and Lake Master in the HB, I like the Navionics better, maybe because I've used it more. The Navionics chip covers more lakes that I fish. Be sure to read carefully the lake list, because it mat not cover the lakes you are interested in. Ex. The Lake Master covers the South East but doesn't cover the South Carolina part of Lake Wylie ( I haven't tried the NC side yet
Just my 2 cents

I use the navionics in my lowrance units. I like them but I also have fold up maps also.

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Originally Posted by OBRage

As I try to learn new lakes or even new areas on the same lakes, I constantly have to fold and unfold paper maps. Do any of you use GPS lake map chips in your depth finders? If so, which do you like or think is the best and why, Lakemaster or Navionics?

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You need to review the lake list for each companies mapping against the lakes you fish. For example, I'm in Arkansas and bought a Humminbird only to learn that their Lakemaster mapping doesn't include a nearby 40,000 acre lake (Ouachita) at all! I ended up buying a Navionics map chip, but it's not ideal.

Last year I learned that Garmin had new survey maps (most lake mapping is made from old topo maps from before the lake was filled) of nearly all the lakes in Arkansas, including a high definition map of Lake Ouachita. I bought a 5 inch Garmin 50s that I use as a standalone GPS mapping unit. These maps are accurate too, they accurately show the river channels, drops offs, etc. Something I can't say about the Navionics map in my Humminbird. The river channel in Ouachita is often hundreds of yards off on the Navionics map, but dead on with the Garmin map.

For my area and my money Garmin has everyone else beat hands down.

In my area I use the Navonics chip in my Lowrance. It works on all the lakes I fish....................so far.

I mostly fish Murray, Greenwood and Wateree which is supposed to be covered by both. I have recently fished Clark's hill with some success but I see Lakemaster breaks right at the SC/Georgia line so I'm not sure if it will show all or part of Clark's hill. I also see that hummingbirds lakemaster syncs with the minn kota ipilot (which I don't have, but a man can hope) Anybody used them around the state line?

I'm very far from being any kind of expert using my graph but here's the functions I want from maps. I want the lakes that I fish or plan to fish be included in the chip. I want to mark brush. I want to see the boat tracking on the map as I troll. Sometimes I also use the "trail" function drawing a line where the boat has been. I like seeing contours as I dont want any surprises running up on shallow waters with the big motor or the trolling motor. I want to see well defined creek and river channels.

I'm sure there are other options other people would like to see but these are the things I'd be looking for if buying another chip. Figure out what is most important to you and pick the chip that fits the bill the most.

OB, I don't have a GPS on my boat at all. That's on the list...lol along with that ipilot you speak of...and lots of other things!!

But, I use the navionics app on my iPhone and I like it a lot. It's only $12.99 a year I think. Use to be a one time fee but they changed it sometime or another. I've used it on Murray, Greenwood, Clarks Hill and Wateree and I've found its pretty accurate and shows 1 FT contours on many of the lakes. If you go to navionics website they have a free web app you can look at too! It's basically the same thing as the phone app.

The phone app tracks speeds and shows your position on the lake just as it would on a depth finder. I will say it's not as "fast" as the depth finder I believe because of cell reception mostly. But I would take a look at it if you want to get a feel for what navionics has to offer.

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Originally Posted by Crappie Buster

OB, I don't have a GPS on my boat at all. That's on the list...lol along with that ipilot you speak of...and lots of other things!!

But, I use the navionics app on my iPhone and I like it a lot. It's only $12.99 a year I think. Use to be a one time fee but they changed it sometime or another. I've used it on Murray, Greenwood, Clarks Hill and Wateree and I've found its pretty accurate and shows 1 FT contours on many of the lakes. If you go to navionics website they have a free web app you can look at too! It's basically the same thing as the phone app.

The phone app tracks speeds and shows your position on the lake just as it would on a depth finder. I will say it's not as "fast" as the depth finder I believe because of cell reception mostly. But I would take a look at it if you want to get a feel for what navionics has to offer.

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Thanks , I might just give that a try before I spend $150 on the chip

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Originally Posted by warhawk

You need to review the lake list for each companies mapping against the lakes you fish. For example, I'm in Arkansas and bought a Humminbird only to learn that their Lakemaster mapping doesn't include a nearby 40,000 acre lake (Ouachita) at all! I ended up buying a Navionics map chip, but it's not ideal.

Last year I learned that Garmin had new survey maps (most lake mapping is made from old topo maps from before the lake was filled) of nearly all the lakes in Arkansas, including a high definition map of Lake Ouachita. I bought a 5 inch Garmin 50s that I use as a standalone GPS mapping unit. These maps are accurate too, they accurately show the river channels, drops offs, etc. Something I can't say about the Navionics map in my Humminbird. The river channel in Ouachita is often hundreds of yards off on the Navionics map, but dead on with the Garmin map.

For my area and my money Garmin has everyone else beat hands down.

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I actually met a guy who works for Garmin whose job is to scan lakes for making the Garmin maps. He was showing me some pictures from things that he has scanned. I don't know if they have it available yet, but they will have some large underwater structure marked and you will be able to click it and pull up a picture with what the scan looks like. The maps will definitely have a lot of detail and accuracy.