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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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by OBRage
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.
Thanks , I might just give that a try before I spend $150 on the chipQuote:
Originally Posted by Crappie Buster
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by warhawk
I don't know if I made it clear or not. Most lake mapping is based on old topo maps made before the lake was dammed up. The new High Definition maps are made by surveying the lake with a survey boat outfitted with special electronics.
My navionics map was made off topo maps and while it's usually close, a lot of times it can be very inaccurate. My Garmin map is the Lakevu HD Ultra map. I have yet to find a place where it isn't spot on, and I've used it 10x more than I've used the Navionics map.
Also, with most maps you buy a map for one section of the country, Mid South in my case. But with Garmin the map covers the entire USA, I think it's 16,000 lakes.
Does the Garmin LakeVu HD Ultra map come on a chip that can be inserted into a hummingbird depth finder or is it just available on a Garmin GPS?Quote:
Originally Posted by warhawk
So far as I can find they only come on the garmin units. Garmin has come out with a unit that has all the features si,di,sonar and map that only sell for $500.00 and it is a seven inch screen. I plan on putting one of these on my Tracker when they start shipping them.
Was reading another thread and they were discussing the garmin units. They have gps but no mapping feature guess that is why they are so cheap. Still going with garmin but will go with the 9 inch model like I planned on when I upgrade.
The Garmin Lakevu Ultra HD map is in a chip, but it only works in Garmin units.
The new Striker 7 series are Chirp plus down view or side view ( depending on model) but they do not have or accept map chips. You can mark waypoints, but it's on what amounts to a blank sheet of paper. There is no underlying map. That's part of the reasons these units are so much cheaper than the 73 series.Quote:
Originally Posted by sinkermaker
i plan to get one of the striker 7sv units to replace my Humminbird when they become available. Since I run a standalone mapping unit, a 5 inch Garmin, the striker will be a nice addition.