Fishing the Delta, which mapping software is better, Navionics + or Lakamaster +?

[sdhunter]

Guys,
I'm rather new to Nor Cal, never fished the Delta. What mapping software is better with your Finder/GPS, the Navionics+ or the LakeMaster+?? Just looking for feedback to buy the best one.

I'm running a Hummingbird Helix 5 SI. It's limited to micro SD chips, and the above 2 are both compatible.

I live closest to Camp Far West, will fish that a lot for convenience, and neither product carries that lake. So I want to see which one is best for Delta coverage.

Thanks in advance,
Mike

[ACRon]

Navionics actually has mapping data on Camp Far West in 1' topo increments in Sonar Charts Since your running a Hummingbird you could do any additional mapping at Camp Far West for yourself if you had Navionics. You could map all the areas you fish and get 1' topo increments.

It also has great mapping on the Delta. Constant updating since so many people are running down there.

[Robb R]

I have posted this type of info before , will try again and see if somebody from a high level at either of the mapping companies will reply . Let me preface this by saying that I used to represent a Silicon Valley company that sells GPS chip sets , and I worked very closely with Trimble Navigation in Sunnyvale Calif.
My understanding is that all the "lake maps " that companies generate are made up from satellites that are incredibly accurate ,-+ a few centimeters ( Government satellites , I think there are 16 ) All the GPS chips used in any commercial GPS system can not lock on the Government coordinates and are therefore relegated to significantly less accurate GPS settings and are at best -+ 3 meters ( that's 9 feet of swing on any given day ) . So if myself and any other bass fisherman wants to do a " live" update to settings and waypoints and download these for others , there is no possible way those marking are as accurate as the original Navionics or Lakemaster settings .
I recently purchased a handheld Garmin for use in hiking , waypoints etc... I called the technical hotline and they said it's even worse than -+ 3 meters and depending on location of the various satellites , mountains , time of day etc , the variations can be as much as -+ 6 meters of accuracy .
So if the swing is that much on any given day , are we really getting any benefit of "resetting " the original markings from the mapping companies ?
Robb

[BIG DADDY BLUE RANGER]

I recently switched to HB's and have both the Navionics Premium HD card and the Lakemaster HD in my console unit. For the Delta I honestly don't think it makes much difference either way; both show all the sloughs, marinas and such which is all you really need anyhow. The Navionics has better detail on the small tule berms so I'd give Nav a slight nod there. The Lakemaster has a lot more bottom contours to the point I actually turn off the contour lines because it just clutters the screen. It's the Delta after all, I don't need contour lines. The Lakemaster also give you the extra features such as lake level offset, shallow water highlight, and depth highlight if you have an HB....but in the Delta none of that is really all that useful. If you had a Lowrance the Nav chip would also give you tide charts, but not with HB'S. I have Nav on my phone for tides so it's a none issue. Bottom line, it doesn't make much difference either way for the Delta. I've been using the Lakemaster more just because I like the colors better.

For Clear Lake on the other hand; Lakemaster hands down! The contour details and extra features put my Navionics card to shame. It really is a night and day difference and I never knew how much of the lake I was missing until I got Lakemaster. I almost threw my Nav card overboard after only my second trip using the LM...yeah it's that good

Navionics has more lake coverage and more in HD; but if you have an HB and the lakes you fish are on Lakemasters HD list I would definably go Lakemaster.

[sdhunter]

Thanks for your feedback fellas!

[Ebmohst]

I have posted this type of info before , will try again and see if somebody from a high level at either of the mapping companies will reply . Let me preface this by saying that I used to represent a Silicon Valley company that sells GPS chip sets , and I worked very closely with Trimble Navigation in Sunnyvale Calif.
My understanding is that all the "lake maps " that companies generate are made up from satellites that are incredibly accurate ,-+ a few centimeters ( Government satellites , I think there are 16 ) All the GPS chips used in any commercial GPS system can not lock on the Government coordinates and are therefore relegated to significantly less accurate GPS settings and are at best -+ 3 meters ( that's 9 feet of swing on any given day ) . So if myself and any other bass fisherman wants to do a " live" update to settings and waypoints and download these for others , there is no possible way those marking are as accurate as the original Navionics or Lakemaster settings .
I recently purchased a handheld Garmin for use in hiking , waypoints etc... I called the technical hotline and they said it's even worse than -+ 3 meters and depending on location of the various satellites , mountains , time of day etc , the variations can be as much as -+ 6 meters of accuracy .
So if the swing is that much on any given day , are we really getting any benefit of "resetting " the original markings from the mapping companies ?
Robb

Hi Robb R,
Tshombe Moore with Navionics here. I’m not one of the “high level” folks but I can tell you what I have learned over the years of being at Navionics, research I have done as a result of your question, and asking people a lot smarter than I am. You are absolutely correct on several of your points, and I would like to add to your comments with some additional considerations.

GPS Accuracy
There are some companies, but not all, that use VERY accurate GPS systems like Trimble. Navionics, when we did do surveys, did exactly that. If you look at the recreational GPS systems that are on the market today, there may not be pinpoint accuracy needed to guide a missile into an enemy target within centimeters or inches, but within the constantly changing and fluid marine environment…the recreational GPS systems on the market today are pretty darn good. The technology today, even looking at a device like the iPhone can provide extremely good accuracy most of the time. Really, the best thing to do is to consult the manufacturer and ask them as you did with Garmin as to what their level of accuracy is with their equipment.

Crowd sourcing saves the day
Even if 1 or 2 recreational GPS systems cannot give you the 10mm accuracy of some sophisticated farm equipment of today (it’s really cool stuff), when you combine several manufacturers like Raymarine, Lowrance, Simrad, B&G, Humminbird, Si-Tex, Vexilar, Garmin, & Digital Yachts & pull in thousands if not millions of individual data points the level of accuracy, statistically, begins to increase dramatically! That is the theory behind crowds, more data is better than perfect data. More data leads to perfect data and it is an ever evolving animal in the evolution of technology.

Stay the Course
So Robb R and all you other fisherman out there...the recreational equipment of today & technology like a SonarChart & SonarChart Live (Click here to check out a live demo: (below) provides a data collection system fantastic enough, that when we continue to work together as a community, we will all benefit & save more fuel, find more structure, and catch more fish every day. Robb R, thank you very much for bringing up this topic and shedding some light on a question that many undoubtedly have had.

Tshombe

[Ebmohst]

Guys,
I'm rather new to Nor Cal, never fished the Delta. What mapping software is better with your Finder/GPS, the Navionics+ or the LakeMaster+?? Just looking for feedback to buy the best one.

I'm running a Hummingbird Helix 5 SI. It's limited to micro SD chips, and the above 2 are both compatible.

I live closest to Camp Far West, will fish that a lot for convenience, and neither product carries that lake. So I want to see which one is best for Delta coverage.

Thanks in advance,
Mike

Hey Mike,

Is this the lake you were talking about near where you live just north east of Wheatland?

[ACRon]

That's the one he was talking about.

[rickyshabazz]

The beauty of Navionics is that you can view the updated charts for free using the Navionics WebApp at www.navionics.com. That way you can see what you are getting before you purchase. Additionally, you have the phone and tablet app that are updated with current live maps.