lowerance 332c

[stackenem]

What would ber the best card to get for this unit for mi waters. I am confused when looking at the navionic cards as they seem to split Mi in half. Should I get the hot maps or do you have something better. I'm looking for inland and St Clair.

Thanks Bill

[CuradoKev]

Well, I just bought a "Lakemaster Pro - Michigan" chip from www.lakemaps.com for my Ifinder H2OC. I get both in a few days.

What's great about this chip is it has 700 inland lakes including all Great Lakes and LSC of course. Is it better than Navionics ? I don't know but you get 1 and 3 ft contours for 50 of 700 lakes. That's good enough for a coangler like myself  Now I don't know what "Lowrance enhanced lake maps" are for the other 650 lakes. For example, it lists Gull Lake as "lowrance enhanced" probably just the outline of the lake. That's fine for inland IMHO.

Also, the chip includes street-level detail for Michigan which saves me money buying Mapcreate and its only $100 !!

The website has examples and list of all the lakes.

CKev

[smbassman]

I think the best card for MI is the Lakemaster MI ProMap but they don't have some of the inland lakes that I fish.  They have some of the best detail for some of the larger lakes and the great lakes but I suggest you review the list of lakes for the various cards and make sure the lakes you fish are on there.  Navionics Elite HotMaps either North or East has Michigan lakes as part of their regions.

[blakstr1]

Definitely go with the Navionics Hotmaps Premium map card for fishing everywhere in Michigan.  again with this one the north and east have Michigan, so just see which other states you are more interested in.  some of the larger bodies of water are mapped in high def with contour lines every 1-2 feet.  eventually they will add more in HD and you can continually download the upgrades through your computer.  Yu can't beat the Lakemaster for the Clair, but the Premium map offers so many lakes, only a small handfull not included in Michigan.

[LUMBERLEO]

Navionics premium is the way to go.  I was in the exact same situation this spring.  I think it even has mud puddles mapped.  I am very happy with it, well worth the money.  Scott

[djkimmel]

The Lowrance enhanced lakes do have depths and some additional marine info. They are free to download and will work if you have the correct program to add them into - Lakemaster Michigan for example. I don't recall more specific details - I'd have to get back on their site and read more about,.

[BryanP]

One thing you need to think about when you start talking 1-3 foot contours, on a small screen things can get so cluttered that you can't read it very well. 

Kev--co-angler with a gps?  You taking a page out of Bish's book? LOL!

[CuradoKev]

Well I got the Ifinder H2OC and love it !! For marine applications it will do well !! The contour thing is cool and we all know that they will not be exact. But just put me in the area, I still have to check the contours to see how close they are to the real thing.

The Lakemaster Pro Chip is SWEET !!? Tons and tons of lake data...

Dan you were right on, the lowrance enhanced maps do have the depths in 5 or 10 foot contours.

One thing, I did learn - with these new receivers being so sensitive. If I was a boater in BFL - First thing I would say to my coangler "IF you want to bring a handheld GPS for emergency or in case I run out of spots, okay. BUT YOU BETTER NOT HAVE THAT THING ON any othertime. !! "

Personally, I would NEVER do that but some people would. I'm going to check with my buddies 520 and see if I can pull a signal through my tackle box while in the compartment of his Ranger 520. I'm pretty sure it will do it..

Before someone says why bring it as a co ? Well, I've been in route to Pelee twice when boater GPS went out - (not fun)and I've had boaters who ask you "Got any spots?" (The Bish syndrome - LOL).

Great unit so far and cool maps !! CKev

[REEL_MAN]

I have the Navionics PREM E2 yes, it splits Michigan but it's upper and lower Michigan. It has  the major lakes as well as St. Clair and Erie. But, you need to look at what are your needs. If you fish other states you can't beat the navionics, it covers the entire Northeast. I looked at the Gold card but it didn't have the coverage. The detail in the gold card for Erie and St. Claire is fantastic but coverage of inland lakes is not there. I would suggest that you try and find guys with the different cards and compare side by side, I did and thats how I went to the PREM E2.

REEL_MAN

[MBell]

I have the lakemaster michigan, it's worth it just for the great lake and st. clair.  I wouldn't spend the money on the ifinder h20 again. It's only as water proof as the rubber seals for the charger, the screen still fogs from time to time. 
-Matt