I currently have the lowrance chip. it works, I just like detail like ronnie was saying. I dont like fishing all of the public holes in the lakes. I like to have my own secret spots from time to time.

I have the paper maps of lewisville/grapevine and monticello/bob sandlin. I just hope the chip is a lot better. there are parts of all 4 lakes that are missing contour lines. they may just not have finished the areas.

Man!.....Lots of very good info here...Thanks! 2 questions....1) Doesn't the 08' premium Navionvics have the same hot map graphics and 2) How are the High Definition Lake maps going to play on my Lowrance LCX-27?

Look at the survey date on the paper maps. I believe the last survey was done in late 05 early 06. That being said, I have all of the same maps as you mentioned. Send me a pm with the specific areas if you don't mind. I would like to look at my 07 chip before I upgrade to the 08.

There are several updates to the new chip that were supposed to be added to the new release. New lakes, more HD versions and some added detail. It would be a good comparison to look at.

1)I don't think so. 2) As long as you don't have to contiually plug the chip in and out to get it to work it should be fine.

Once they (Navionics gets it right as far as the graphics) I will buy their chip (again).

Other then that I will use it for finding the community holes.

I have both, and can say they both have their place. I hd lakes do show more detail and are better. I use the navionics most of the time. But Like on LOP, I like the way the lowrance shows the river channel from cedar springs down the lake past big oaks. Its easier to follow.

I have never had this issue with my graphs. Are you sure this isn't an issue with your electronics rather than the chip? It could be a firmware update that is needed on your graph and may resolve this issue. If it is/were an issue with the chip, I would assume that Navionics would replace it for being faulty.

I too found that I had to pull the Navionics chip out to boot up my LMS 322C, then I changed my starter battery to a new one and after that I did not have to take the Navionics chip out when starting the graph. So it must have been a low voltage issue because it also caused me an issue with my Mercury outboard. Now everything is good and works fine.

randy

I have an LCX27 and an LMS520 and never had any problems out of the Lowrance card or the Navionics 08 card. I just prefer the extreme detail of the Navionics for the same reason SkeeterRonnie points out.

SRonnie

All of us simple fisherman keep it simple.
How did you fish a couple of years ago without your Navionics map?

Some of us are smart enough to under stand that same thing that map shows--where the bottom structure comes close to the shore it'll hold fish.

What your missing is that most of the fisherman don't spend as much time on the water as you and I do and need to keep it simple so as to not tear up a boat.

I give you a good challenge with your Nav. map.

Put your boat on plane and run to the back of that creek or any other one with structure in it. I'll call Micheal form North Texas Fiberglass to come and get you 1/2 way back.

By the way, you missed the best places to fish that creek. The 9 and 10's come from what you missed on the map.

The Lowrance map shows axactly the same thing just with out all the clutter.

You need to call Jeff Broduer--your buddy at Navionics and ask them what their working on to clean the maps up--I did and that's why I can make some of the comments I do. Very enlightening conversation.

You wouldn't be so quick to attack anyone that doesn't have the same opinion you do on the map.

Little saying I use--Thats why they make Vanilla and Chocolate icecream--Not everybodies taste is the same!

hey mike keenan, from what i know, navionics did their own surveying which takes place from there own boat going around 20 mph to survey the bottom. that is why you have the void areas you mentioned like on the vine, looserville and monti. alot of the lakes were low at that time or some parts are just too shallow or to dangerous to run a boat on plane through like some of the timbered areas north on monti. that's the only bad thing ive found. as to which one is better...

NEITHER!

they are both valuable tools as i run both side by side on my console simultaneously on 2 screens. each one offers info that the other doesnt. best thing i can offer to anyone wanting to purchase either is the same as buying a new boat. go out and try each on the water or at least on a demo unit to find out which one floats your boat.

i really dont think I attacked anyone. thank you.

I can run to the backs of creek, because I can read how the trees angle and where the creek channels are.

Try THIS with the Lowrance map.. next time you are so sure you are running in the channel... stop and go about 50 yards both ways, and you will see- the creek isnt directly under you.

I did use the stock Lowrance maps, and even made my own maps with MapCreate before I found the Navionics chip. It works, and it will get you close to a few spots you can catch some fish. NOw that I have advanced my fishing abilities, I like to be able to see a more indepth look at what the bottom of the lake is like. I also keep an AID map, and Navionics Paper map at home- in conjuntion with my NavPlanner to do my homework BEFORE i go to the lake.


I understand you just want to turn on the graph, and it show you the icons, and creek channels, and roadbeds.... Well- with my usage of those products(Lowrance stock mapping), I can tell you: You arent sitting on top of what you think you are...

BTW- When I run in creeks, its because I have spent several hours in the back figuring out where the places to run are at... I dont run into a creek blind. Thats suicide. Take Hickory Creek on Lewisville... I run about halfway in, then idle 500 yards, then I get back on plane and can run in the river until I get to one bend..... I learned that by time on the water, not a map. The Lowrance map would put you in a shallow flat and stuck on it, if you followed "their creek channel icons"....


Mrppl... would you like to go to Fork and see if we can catch some of those 9-10's, and possibly a sharelunker?? just let me know, and we can set it up. Looking to spend a few hours out there this year. I will bring a notebook, and scrible down the concerns you have with Navionics and write it up, and send it in.

I see Navionics 08 has an HD map for Lavon. Someone must live close by.

Finally a voice of reason!

I may be "simple", but I prefer to fish on a lake instead of studying contour lines in the middle of a tournament. That's homework done BEFORE you launch, IMHO. The maps are just an on-lake referrence tool for me.