Lakemaster vs Lakemaster Plus: Which Mapping Card to Choose?
I hope you will agree with me When I say, Fishing is tough without mapping cards. Won’t you?
Fishing in an unknown water body is very tough. Moreover, mapping is crucial for effective fishing. Plus, it is also necessary for safe fishing.
Choosing the right mapping card for fishing is challenging because of the different qualities of mapping cards.
That’s why here I have come up with the comparison of the two best mapping cards. If you follow this comparison of Lakemaster vs Lakemaster Plus, you will be able to choose the right mapping card for fishing.
So, let’s begin.
Comparison chart Lakemaster vs Lakemaster Plus:
| Lakemaster | Lakemaster Plus |
| It costs around $100 | It cost around $150 |
| It doesn’t support satellite overlay | It supports satellite overlay |
| It doesn’t come with the aerial photography feature | Lakemaster Plus comes with the aerial photography feature |
| Lakemaster doesn’t provide details of lake surroundings | Lakemaster Plus provide details of lake surroundings |
In-depth discussion Lakemaster vs Lakemaster Plus:
Here I will discuss the differences between Lakemaster and Lakemaster Plus in detail. I will compare them regarding compatibility, costs, mapping quality, coverage, highlight depth range, shallow water highlight, water level adjust, aerial photography, update access, chart plotting, etc. Without delaying further, let’s dive into it.
Compatibility
Compatibility is the first thing anyone should take into consideration while choosing mapping cards.
Lakemaster is the product of Humminbird. Therefore, it is compatible with all Hummin bird devices. Lakemaster and Lakemaster Plus are compatible with all Humminbird devices. Both cards are not compatible with other devices, for example, Lowrance and Simrad. It is a drawback for both mapping cards.
So, in this category, both mapping cards only work with Humminbird devices. Thus, the result is a tie.
Mapping Quality
Mapping quality is another crucial fact you shouldn’t ignore while choosing mapping cards.
Lakemaster provides the best quality mapping, and it has a positive reputation for providing high-quality mapping for a while. And this goes the same with the Lakemaster and Lakemaster Plus. Both mapping cards provide high-quality maps. There is no noticeable difference between these cards in terms of mapping quality.
In this battle of mapping quality, Lakemaster and Lakemaster Plus both offer the same quality. Therefore, the result is a tie.
Coverage
Coverage determines the mapping card’s maximum coverage capability. It is another important fact of a mapping card.
As far as coverage is concerned Lakemaster mapping cards are best in America and Canada. It is hard to find a water area that Lakemaster does not cover in America and Canada. Lakemaster and Lakemaster Plus provide the same level of coverage. There is no noticeable difference between them in terms of coverage.
So, the result is a tie in the coverage battle.
Highlight Depth Range
It is an extremely useful feature. It comes in handy when you are fishing in large lakes.
This feature helps to determine the depth range of a lake. For example, if you want to target walleye between 20 to 35 feet, you can set this range, and the map will highlight all areas in this range.
Lakemaster and Lakemaster Plus come with this feature, and both highlight accurate depth range.
Lakemaster and Lakemaster Plus highlight depth range similarly, and there is no noticeable difference between them. Thus, the result is a tie.
Shallow Water Highlight
The shallow water highlight feature is crucial for fishing in large lakes. Its functionality is similar to the depth range highlight function. This function allows you to find out the shallow water area of a lake.
Regarding shallow water highlights, Lakemaster and Lakemaster Plus have this feature. Moreover, they offer the same quality shallow water detections. Therefore, the result is a tie in this category.
Water Level Adjust
The water level in lakes changes over the years. It is essential to know the water level of a lake for fishing there. The water level adjustment feature allows you to figure out the water depth in the lake accurately using the map.
Lakemaster and Lakemaster Plus come with this feature. Plus, they provide the same functionality, and both are equal in this regard. So, the result is a tie here also.
Aerial Photography
Aerial photography is an advanced feature of mapping cards. Few mapping cards come with this feature. This feature allows seeing detailed high-definition images of the lake and its surroundings. It takes mapping to the next level.
Lakemaster doesn’t come with the aerial photography feature. On the other hand, Lakemaster Plus comes with the aerial photography feature. Moreover, it offers three types of aerial photography options: satellite only, satellite-land, and satellite + contours.
Regarding aerial photography, Lakemaster Plus is the clear winner here.
Satellite Mapping Overlay
The satellite mapping overlay feature allows overlaying a satellite picture over the topographical map. It helps to identify geographical features such as river beds, creeks, marshes, etc.
When it comes to satellite mapping overlay, Lakemaster doesn’t come with this feature. On the other hand, Lakemaster Plus comes with this feature. Here Lakemaster Plus is the clear winner.
Access To Updates
It is an important fact for mapping cards. Mapping cards companies update their maps regularly. However, some offer free updates, and some don’t.
As far as map update access is concerned, Lakemaster and Lakemaster Plus don’t provide access to updates data. If you want to access their updated map data, then you have to buy their new cards. So, in this regard, the result is a tie.
Chart Plotting
Chart plotting functionality is another excellent feature of mapping cards. It allows you to create a custom map of your favorite lake using available sonar data. This feature comes in handy for lakes or small water body that doesn’t have a map. You can use this feature to create the map for any water body using sonar data.
Lakemaster and Lakemaster Plus don’t come with the chart plotting feature by default. If you want this feature, then you have to upgrade to their Autochart or Auchart pro version. In this category, the result is a tie as both maps don’t come with chart plotting.
Pricing
Lakemaster and Lakemaster Plus are premium quality mapping cards.
Lakemaster costs around $150, and Lakemaster Plus costs around $100. Thus, from the price perspective, Lakemaster is the clear winner here.
Lakemaster vs Lakemaster Plus: Which one to choose?
Lakemaster and Lakemaster Plus are great mapping cards. It is hard to choose one between them. If you are looking for the aerial photography option, then you can go for Lakemaster Plus. On the other hand, if aerial photography is not a concern for you, Lakemaster is the best option for you.
FAQs:
Which is better, Lakemaster or Lakemaster Plus?
Both mapping cards are great. However, if aerial photography matters for you, then Lakemaster Plus is the best option for you.
What is the difference between Lakemaster and Lakemaster Plus?
Lakemaster Plus comes with the aerial photography feature, and Lakemaster doesn’t.
Can you update Lakemaster cards?
No, if you want to access updated data, you must buy the latest card.
Can you use the Lakemaster chip on the computer?
No, it is only compatible with the Humminbird GPS unit.
Lakemaster vs Lakemaster Plus: Final Words
Undoubtedly, Lakemaster and Lakemaster Plus are the best mapping cards currently available on the market. They are very similar to each other. The only difference between them is the aerial photography feature. Except for this feature, other features are the same.
In this comparison of Lakemaster vs Lakemaster Plus, I have compared these two mapping cards side by side in detail. If you were hesitant to choose the right mapping card for fishing, after reading this comparison, I hope now you can pick the right one. Still, if you have any questions regarding this comparison, please let me know by leaving a comment below.
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