Anyone use underwater camera's

[FM2]

I was watching one of the fishing programs this past weekend when a show featured an underwater camera system called Aqua Vu.

This system had a camera attatched to a cable which then was attached to a viewing screen. They put the camera next to a bass spawning bed then backed up their boat and casted worms to the spot. It was really cool actually watching the fish take the bait!!

Of course an graemlins/idea.gif hit me, I wonder if you could legally use these to check out fishing holes around here. :cool: Looks interesting!

Has anyone here heard of this system or used it, I would be curious to hear about experiences. I checked out their website click here (http://www.aqua-vu.com) and they seem reasonably priced.

To the moderators: I'm not advertising for this product, just curious since I have not seen or heard of it. Please feel free to remove this thread if there is any infringement on any of the advertisers.

[Tanner]

A couple of years ago Gary Waterhouse at Great American Tackle had one that he was renting out. He said he used it on the Clackamas a few times and managed to find where the fish were laying.

[NEUTRON]

My friend who is a guide traded a trip for one.
They are a whole lot of fun and work very well.
We used his on the Nestucca and Wilson in the fall. Amazing to look at hogs up close an personal on the small CRT. Worlds best fish finder. Makes float trips take longer cause it's hard to leave holes that are holding big fish. The aqua view was fun to play with. We found other anglers would appreciate us 'scouting' their angling spots as we floated down river. I wouldn't mind having one.

[DRUNK COWBOY]

FM2,
Good old Roland Martin. That was great to watch those bass take the worms like that. I have never used one, but we were talking about running that behind our boat when we are trolling. That would be awsome to see those fish strike plug-cut-herring :cheers:

[CrazyHorse]

My dad is going to buy one of those Aqua Vu cameras for his boat. I will post our experiences with it as soon as he gets it hooked up and going. Not sure how long it will be though.

[Pete]

There are about a dozen companies making underwater cameras. They range in quality pretty dramatically. The nicest are designed for doing hull inspections on commercial vessels in non-moving, salt water instead of sending a diver down. They all suffer from the drawback of being tethered by a transmission wire that has to be stored somehow. I'd love to see the cable integrated into a down rigger so it could be automatically retreived and neatly stored. <Product development opportunity!>

[Skipper]

Hi Keith,

The Aqua View has been on display at the Sportsman show for years now. I'm shocked that you are just finding out about them. :whazzup:

I would like to get one for my boat when the finances dictate. Great American Tackle Shop has them for sale, and I believe Tillamook Sporting Goods has them also.

I would use it to determine what the fish are just smelling and passing, and what they are hitting on. The trick would be to keep it at the right distance from the hook, but maybe Aqua View has figured that out.

Jim

[blacktail]

A guy at work bought one through Cabela's a couple years ago. Not sure which brand/model. As I recall, he spent a decent chunk of change on it.

Anyways, he was not impressed with it. I think he only used it two or three times and pretty much gave up.

Sounds like there must be some better ones available then what he got.

Mike

[THE KIWANDA KID]

EVER TRIED DUPONT? IT FINDS EM' AND FRIES EM' TOO. TO MUCH TECHNOLOGY MAKES JACK A LAZY FISHERMAN.JUST MY USELESS TWO PESOS. :grin:

[Bait O' Eggs]

Gizmo Man has one he made. I have watched some of his footage and was impressed what the old fart did :wink:

I made one last year and have not gotten around to putting it in the water. I got a small spy type camera with a very low lux number. I built a waterproof case out of aluminum with a glass front to house the camera. I hooked up 100 feet of coax to the camera that I run to a 13 inch color 12 volt TV with VCR I bought just for recording what I was looking at. I would like to get it out and set it up and watch some shad take the lure this summer. I will need some clear water and a nice sunny day.

I think I could learn a thing or 2 putting it in the water. Just need to quit doing so many projects and play with the ones I have made. :smile:

[Jonah's Revenge]

A friend of mine purchased one to try out on the Willamette. It worked really well in the slower current. You were able to see the Salmon cruise up the river right by the camera. It answered alot of questions as to what depth they were running and how many were going by our bait.
He plans on using it when he goes to check out new fishing spots. Don't know if it will get old by the end of the year though.
We'll see.

[fishchaser]

STZII has one. We used it Sturgeon fishing on the Columbia. A bit heavy on the current, so we couldn't see much. When the IR was off you just had a black screen, When the IR was on you just saw bubbles. We were just too deep for the camera. Hoping to try it out shad fishing this week. IF he can remember to bring it. :tongue:

[coyote one]

I haven't heard how clear the picture comes in when you are fishing the main stem columbia. How well does it work there?

[fishchaser]

On the main stem of the Columbia, if you use it, you need to have it attached to a downrigger ball, so it will stay steady. If the river is fairly clear, you might be able to see better, just we were using it for Sturgeon, in the middle of winter. Pete keeps forgetting it at home so I don't know how it works in the little rivers. Gary Waterhouse @ Great American Tackle, has video of fish in the Nehalem, and you have a great view, just not on the Great Columbia.

[Alligator]

I bought one in March and have used it in the Columbia one day while fishing for springers. Rainer area. The water clarity wasn't good but you could see 3 feet. I connected my quik-fish leader to the camera to watch a salmon take but it was a slow day and it gets boring watching that quik-fish wiggling back and forth.

I have used it in the Clackamas and watched steelhead in the citation hole and also at Carver. I noticed summers steelhead hanging on the Clear creek side around larger obsticals just below the bank fishermen. I informed the bankies of their location. On the wall side there were three steelies holding on the outside of the rock below the ladder.

It's a little hard to run the boat, fish, and tend to the camera all at the same time. This summer will be a good time to use in the clearer water.

I want to go back up to Hood Canal and connect a crab snare to the camera and then drop it to the large crabs. It should work well as the water is crystal clear.

les

[FM2]

Very cool resonses, didn't realize this many folks have/use the system.

The features they list on the website sound like they have worked out most bugs and have made the system reliable and portable. How would you folks who have them rate the quality of the materials? Reading promo material provides the details that sound great on paper but the proof is in the product.

Skipper, thanks for the reply now that I know who you are :smile: BTW, did you lose my phone number :wink:

BOE, you are one innovative dude with tons of great graemlins/idea.gif Now if you can just put something on the end of your line C&E will lighten up on ya! :grin:

[Deleted User]

In my opinion toys like fish finders and aqua vu's are simply another hi tech, modern day distraction from the real reasons we fish. The kiwanda kid said it well too.
If meat is what you want save yourself a lot of money and time and go to a fish market or blast them out of your favorite hole with a dupont spinner.
Here is a better idea for those using or considering using an aqua vu or a similar device:
Learn what your grandpas learned the way they learned . Try reading some water for yourself. Try getting out of your floating device and walking the stream. USE YOUR EARS. Use your eyes and nose. Activate your human brain and heck, use all your senses, how about that. graemlins/idea.gif
The river is meant to be mysterious and its contents unknown until the angler does all the right things to expose whats in there (without all the assistance).
Remember???????????? Well I do.

I chose to fish "old school".

[Trolleytrout2]

I've got a Walker Strike Vision system. If you do any kind of trolling, I think this is the only way to go. The whole system costs about $1200.00. It connects to your video camera or a 12 volt TV/vcr to record the action. www.walkerdownriggers.com (http://www.walkerdownriggers.com) and no I don't work for them. It's just a very good underwater camera system.

[FEAR NO FISH!]

I used mine at Eagle Lakes. I bounced it off a carp and it whirled back like it was wondering "what the heck was that!" I also eyeballed the walleye population. :shocked:

[Alligator]

frendly fisherman,

What type of spear do you use? Alder or Maple? :grin: :grin: and barefoot of course!

all in fun (wink)

les

[AngleThis]

Ineresting idea, but not practical, I don't think. A filmable bass spawning area occurs in still clear water. We don't have a lot of that in our river system. Even if you could get a diver to MOUNT a camera in a clearer river, you have to remember that salmon and steelhead don't 'hang in one spot' like spawning bass, nor would the camera have much range in moving water. Then again, if you have a local lake or pond in mind, I'd be interested in helping out (certified diver) for the knowledge.

I too have often wondered what these fish behave like and never been able to witness it first hand. I'm hoping to do a free dive on the clakamas and sandy this summer. If it works out well, I'll post what I see.

[big guy]

I have the camera made by adlantis it worked good on the columbia this year.one of the best things is you can see how your wrapped quickfish are swimming.I have also used it slowly drifting coastal streams.very cool.

[happybrew]

I'm with friendly fisherman. Part of the thrill of fishing is being out in God's country, knowing your quarry, and using your senses. If I wanted to watch TV, I'd stay at home. Last year I bought a fish finder. Half the time I forgot it. It didn't make a hill of beans' difference in the number of fish I caught. And wasting time looking at the fish finder meant that I wasn't looking at what I should be looking at: God's creation. I think that the best anglers gather lots of information, then fish on instinct. I wouldn't want to turn my sport into another video game. On the other hand, if you like gadgets, and that's part of the thrill for you, go for it. I like BOE's approach: make your own! It keeps you connected with it on a level you just can't get by plunking down cash.

Alligator: my spear is made of titanium, with a range-finder. It's wire-guided, like a TOW missile, and features a small booster rocket in the back for added thrust. Unfortunately, after shelling out thousands of dollars for a state-of-the art spear, I found out that the fishing regs only allow me to use it on carp.

happybrew

[Skipper]

FM2,

I still have your phone number, just haven't used it. Sorry. :depressed: I should have invited you out in April and May for the Willamette Falls Spring Chinook Fishing Bonanza. My boat got 16 keepers, so it was a great season. :cheers: Summer is comming, and with it The Bouy 10 Salmon Fishing Bonanza. I'll be calling you, and Smily. :smile:

Smily has been inviting me to drift the Sandy with him. Went last Friday, nice day on the river, no fish. Maybe tomorrow will be the day. This is the peak of the season.

If you get a camera, I'd like to see how well it works. and how you keep it near the hook.

Cheerio'

[Deleted User]

does anyone else have feelings on this topic? :cheers:

[happybrew]

Case in point for what I posted above: Today I went to Detroit for a couple of hours. The fish finder was showing fish at 40 feet. No doubt a camera would too. Those fish were not biting. I hooked nothing at 40 feet. I fished where the fish finder told me I should fish. It was a waste of time. I brought my gear up to 20-22 feet, just on instinct. The fish finder showed nothing at this depth. If I followed the fish finder, I would not have put my gear at this depth. In my last half hour of fishing, I landed two and lost three kokanee trolling where the fish finder told me there were no fish. Technology is nice, but it doesn't catch fish. We do. And we do it because we think like the fish do. My gear is low tech. I fish from a rubber raft. I'm out there with the boats that cost big bucks. Yes, they get from point A to point B faster, but what do they miss on the way? The rod I was fishing with cost me $5 at St. Vincent De Paul thrift store. The reel was under $5 at Walmart. I often make my own trolling spoons. Were it not for the G.I. Joe's gift cards I received from my boss for Christmas and my birthday, I wouldn't have the electric motor on my raft, or the fish finder. While they are nice, and I truly appreciate them, I caught just as many fish without them. I'm not trying to begrudge anybody their nice toys. It's not a bad thing. My point is that it's not what's on our boat that catches the fish, it's what's in our heads. I got through 4+ years of college without a computer. Nearly all of my classmates had one. But my scores in the hard classes like organic chemistry and biochemistry were higher than most others because I spent my time putting stuff into my head, and not fiddling with the computer. When we fish, we need to be putting stuff into our heads to be successful. Watching a TV while you are fishing will not make you more successful unless you are using it to put stuff into your head. I think it is the rare person who can do that without being distracted. Again, I'm sure it seems like I'm trying to slam underwater cameras. I'm not. I'm just trying to emphasize that we have to keep in mind what we're doing when we're fishing. If an underwater camera helps you get inside the fish's head, then great. If it helps you appreciate nature more by enabling you to see a side of it that you wouldn't otherwise see, then that's outstanding. But for me, being the video game addict that I am, it wouldn't help me fish worth a lick. I do my best fishing when I turn the fish finder off. It gives me information, to be sure, but fishing is an instictive undertaking. (okay, go ahead and say it.... "use the Force, Luke!) When we are overloaded with information, we do the wrong thing, and information is addictive, so that's easy to do.

happybrew

[RichH]

In my opinion fish finders are a great tool for finding out how deep of water you're in, nothing more. I have never depended on a "fishfinder" to actually find fish. I use them to stay in the slot over in Tillamook or find that great salmon slammin depth on the Columbia.

As far as the cameras go, I think it would be fun to rig them so you could watch how a fish approaches a bait in a particular situation but I don't think it would change the way I do what I do. One person I know that it did change what they do is Vic Carrao up in BC.

www.guidebc.com (http://www.guidebc.com)

He has some great video of sturgeon eating bait and from what he's seen he does not let them eat as long as the rest of us. Hmmmmm

[bassfishingnw]

I just wanted to show everybody my first outing with my new camera. My 6 year old daughter had a kick looking at all the fish!!

I hope everybody can view it! Its a little shaky!!

Hagg Lake bluegill (http://www.dropshot.net/videos/fish_video.WMV)

This is with a AquaView ZT60 hook up through my camcorder!

Can't wait to take it Sturgeon fishing!!

[John]

I have got a great color camera with two hundred fet fo fiber optic cable. It has twelve LCD lights and the light level is adjustable. It is made by Rigid Tool use it to inspect sewer lines. It runs around 10,000 with locator. Always thought of using it for fish. HaHaHaHa, even had it under water would not believe the resolution and all the great things we find, sorry just a little sewer humor.

[Flatfish]

In-Fisherman magazine ran an article about this a while back.A charter captian on the great lakes had one mounted on a downrigger ball.Best thing I got out of it was kings are tough to get to bite even after ther begin to follow the bait/lure.Brown trout and steelhead hit after a much shorter chase.Explains why speed changes are so critical in making a fish strike.Trying to get away, better grab it now syndrome.....Kinda like trolling downstream for springers.Short window of opportunity yadda yadda.
See you on the water.
Mark.

[Paddlefish]

Go back to the 70s, watch the Charlie White underwater videos of trolling for Pacific salmon in British Columbia. (You can likely find them at some video stores.)

Fascinating!!

Also frustrating? Definitely! There's a whole lot going on down there which we never suspect at the surface, with salmon investigating, slashing nearby, almost striking.

And the secret would be . . .

Just 'cause we know where they are doesn't mean we can catch 'em. :whazzup:

[sinker]

That bluegill video is cool. Thanks for showing!!!!

[smilesforu]

personally I would love to play with one of these things in my home waters.
I have purchased all the charlie white videos on underwater action. Great stuff in those videos, wish they were more river orientated.

[sinker]

I don't think it would be hard to make one of these.
Mini spy cams are gettin pretty cheap. Build an enclosure out of Lexan or acrylic and seal it up with silicone or epoxy and away you go.

[AngleThis]

Camera's are good. A scuba cert is better :cool:

[STGRule]

Love the Blugill!!! That was was cool.