Underwater Camera

[CatyMae n Steve]

While Steve and I were over Baker City way elk hunting, we took a morning and went to Cabelas in Boise (towels necessary to treat drooling). I found an underwater camera and couldn't resist (I've been looking at them online and this one was quite reasonably priced for what's included).

Does anyone here have/use one? I'm wondering about securing it in the boat so the monitor/battery don't go for a swim and also a way to safely tie off the cable to maintain a specific depth (thinking maybe one of those cleats that has the 3 or 4 grooves in them if I could find one 'skinny' enough to secure the camera cable and weave it in and out of that to secure it). I saw someone in a review of the unit recommending a tripod which somehow apparently makes it easier to maintain a direction of the camera. The instruction manual is sorta lacking in detailed info -- also shows 3 different angles the camera should hang in the water, but no explanation as to how to achieve those angles A new toy! Can't wait for our next fishing or crabbing excursion

Caty

[starcrafttom]

I used one when they first came out. My buddy got one and we tried to use it trolling with out sucess at all. could never get it to track right and the cable is too thick and caused way too much drag. It is good for still fishing and maybe back trolling in clear water. Walker downriggers has came up with camara built in to the down rigger with the cable doing double. from what I have seen of the video I would go with that system, if it did not cost almost two grand. but then again it would be worth it for the amount of information that it would give you.

[forrest]

Your new toy reminded me of a story. My fishing partner bought a new underwater camera for one of our excursions to Nootka Sound. We had only tried it out in my trout pond so we were looking forward to its use. He caught a nice spring early the first morning (it was bigger in pictures than a 35 pounder that he caught later on). He was antsy to get back to Critter Cove to weigh it so we headed back early. I tied up to the gas dock which was close to the scales and cleaning station. He proudly procured a wheelbarrow to tote the fish over to the scales. For those of you who have never been to a place like Critter Cove there are wheelbarrows placed along the docks and cabins to carry your fish to the cleaning station (these are big fish). He pulled up to the boat with his wheelbarrow and was bragging to the gas girl about his catch. She was helping me gas up so she wasn't watching him. The next thing we heard was a big splash. There was Brooks with his hands out saying "Did you see that". As he was swinging the fish from the boat into the wheelbarrow the boat moved away from the dock and didn't go all the way into the wheelbarrow. The wheelbarrow then tipped over and the fish went into the water 65 'down. The look on his face is one I'll never forget. I told him not to worry, just go back to the cabin and get the new camera and I would hook up a Halibut jig and jig the fish. We set up the camera and lowered it down just in time to see a feeding frenzy of dog fish ripping his salmon apart. I tried to jig it but caught a big dog on the first jig. The gas girl said "boy that was a big fish". By that time I was lying on my back convulsing in hysterical laughter. We did limit out on 30 plus pound fish but the biggest one did 'get away'.
Forrest
CC26 Hull 14

[CatyMae n Steve]

Tom, this one cost less than 10% of that 2 grand -- which made it a good candidate to see if they work well....it's infrared and apparently fish can't see that light, and according to some of those reviews, the fish are actually attracted to the shiny weight on it and have mouthed it in an attempt to take a taste! I was thinking I probably would never use it in the ocean because sharks would undoubtedly be drawn to it (besides the fact the cable is 65' long and would not really be useful in hundreds of feet of water. Our intent is to use it while sitting still to see if the fishfinder is telling us the truth! I'm hoping it will be good for sturgeon fishing too.

Forrest, what a story! A coworker said he's used his to find things people had dropped overboard....what a disappointment to see your catch being eaten underwater!

Caty

[forrest]

We wern't able to use it trolling either (like Charlie White). But we did use it for bottom fishing. We have been watching ling cod while they attack the camera. That's a whole lot of teeth coming at you. They let go right away so the camera wasn't hurt. The neatest thing we did was to drop a large jig down with a magnum hoochie skirt and no hooks. We then lowered the camera down on the opposite side of the boat. I started jiging up and down. The jig was surrounded by bottom fish much like hunters around a camp fire. One at a time the fish would zoom in and hit the jig and return to the circle once they found out it wasn't edible. Some would attack more than once just to make sure. After a while it seemed that they would dare one another and the stupid one of the bunch would zoom in again. Some would learn and move off. Also if you drop it down near a school of bait fish you'll see why a flasher works so well. As the school changes direction it flashes just like your flasher.
Forrest

[maryswensen]

Caty:

I have had one of these units for two years. I use it for dock inspections and lost treasures.
You can adjust the angle of attack by sliding the weight.

Hope it helps.

Ed

[CatyMae n Steve]

Ed, thank you for the tip on camera angle! After hearing these stories, I can't WAIT to get it in the water! ..... feelin like a kid at Christmas time

Caty

[starcrafttom]

Another question, can you record from the camara and on what type of devices. My father flys planes and has a small camera in the tail of his cj-6 that faces foward and captures the whole plane in the lens. he records to a hand held 120gb recorder that records sight and sound ( you get to her the mike traffic) I am thinking of doing the same thing on the susane so i have fishing action. if I could rcord two cameras at once then I would put one in the water off the back ,maybe on the trim tap. Any ideas on how to make this work.

[jkidd]

I've had four or five cameras over the last 8 years. A color and a black and white IR by seaview, they look like a missile and can be trolled to 20 knots. You can put a line release on them and record the fish hits. I tried to troll them at 2 mph and you can't keep the bait on the screen. I have a black and white AquaView that I use for ice fishing. This is when they are really fun because you get the play by play "Here comes the fish get ready, OK set the hook" great fun. We drill 3 holes in the ice, put poles down 2 of them and the camera down the 3rd. We can watch both poles that way. I've got some good video of trout. The other one is a color one made for clear water, the light and water have have to be perfect for this one. It has a pole mount so you can inspect under the boat or dock, it can look straight down as well. You can get mounts for flashlights for this one.

[CatyMae n Steve]

[starcrafttom]

just for fun heres some great video of fishing. I would like to know how they rigged the camera on the down rigger. can it be done ( up and down) with one person.




http://www.naturevisioninc.com/aquavu/aquavideo2/index.html

[oldgrowth]

Tom - I did not look at all the videos but the five I did, just showed fish swimming around. Did some show fish being caught?
________
Dave

[Papillon]

My dive buddy has one and we have saved tons of air fills in being able to check viability without wasting air for a up close and personal looksee. It is good for putting on structure to see what fish are around...and bait up to suit. Trolling in clear water slowly...works when everything is setup right...it just takes time to dial it in. Good Luck and Good Fishing....

PS: We do not tape....or provide any other evidence for the marine patrol....we make them provide their own video.

[Sea Wolf]

I've seen videos of underwater camera action by a local guide here in Redding of trout on Shasta Lake taking lures on downriggers.

If you want to contact him, here's his web page:

Shasta Tackle Company

Joe.

[flapbreaker]

I'm eager to hear a report. I've always wanted to try one but was affraid it would be a big dissapointment. I thought of cliping the camera to the downrigger while on anchor for chinook or even sturgeon. Let us know how it works.