underwater cameras

[rkpolaris]

interested in getting a underwater camera for ice fishing, any recommendations? don't want to spend a ton of money if i don't have to.

[Hoey]

RK - Do you have sonar type (Vex/Bird) unit?  That was the question Pat from Thorne asked me when I asked him the same question about cameras.  He went on to explain a Vexilar is a fishing tool.  A camera is a fishing toy.  

Today I have 4 Vexilar, for guests, friends and family, and no camera.  But then again I do only fish LOTW and cameras are not very effective there due to the water clarity.

I am no help on camera recommendations.

[papadarv]

I have an old AquaView B/W camera. Use it a lot, but its old. Time for an update.

I will be getting the Vexilar FishPhone camera. Sells for around $200 if you do some searching and most likely will be around that price at the St. Paul show. The camera image is displayed on you smart phone, iPad, tablet etc. verses a monitor type display. Advantage, all people your fishing with can see the camera image by downloading the Fishphone app on thier smart phone. I already have the Vexilar SonarPhone and think it is outstanding. Plan to use it this winter on ice. With the added Fishphone, I now can switch between the sonar, camera and lake contour on the same tablet with a single touch of the screen.

[rkpolaris]

8 hours ago, Hoey said:

RK - Do you have sonar type (Vex/Bird) unit?  That was the question Pat from Thorne asked me when I asked him the same question about cameras.  He went on to explain a Vexilar is a fishing tool.  A camera is a fishing toy.  

Today I have 4 Vexilar, for guests, friends and family, and no camera.  But then again I do only fish LOTW and cameras are not very effective there due to the water clarity.

I am no help on camera recommendations.

I have an fl20 that is great but considering a camera for curiosity... (toy)

[papadarv]

I know some look at a fish camera as a toy, and yes it is fun to use. I use it more as a fishing tool. With Panfish I search for live weeds as they usually hold Blue Gills. In deep water clear lakes I look for bait fish and use the camera to identify the bait. Cisco and minnow size perch bait balls usually have Walleye just below them. Great to see when the crappie arrive. Its also beneficial to watch your target fish react to the presented bait, plastic, lure, etc. If they just look at it, bump it than swim away, maybe the wrong bait is being presented so try another. The Vex Fishphone has a video capture feature. Take it home and study the action.

[rkpolaris]

Is the fishphone color or black and white?

[papadarv]

31 minutes ago, rkpolaris said:

Is the fishphone color or black and white?

Color

[rl_sd]

On 11/20/2015, 7:59:26, papadarv said:

Color

Color down to a certain light-level, and then it automatically switches over to B&W. I bought one last year and had fun with it. As stated, if I had to choose between a flasher and a camera I would go the flasher route, but the camera definitely allows a fisherman to watch fish reaction to bait presentation.... plus it gives the kids something to watch when the fish aren't biting!

[MN BassFisher]

I used an Aqua Vu Micro last year for panfishing/scouting and it was a very useful tool. I purchased one myself this year. The selling point for me was size and convenience. I am almost always on the move punching new holes and searching, if i had to lug around a heavy camera similar to the size of my flasher I would never use it. The AV Micro's can fit in your coat pocket every time you're on the ice and only take a second to drop/reel up camera so you can continue your search.

[leech~~]

Not sure why but I have had 3 cam's and have never ever caught a Walleye with them down? I have caught just about everything else and have seen Walleye swimming by but have never had one hit the bait with the cam down? It's fun to use but since I fish for eye's so much it sits home most of the time.

[MN BassFisher]

I've heard that same thing Leech, that Walleye's are very timid when camera's are down. I will be using my Micro while hole hopping. I fish mostly Panfish so I'll be looking for bottom composition, green weeds, schools of fish, but I likely won't be dropping many lines while it's down.

[walleye44]

On ‎11‎/‎20‎/‎2015 at 9:18 PM, rkpolaris said:

interested in getting a underwater camera for ice fishing, any recommendations? don't want to spend a ton of money if i don't have to.

Look into a 715c Aqua Vu, if you are looking into a full size camera. Great color camera for $299! If you have the budget the 760CZ is awesome! I got robbed this summer & upgraded to that model camera. I love the zoom feature on that 760CZ. You also get a Sony Camera with it! They both have the built in sun shades as well. You do not know how many times the fish actually has the minnow in their mouth & your bobber never moved.

[tweeder]

I highly recommend a camera, doesn't matter which one, just figure out how much you want to spend.  I have had a couple different ones and the cheap one Cabelas brand from the bargin cave is the one I still use the most.

I have caught plenty of walleye with it down.

Its a great learning tool as others have said,  see how fish respond, see what the bottoms conditions are like (helps learn the lake), find the weed lines for tip ups etc... etc... etc...

The added bonus is the entertainment factor, I'd like to say its for the fish but I like watching it as well!

I will say I mainly fish during the day, if I mainly fished during the night I would not bother with a camera, just stick with the flasher as the cameras are junk as the lights go out.

[magic_minnow]

bought an aqua vu micro II last week and it works when at home, but goes out when on the ice.  I then learned that people had issues with a bad lot of diodes that were in a certain lot of cameras.  just my luck.  didn't want to deal with getting a new one so I returned it.  did hear that aqua vu had great customer service though.

[icepike 1]

Nice to hear some good reviews on the vexilar fish phone. leaning towards getting that one and recording video on it sold me.

[papadarv]

2 hours ago, icepike 1 said:

Nice to hear some good reviews on the vexilar fish phone. leaning towards getting that one and recording video on it sold me.

Here is a video I took new years eve day, first time out with the FishPhone. It's a bass on Little Green in Chisago. Green lake is not real clear could only see about 6 feet below the ice when I lowered the camera. The camera was 4 feet from the bait. I clipped the footage before and after the shot. Really neat part we had 5 viewers looking at the camera image, all at the same time, ranging from iPhone, Android phone, 7" tablet and the iPad. 2 of the iPhones were in the hub about 20 ft. from our hub.

Jake Bass Email.mp4

Edited January 5, 2016 by papadarv

[Weathertite]

Looks like fun Papa , You stay safe out there Buddy.

Mike

[RoosterRedneck]

What do you guys think about the Marcum that looks like a tip up sitting in a hole?  I want a camera where the camera rotates without me having to spin the cord or getting an aftermarket deal to spin it.  

[icepike 1]

Nice video Papa, O Yeah I wasn't thinking about not having to stare at the same screen to. Now I got the itch to pick one of those up.

[papadarv]

26 minutes ago, Down2Earth said:

What do you guys think about the Marcum that looks like a tip up sitting in a hole?  I want a camera where the camera rotates without me having to spin the cord or getting an aftermarket deal to spin it.  

I use the camera compass, I know Marcum makes one. Sits on top of the hole with the cable secured. I find the direction where he camera is pointing and put a piece of blue tape indicating the pointing direction. Takes 2 or 3 min. for the cable to straighten out when you first put the camera in the water.  Really works great. This is what it looks like. I got mine several years ago at the St. Paul ice show for about $10. Google Camera Compass to find one.

Darv as in Papadarv 

[RoosterRedneck]

I think I have seen one of those before papa.  However you would have to spin that manually correct?  So if I'm in my flip over I will drill the hole I put the camera down outside and inside in the corner if it's too cold.  I don't want to have to get up or go outside to spin it.  The marcum pancam is the camera I was referring to.  It comes with an app on your phone or old tablet and you can spin it using the app.  I've never seen one in use but it looks pretty cool if it works.

Edited January 5, 2016 by Down2Earth

[papadarv]

8 hours ago, Down2Earth said:

I think I have seen one of those before papa.  However you would have to spin that manually correct?  So if I'm in my flip over I will drill the hole I put the camera down outside and inside in the corner if it's too cold.  I don't want to have to get up or go outside to spin it.  The marcum pancam is the camera I was referring to.  It comes with an app on your phone or old tablet and you can spin it using the app.  I've never seen one in use but it looks pretty cool if it works.

Correct you need to spin manually. I have not seen any auto spin units either. Nice idea if camera is set up out of reach.