Under water cameras. useful or wasre of time?

cobra427mnsi · 02-01-2009, 12:55 PM

Many times while fishing on Lake Erie, I've spotted clouds of stuff on my fish finder (lowrance LCX 100). Sometimes, especially in the evening there is so much on the screen you wonder what it all is and where it comes from because it is not there, in such abundance, during the middle of the day. I have often wondered if one of those under water cameras would be useful to identify whats down there. Also, while trolling with a downrigger, has anyone had any experience with a camera to watch the lure to see how the fish react eg attack out of no where or follow for a while before biting.
Most cameras that I've seen in the stores seem pretty cheap (quality of picture wise) that I wonder if they would be a waste of money. Anyone have any experience with one? Could you make your own by using better a quality camera connected to a laptop computer?
Just curious if such a device would give me more info about fishing thus making me a better fisherman. I would like to know as much as I can about what's down there in relation to what I am seeing on the depth finder and how fish react in a given situation.

Any experience of info you'd like to share?

Paul

RussH · 02-01-2009, 10:19 PM

I borrowed my cousins Aqua View camera a few years ago and tried using it in the shallow water reefs around the islands looking for small mouth. Trying to look at the screen in the bright sunshine in a rocking boat was tough. Especially when I was drifting and trying to hold the camera steady and turned in the right direction. All I seen was basically a lot of green and shadows that I thought may be fish. I suppose if you were looking at the video screen in the evening or when it was cloudy, and it was relatively calm you may be able to get a better look but how often does that happen?

I was so unimpressed that I didn't buy his when he offered to sell it to me for $100. Now I would like to have one for ice fishing so I am considering buying his again. I would like to try it while perch fishing on Lake Erie, it may be easier to see while anchored.

Just my opinion.

Russ

cobra427mnsi · 02-04-2009, 07:58 AM

Russ, I've heard that the picture quality is not the greatest and they are hard to see in sunlight. That is why I asked about a better quality camera and laptop to display the picture. Has anyone tried to improve picture quality this way?

Paul

davidkuhlmann · 02-04-2009, 10:20 AM

The Fish TV is a great little unit for $100 new. None of them are that great but I have seen video of the fish comming from behind trolling like you ask.

Here is a link for info on the Fish TV

http://www.naturevisioninc.com/corpo...EASEFishTV.pdf

davepen · 02-09-2009, 06:43 PM

These things are best for ice fishing, IMO.

CaptainTom · 02-17-2009, 05:48 PM

I have a camera and I really don't like it. We have taken it out ice fishing, and it has shown me the perch are there, but I didn't catch more fish. We finally turned the camera so I couldn't see it and I out fished my buddy 2 to 1 by just feel. I got mine for christmas, but I would never had bought one.

RaySea Lady · 08-01-2009, 09:48 AM

I have one that I hooked up to video glasses instead of a monitor. Visuals is ok up to 10 or 15 feet, further down is hardly distinguishable, too dark. But the video glasses present a good image and are not as affected by the sun.