Using GoPro to capture pond underwater footage

[beardown34]

I fish small subdivision ponds. The smallest one is ~ 250ft x 200ft, according to Google Maps. I would guess less than 20 feet at its deepest. I know it holds bass -- I've caught one already this year, and several in the 12-18" range last year. I'm not looking to "cheat", but considering I usually only get 30 minutes at a time to fish, I'd like to maximize my fishing outings. I was thinking that getting some underwater footage would help in that endeavor. This pond does have an aerator in the middle that hasn't been turned on for the season yet, so I figure I should probably do this before it gets turned on and makes the water too choppy.

I'm not looking to invest in a $300+ Aqua-Vu type device. I have a GoPro and am just thinking of ways to use it without incurring much more cost. Considering the pond is fairly shallow, I was thinking of attaching a floating backdoor like this and casting it out. With the floating door, I think the GoPro will consistently orient itself in the water like this and consistently face downwards. Then I would cast in different areas of the pond and slowly retrieve the camera back. I think it might be a little trippy at first trying to view the footage from a bird's eye POV, but at least it would provide me some information about what lies below.

Ideally it would be nice to drop-shot the GoPro and drag it while suspended a foot or so off the bottom, but I don't know how I would easily/feasibly do that and still keep the camera pointed in a consistent position (whether it be facing forward or down). I know many of you have the skill of "seeing the bottom" by dragging your lures and feeling what's down there. I sadly do not possess that skill as of right now. 

Thoughts? 

[BassinLou]

I would just fish it. Those are small ponds, you can basically walk around them trying different approaches until you figure out a pattern. You have already confirmed there's bass in there.  You're idea is very creative however. I guess I'm old school when it comes to these things. 

[Jaderose]

3 hours ago, BassinLou said:

I would just fish it. Those are small ponds, you can basically walk around them trying different approaches until you figure out a pattern. You have already confirmed there's bass in there.  You're idea is very creative however. I guess I'm old school when it comes to these things. 

^^This^^  I wonder about the use of video when fishing the same way I wonder why people go to concerts and watch them through cell phones.  Just fish the thing.

[00 mod]

Consider the water visibility.  If it is clear to the eye for 2 foot, that is all you will see in the camera.  And if you drop shot it at 20 foot down, there is less light to penetrate, and therefor he visibility will be even less than the eye can see near the surface.  Just my thoughts.

Jeff

[beardown34]

Thank you all for the prompt input. Let me represent my question more accurately. I see that many of you do not find this a necessary endeavor. I'm asking more from a standpoint of, has anyone done this before, and do you have any tips on how to do this more effectively?

I don't currently nor will I ever fish in tournaments for money, so my perspective will never be the same as a lot of you guys. I'm just trying to learn more about my body of water, so I can understand more about locating structure and how fish relate to it. Even if it doesn't help me catch more fish at this pond, at least I can use what I learn about what I see below water to become more effective in other bodies of water. 

 

6 hours ago, 00 mod said:

Consider the water visibility.  If it is clear to the eye for 2 foot, that is all you will see in the camera.  And if you drop shot it at 20 foot down, there is less light to penetrate, and therefor he visibility will be even less than the eye can see near the surface.  Just my thoughts.

Jeff

 

Thanks Jeff -- the water is pretty clear, from what I can tell. But because I'm only on the bank (no kayaking here), I really can only see out maybe 15-20 feet. I was thinking of doing this on a very bright, non-windy day. 

[no39]

I don't think it's a hopeless endeavor.  At the worst, it's a wash and none of the footage is usable.  However, I'm sure you'll learn a bit better of what your camera is capable of.  I think you're top down idea could be really interesting and make for great footage. I hope you go through it share what you see with us.

[beardown34]

1 minute ago, no39 said:

I don't think it's a hopeless endeavor.  At the worst, it's a wash and none of the footage is usable.  However, I'm sure you'll learn a bit better of what your camera is capable of.  I think you're top down idea could be really interesting and make for great footage. I hope you go through it share what you see with us.

absolutely -- on a bright and non-windy day i gotta think at least some of the footage will be mildly entertaining  

at the least maybe i can see where that buzzbait that got snagged on the aerator last year is! 

as far as drop shotting the camera, i would think that with the float pack stuck on the backside of the GoPro, the camera would still be facing downward for the most part. maybe if i drop shotted it with like a 3 foot leader, and set the camera to widest angle, i could still get some reasonable footage even with the expected wobbling side to side of the camera. 

[Jaderose]

42 minutes ago, beardown34 said:

 

I don't currently nor will I ever fish in tournaments for money, so my perspective will never be the same as a lot of you guys. I'm just trying to learn more about my body of water, so I can understand more about locating structure and how fish relate to it. Even if it doesn't help me catch more fish at this pond, at least I can use what I learn about what I see below water to become more effective in other bodies of water. 

 

 

 

I've never fished a tournament.  I'm just a 48 year old man that likes to fish

[beardown34]

1 minute ago, Jaderose said:

I've never fished a tournament.  I'm just a 48 year old man that likes to fish

OK. 

[Jaderose]

1 minute ago, beardown34 said:

OK. 

Lol....do what you gotta do, Man.  Just cause I wouldn't do it doesn't mean you shouldn't.  Give it a try and post the video on here.  Heck..I'd like to see it

 

[ClackerBuzz]

I can't help with ur Gopro set up but it sounds like you already have some good ideas.  I'd def float it as opposed to drag it.

if ur interested in learning how to read water scroll down to my post from a few years ago (last post on page 5).  it's specifically about reading ponds but applies to big water as well.

good luck and post some footage!

 

[hoosierbass07]

 I fish clear water strip pits and last year I bought a couple of action cams and rigged up a pole to dunk my cams underwater.  The result - green looking water and not much visibility.  I think shooting underwater is pretty much is a waste of time, even in clear water.  But if you want to give it a try then go for it.  

[primetime]

 I have a friend who purchased a generic underwater camera that you could cast out or throw out on a roap, and it was decent if you were in a sunny area with clear water but it was hard to see since most ponds had too much sediment in the water and the light wasn not very good on it.

I think the more expensive one's work well,  I have watched footage of underwater camera's that look great, but this was from Amazon and was about $40 I think..It did get interest from Turtles...If you left it in the shallows and chummed up baitfish, you could see some stuff, but you couldn't use it has he hoped, which was drop it under the boat and see all the structure etc..without light you could only make out weeds.

[JT Bagwell]

I mounted a GoPro to the bottom of my boat last year or the year before when I went to a super clear lake.

The footage didn't really capture anything but it almost reminded me of the footage you see of the ocean
with the grass moving very slowly with the motion of the water.

There was one bluegill that was very interested in the blinking lights on the camera and he came right up to investigate.

 

In case you are wondering how I did it: I used the big GoPro suction cup mount and stuck it up under the hull. Then I secured it
to my boat with 50# Test Hi-Vis PowerPro just in case the suction cup came loose. I only had it under there when I was on
the trolling motor. It will fall off if you get going any faster than that.