Underwater Cameras

[Michigander]

I bought a Go-Pro knockoff to give me a new perspective when I get back on the water this spring. I learned that I'll be able to transmit the live feed via wifi to my cell phone using some coax cable. I have an old laptop that I'm going to put Linux on and run an Android OS inside a VMware box for recording storage when  I'm in the boat and need bigger screen. I haven't solved the camera pole puzzle yet. I want to be able to get that camera under docks, in bushes, and literally punch through weed mats to see what's going on in there. I also plan to catalog the crayfish colors at various depths so my jigs are exceptionally well matched. Seems super fun to me at least...

 

Anyone played around with this? If so, what insights did you gain?

[Scott F]

I had an old Aqua-Vu camera several years ago.  Here’s what I learned. #1. Every minute you are looking at a video screen, is a minute you aren’t fishing. #2. Unless the camera is very close to the bottom, all you will see on the screen, is nothing. #3. What looks like a cloud of bait on your depth finder, probably isn’t. #4. In stained water, just hard to see anything that is more than a foot away.  #5. Laptop and phone screens are very hard to read in bright daylight. #6. In the end, it wasn’t nearly as helpful as I thought it was going to be.

[Russ E]

this is with my dragon touch on a cloudy day.

 

[Michigander]

5 minutes ago, Russ E said:

this is with my dragon touch on a cloudy day.

Nice fish! Ever put that camera under water?

13 minutes ago, Scott F said:

I had an old Aqua-Vu camera several years ago.  Here’s what I learned. #1. Every minute you are looking at a video screen, is a minute you aren’t fishing. #2. Unless the camera is very close to the bottom, all you will see on the screen, is nothing. #3. What looks like a cloud of bait on your depth finder, probably isn’t. #4. In stained water, just hard to see anything that is more than a foot away.  #5. Laptop and phone screens are very hard to read in bright daylight. #6. In the end, it wasn’t nearly as helpful as I thought it was going to be.

1. Yes, field research is expensive in precious time. I'm hoping that the efficiency gain from new knowledge will at least be a wash.

2. Good news, the bottom is the part I'm most interested in.

3. What was it when it wasn't bait?

4. Most of my lakes are annoyingly clear, so that should be fine.

5. Yes, got a collapsible hood system designed for that.

6. Hopefully, I don't come to the same conclusion...

[Russ E]

8 minutes ago, Michigander said:

Nice fish! Ever put that camera under water?

thanks.

Not yet. I have only had it a month. Plus the water is cold at the moment.  it is supposed to be water proof to 100 foot. 

[A-Jay]

8 minutes ago, Michigander said:

Nice fish! Ever put that camera under water?

Yes ~ All the time

This will give you something to compare it to ~ 

 

A-Jay

[Michigander]

Yeah, that's about the same depth rating as mine. I'm throwing mine into the water as soon as I find a section of unfrozen water I can drop vertically into.

3 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Yes ~ All the time

This will give you something to compare it to ~ 

A-Jay

You were killing it out there, A-Jay! For their price, GoPros certainly do the deed. Hopefully my Akaso is similar. How far do you think it was from your console to your trolling motor shaft? I could see it during the underwater segment. 9 feet? I'd be satisfied with half that range.

[Russ E]

6 minutes ago, Michigander said:

Yeah, that's about the same depth rating as mine. I'm throwing mine into the water as soon as I find a section of unfrozen water I can drop vertically into.

i have had my go pro hero 3 under water a couple times, but our kansas waters are pretty stained. hard to get much of a picture.

[Michigander]

Just now, Russ E said:

i have had my go pro hero 3 under water a couple times, but our kansas waters are pretty stained. hard to get much of a picture.

I know this to be true, I lived in Kansas for a few years.