Using a drone to scout fishing spots?

[Luke Barnes]

If this is in the wrong section I was unsure which was the right section.

 

I dont know why but I got to thinking about it and am curious if anyone takes a drone with them fishing. I am thinking with a decent enough camera you could see straight down on the water if its clear enough and see structure and all that stuff. From the bank its hard to tell, but from the air im curious if you can see what's under the water any better. 

[fishingtx]

I don't know about Oklahoma laws, but in Texas you can't use a drone to spot wildlife or game animals without a special license. Or you just can't. I can't remember what the exact rules are I just know its illegal here.

[Choporoz]

25 minutes ago, bass4life.... said:

I don't know about Oklahoma laws, but in Texas you can't use a drone to spot wildlife or game animals without a special license. Or you just can't. I can't remember what the exact rules are I just know its illegal here.

Doesn't sound like he's wanting to spot fish.  But fair point about learning if there are applicable laws....and exact rules 

[Jig Man]

I think you would have to have either very clear or very shallow or both to see much of anything with a drone.

[Fishingmickey]

I think you could really tell a lot with a drone. You'd be able to see color changes from depth or bottom composition changes, current flows, creek channels/drains, subsurface vegetation, edges of weed lines, large boulders or structure, holes in behind reed patches. Water and light conditions would have to be right.  I could definitely see doing some serious scouting with one.   Leave the fishing rods at home and take the GPS or be able to get the weigh point numbers off of the drone's footage.

Fishingmickey

[Luke Barnes]

45 minutes ago, Fishingmickey said:

I think you could really tell a lot with a drone. You'd be able to see color changes from depth or bottom composition changes, current flows, creek channels/drains, subsurface vegetation, edges of weed lines, large boulders or structure, holes in behind reed patches. Water and light conditions would have to be right.  I could definitely see doing some serious scouting with one.   Leave the fishing rods at home and take the GPS or be able to get the weigh point numbers off of the drone's footage.

Fishingmickey

Exactly what I was thinking! With straight over head sun and little wind, fairly clear water you ought to be able to see drastic depth changes and vegetation, which can tell you alot about fishing. 

[fishwizzard]

I use Google earth constantly to scout spots, it’s one of my favorite ways to kill a little time in the evening when I can’t fall asleep. I don’t see how using a drone is much different, other than being able to zoom in and investigate individual laydowns.

[Deleted account]

Assuming one is a competent drone pilot, and has a decent drone, it could certainly be used to get a better and different view of a body of water, but unless there is very clear water, little chop and the right light conditions, you aren't going to see very far into the water. You will see grass lines, and depth and bottom changes based on surface color though, you may even see feeding schools and other such things that may also be helpful.

[corokid]

there are lots of rules in flying drones, Check with your local AMA flying club about rules of flying drones .Also go to FAA site and check there on the flying rules with drones. It best to know the rules than get caught breaking them

Larry

[schplurg]

I hope never to see a drone while I'm fishing. I did find a destroyed one in a lake last summer. The water level was dropping and it had been underwater. Made me laugh.

 

If it is quiet and high than I won't know the difference but I'd rather not encounter them when fishing. I think they could be somehat useful though.

[Luke Barnes]

10 hours ago, schplurg said:

I hope never to see a drone while I'm fishing. I did find a destroyed one in a lake last summer. The water level was dropping and it had been underwater. Made me laugh.

 

If it is quiet and high than I won't know the difference but I'd rather not encounter them when fishing. I think they could be somehat useful though.

Yeah I wouldn't be that guy buzzing people to see what they are throwing. I dont like fishing around other people either so I'm generally a ways off from others. I would take it straight up, look around and come back down and fish.

[scaleface]

I was fishing Table  Rock three years ago when I heard this humming . Looked up and sure enough there was a drone hovering above me . If someone was trying to find a good fishing spot , he was spying on the wrong angler .

[Crankin4Bass]

I've had the same thing happen where someone was flying a drone above me fishing. It's super annoying.

[Mike L]

It’ll be taking a nose dive if I had one flying above me anywhere!!

 

 

 

Mike

[Luke Barnes]

I doubt all those drone pilots werent fisherman to do that to you all. I respect the sanctity of fishing and would only do it if I was alone on the water and it wouldn't bother anyone. I hate people getting anywhere near me when I'm fishing. 

[Teal]

Google pro, you can look at previous images, I gravitate to the ones where the water is low and you can find contours and structures like stumps, brush piles, rock piles, and I have even seen an old road bed 

[Dwight Hottle]

I think the fad is much bigger on the saltwater side than fresh water. Scanning the coast line for feeding fish & migrating schools of sharks. Its like a fish finder view from above the water rather than below it.