Underwater Cameras In Alberta Lakes

[Poppa]

hey gang -- looking for a bit of advice on the viability of underwater cameras in AB......

We're thinking about getting an AquaVu for this year, but I've had a few people say that a lot of Alberta lakes are so murky, it makes cameras basically useless. I'd say we fish Buffalo Lake, Gull Lake, Eagle (by Strathmore), and maybe Sylvan, most of all in winter.

How many of you have underwater cameras and do you find that they work well for you where you fish? Is it worth the money?

[Evil69]

I have the Aqua VU 715c and my fishing partners have Marcum 785s. Both are good.

I use mine primarily to recon and view structure, I then switch to my sonar. I've found they are an awesome distraction for kids and people with limited patience(New fishermen).

They are a tool and if you can afford it and fish alot then go for it. Well worth the $$$

Cabelas will put their 715C bundle on sale again before Christmas. A good buy if you can get it for $379.

[Poppa]

I have the Aqua VU 715c and my fishing partners have Marcum 785s. Both are good.

I use mine primarily to recon and view structure, I then switch to my sonar. I've found they are an awesome distraction for kids and people with limited patience(New fishermen).

They are a tool and if you can afford it and fish alot then go for it. Well worth the $$$

Cabelas will put their 715C bundle on sale again before Christmas. A good buy if you can get it for $379.

Perfect! That's exactly what I was hoping to hear. Thanks for the advice!

[Ziggs]

I use one of the Eyoyo one's off Amazon, for $250 its awesome. My friend has the Aqua View and its just as good if not better. Wont fish without one now that I have used them. Very entertaining to see what's in the area and even better when you see the fish strike your bait.

[pikeman06]

Without a camera alot of lakes in alberta would appear void of all fish. Throw the camera down there and sure as hell a skinny little pike with some damage to his mouth will show up to give you faith once again....

[RACKER]

I have the aqua view and love using it.I have used it in Gull,Sylvan, and alot in Pigeon.I found it is very helpful understanding fish and how they are reacting to your presentation.I have watched walleye pick up my minnows that fell to bottom and ignore my bait 10 inches above them.Dropped the jig into the rocks and fish on within minutes!I also use it to check out structure before I decide to set up at that location.It is also fun to watch fish come and go.One day on Sylvan I watched 5 species move through the area while i fished.Watching a burbot swim by is a totally cool thing.I have never used or been with someone with a flasher or sonar so I cant give any opinions on that but I recommend getting a camera.Cabelas has the AV 715 with the mopod for 379. Enjoy the ice season cause I cant wait.good luck and be safe.

[PlayDoh]

I love my camera, yet don’t get to use it all that often due to visibility.
Forget using one at Eagle, it’s pea soup from top to bottom. Unless you want to see if your right on top of a rock, that’s it.
The rest of the lakes I Fish are hit or miss, except Newell which is always clear. Sometimes the current will cloud you out, and once it’s dusk or close to it, you’ll pack it up.
The one problem I have with cameras is that I tend to stare at them like I’m hypnotized. I have to have it straight in front of me or my neck will get jacked.
I have an older black and white marcum, and this year I got a cheap cctv PVR for $40 off AliExpress. Records on to SD cards, and it’s small and doesn’t use much power (12v).
I was using my phone pointed at the screen to record when the action was on, which was a pita and had visual noise (analog-digital).

Get ready for some fish porn this winter, lol.

FWI you can get decent cameras off eBay or AliExpress for around $150. Some have the option of a PVR also. Pretty sure they have the same CMOS sensor (camera) as all the rest, yet you risk quality control, and forget support or warranty.

Oh ya, and kids love em. I got another one at a garage sale for cheap, so now they can leave me alone, lol.

[PlayDoh]

Word to your mom, grab a can of ‘flex seal’ and mask off the lens part of the camera and spray the rest of the body and the last 6 or so inches of cable. Repeat it every month or more.
The guy I got my marcum off of had 2 cameras. He said one was fogging up and Marcum sent him a replacement. It was ages since the leaking one had seen water so I sprayed it and epoxied the part where the cable entered the camera. Hasn’t fogged since and the marcum camera has 2 ports for cameras, so I can use both at the same time.
“Camera 1, Camera 2, Camera 1....... lol (Wayne’s world)

[sns2]

Its nice for kids and to pass time if you are bored. I had a marcum and traded it to an AO member for a flasher. The picture was very clear.

[dutchpirate]

Make sure you pick up the tripod support for the cable. Makes it a LOT easier to point the camera in the direction you want it to go. I just have the manual one, a buddy has the remote powered one. Only issue with the remote ones is when batteries die.

[CNP]

Cameras are great entertainment and educational devices for sure. They provide lessons on how fish react to your offering.

If someone told you that you could only have a camera or a flasher for ice fishing, what would be your response?

This is hypothetical of course because you can buy whatever you want whenever you want, if you have the resources.

However, as a fishing tool, a flasher outshines a camera all day long. A camera will only see the fish where you point the camera, it cannot see fish behind, to the side, below or above and is limited by the length of it's cable, which is also susceptible to entanglement with fishing line. On the other hand, a flasher will detect fish 360 degrees throughout the entire water column, within the cone it is operating.

[Amateur Hunter]

How high of the bottom do you usually set your camera?

[CNP]

How high of the bottom do you usually set your camera?


It's pointed at your bait...……..so same depth as your bait

[calgarygringo]

Flasher/fish finder will always show you fish. Camera is great for educating you on how they react, finding structure before you setup and don't forget they work well in summer too. Many of the fish finders now have a built in flasher mode as well and gps which is nice for finding your locations.

Also learn how to hook up your camera to look down not straight ahead. Some fish like whites I find are a little spooked with the camera looking at them and if you can raise it up and hook the fin it will look down and it does not bother them. Good trick to learn on the Aqua Vue cameras.

Bottom line get both and you are set for all. There are reasons for both but if you can only afford one get the flasher/finder first then camera.

[Stonecutter]

... but if you can only afford one get the flasher/finder first then camera.

Couldn't agree more with this statement.

I have a camera. And a flasher. I bought the flasher first and immediately caught more fish.

The camera shows how finicky they can be and if it's what you're doing that turns them away or has them want to hook up.

If you have kids the camera is a big hit.

[SamSteele]

However, as a fishing tool, a flasher outshines a camera all day long. A camera will only see the fish where you point the camera, it cannot see fish behind, to the side, below or above and is limited by the length of it's cable, which is also susceptible to entanglement with fishing line. On the other hand, a flasher will detect fish 360 degrees throughout the entire water column, within the cone it is operating.


I would disagree with this somewhat, depending on visibility. In water under 20 feet deep your flasher cone won’t be much bigger than 6 feet at the bottom. I’n my experience I am able to see much farther with my camera than the 3 foot radius around my hole. I have added an Aqua Vu MoPod so I can scan the area, which helps me determine if there are fish in a much larger area than the 6 foot circle that the flasher shows.

If I’m hole hopping and the fish are active, a flasher is perfect. If I’m in a tent or trying to figure out what brings a fish in I would want a camera.

I bought a camera first as I have kids and it is great to keep them entertained. I still use it pretty much every time I go out. I set it up and then use my flasher as I hole hop.

[SNAPFisher]

I would disagree with this somewhat, depending on visibility. In water under 20 feet deep your flasher cone won’t be much bigger than 6 feet at the bottom. I’n my experience I am able to see much farther with my camera than the 3 foot radius around my hole. I have added an Aqua Vu MoPod so I can scan the area, which helps me determine if there are fish in a much larger area than the 6 foot circle that the flasher shows.

If I’m hole hopping and the fish are active, a flasher is perfect. If I’m in a tent or trying to figure out what brings a fish in I would want a camera.

I bought a camera first as I have kids and it is great to keep them entertained. I still use it pretty much every time I go out. I set it up and then use my flasher as I hole hop.

X2. All the cam bashers on here don't get it. I guarantee I catch way more perch, pike, walleye and especially burbot fishing with a cam then without or with a flasher. These non-shy species actually seem more curious when they see a cam, not cautious. The subtlety of the bite you will never get with a flasher. I've watched what works and what doesn't work even on huge pike to get them to bite. You are not going to get that with flasher. The visual provides the additional entertainment that cannot be understated.
As well, fish uneven ground, which is pretty common, and your flasher will only pick up the nearest bottom. So you could be missing the last foot or more of action.

[Dweb]

All these posts about cameras is making me want one.

So many pros to the camera I never thought about until reading this thread.

[SamSteele]

How high of the bottom do you usually set your camera?



Some cameras allow you to point them straight down or at a 45 degree angle, so you can keep them higher if you find the fish are camera shy.

For pike, Walleye, and perch I like to run the camera level with my bait but about 6 feet away. I usually drill three holes in the shape of a hockey stick with the camera in the “blade”. That way I can see baits in both holes without one blocking the other.

[slingshotz]

I've had quite a few times where I could see a fish on the camera mouth the hook without moving it so there would be no way you would have known to set the hook just by feel or even with a flasher.

I usually use a combination by using the camera first to see what the structure is like, then the flasher for a while to see what average depth the fish are crusing around at, then set the camera at that depth.

Both devices have its place but I find the camera much more interesting when the fishing is a bit slow and you're in a tent.

Flasher is awesome for running and gunning different holes/depths whereas the camera is a pain in the ass if you like to move around a lot.

[fishhawk1650]

I agree with a lot of what is written above. I have both a camera and a flasher and each has its purpose. The flasher works great looking for a certain depth through clear ice up to about 24” without cutting holes. Works in murky or deeper water.
In my opinion, the camera is invaluable when fishing. You see fish mouthing the bait and not take it. You can see them swim by with it 6” off bottom but pick up minnows right on bottom. You can see them swim away and then set hook when they grab bait. You can entice fish to bite sometimes with very subtle movements or hold extremely still by watching what fish do.
Lots of times I put my flasher in a hole to see if fish are in upper water column but generally I have a hole 5ft from my camera and then another hole about 4ft to the side of that hole. That way I can see both baits and see what is happening. Pigeon is generally clear enough for camera down to about 22ft where we fish. Wizard can be murky at times depending where you go.
I really enjoy the camera and have some great experiences and funny moments especially with pike. Get what you can afford. I have Marcum in both and love them.

[Amateur Hunter]

Some cameras allow you to point them straight down or at a 45 degree angle, so you can keep them higher if you find the fish are camera shy.

For pike, Walleye, and perch I like to run the camera level with my bait but about 6 feet away. I usually drill three holes in the shape of a hockey stick with the camera in the “blade”. That way I can see baits in both holes without one blocking the other.

Is there any other way to explain that hockey stick system holes :angry3:
I am as good understanding hockey as Oilers are 🤷🏻*♂️

[SamSteele]

Imagine three holes in a straight line, all about three feet apart. Now move just one of the end holes about one foot off that straight line and use that one for the camera. This allows the camera to see both boats without one being behind the other.

[Amateur Hunter]

Imagine three holes in a straight line, all about three feet apart. Now move just one of the end holes about one foot off that straight line and use that one for the camera. This allows the camera to see both boats without one being behind the other.

Thanks SS, that was easier to understand than today's hockey

[SamSteele]

Thanks SS, that was easier to understand than today's hockey



Glad it helped. I also just realized that it autocorrected “baits” to “boats” in my earlier post. Sorry about that.

[Jack&7]

Is there any other way to explain that hockey stick system holes :angry3:
I am as good understanding hockey as Oilers are ����*♂️

This is how I set it up in my four man tent...

I do the same in my 6 man, but can do it at both ends with two cams. The cam catches both baits in both holes (which are about 5 feet apart in the tent).The cam hole is about 4-5 feet away from the closest hole...so keep that in mind if you are in poor vis water.

The cam and mopod or whatever you use to point the cam goes into the outside hole...cables run under the skirt to the milk crate to set your monitor on between both fishermen...and you both can use it now.

To aim your cam, but the biggest brightest lure you have at the depth you want...and then rotate your cam until you have both on screen. If you have no remote and just use a homemade cam plate, get your buddy to yelp when he sees both baits while you rotate it outside.

[Alex Kreis]

I have used underwater cameras for years and they work great in most Alberta lakes. Visibility was rarely ever a concern on the lakes we used them. As a matter of fact I can't recall a lake that was to murky in the winter to use them. The water always seems a bit clearer in the winter than the summer months anyway. So go get one and have fun. We went through quite a few aqua-views and I now have a Marcum which has been great.

Alex Kreis

[FrozenFish]

I've never used an underwater camera and wonder if I'd be able to see fish or structure in 20' or 30' of water under the ice and snow, in a clear lake. Or would it be too dark to see anything.

Thanks.

[SamSteele]

I've never used an underwater camera and wonder if I'd be able to see fish or structure in 20' or 30' of water under the ice and snow, in a clear lake. Or would it be too dark to see anything.



Thanks.



I use mine to 25’ under the ice and can see fine. My rig may switch from color to black and white at that depth, but no issues seeing fish or structure.

[FrozenFish]

Do they work well in the cold, meaning not in a tent or hut. I seem to do all my fishing without a shelter. Do some work better outside than others?

Thanks.

[SamSteele]

Do they work well in the cold, meaning not in a tent or hut. I seem to do all my fishing without a shelter. Do some work better outside than others?







Thanks.







No issues with functionality, but the screen can be hard to see in bright sunlight.

ETA: I uploaded a video I took last winter on Pigeon Lake to my YouTube channel so I could put a link here. Hope it helps.

https://youtu.be/b8dMkZvXvfw

[Jack&7]

I've never used an underwater camera and wonder if I'd be able to see fish or structure in 20' or 30' of water under the ice and snow, in a clear lake. Or would it be too dark to see anything.

Thanks.

Well, I am happy to report that I had one of my cams down in Spray Lakes to a depth of 106'

clear as a bell and good vis once the sun came up.