Northwest Fishing Reports

Anyone ever use a fish cam? The one they have set up and Cabellas looks cool but I wonder how viable it is in real life?

This guy had on at Offut the other day it was super clear but so is the water I don't know how they do in stained water.

they are ok. i have one but after the first week i got it, it pretty much sat in the garage. yeah, it's nice to dip that camera down there to see what the bottom looks like or some structure, but it gets boring real quick. plus, i could either spend all day dropping that camera up and down OR i could be fishing. i'd rather fish then watch t.v.

bigbasstaz has a point, they do not work as well in darker water. yes, they do have infra-red (IR) lights, but that only gets you out 3 feet or so on average. they are much better suited for ice fishing, IMO. so when you're out there freezing your butt off and not catching any fish at least you can watch your worm wiggle....

I was curious . . . .

1)are you guys using the camera on a downrigger as you troll, or over the side as you stiil fish? It seems as though the camera will pretty much be under the boat but does it look where you are looking if you are moving along casting out to the shore?

2) does the camera tangle?

3) does the camera "look" where you aim it or does it swing wherever?


I always thought they would be cool but as the Other Rolland says, I too don't need any new toys to distract me from continuing to catch nothing peacefully!

[b wrote:Rollin with Rolland[/b]
"so when you're out there freezing your butt off and not catching any fish at least you can watch your worm wiggle...."

That might be enough reason by itself to get one then...

I had one that NAFC had and sent it back. It was neat but early on I could tell that with one of these I am missing at least 50 casts a day. So i would rather fish than fiddle with. My buddy brings his in my boat sometimes and likes using it but I have already boated fish before he even picks up his rod because he is playing with that camera!

Micropterus wrote:I was curious . . . .

1)are you guys using the camera on a downrigger as you troll, or over the side as you stiil fish? It seems as though the camera will pretty much be under the boat but does it look where you are looking if you are moving along casting out to the shore?

2) does the camera tangle?

3) does the camera "look" where you aim it or does it swing wherever?


I always thought they would be cool but as the Other Rolland says, I too don't need any new toys to distract me from continuing to catch nothing peacefully!

Micropterus....

1) mostly still fishing. i have a cheaper version, so there are no "controls"...pretty much just dangles. the cameras are actually weighted and streamlined for trolling up to 2mph. so i had this great idea to put it on the downrigger and watch my flasher....yeah right. with a DR cable, fishing line, AND camera cable...WAY to much to deal with. plus at 1.5mph, so many bubbles and currents you couldn't see your flasher 10ft away.

2) not if you're still fishing, but moving is a whole different story (plus, an extra 50 ft of cable, pain in the butt)

3)some fancy models do, but not mine. i am skeptical about how those work as well....

i will say my last idea (which i will try this weekend) is to use it for crabbing....i may be able to sink that baby down there and see if i should pull or not. if that doesn't work, i have a underwater camera for sale....cheap!!