New Aqua Vu "Fish" Cameras

[Wables]

Have any of you used the new A-V cameras that look like a fish? I am going to buy a camera this weekend and am wondering how they work. I primarily fish LBDN in Michigan, and there are times when there is a lot of current. I am worried about the camera getting carried away. Will the OVS cameras handle the current better? Thanks!

[Dingo]

The newer OVS cameras come with a heavy weight system. I saw them at the ice show. That 560 is a sweet camera!! If I was in the market to buy a camera it would be a 560 no doubt.

I saw the fish ones you are talking about, it looked like a joke to me. That is only personal opinion though. Looked like something made to catch "fisherman" not fish.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Wables, the fish camera is no joke.. its actually much more streamline than Aqua Vu's last camera and will work in current much better. They have a weighting system and a fin that will keep your camera from knuckling in the water, your only disavantage will be that you will not be able to rotate the camera in a curent.

[Dingo]

Exude, how does that "fish" Aqua Vu perfrom at 2 MPH in the open water? Are you able to view to the side at all?

[Stradic]

Exude, the "fish" part of the camera is a joke. The unit as a whole, might not be. As often as regular underwater cameras get attacked by fish now, why in the world would they design, and would people buy, a camera shaped like a baby sunny??????

[hanson]

There is no doubt the VS560 is an awesome camera. I'm still waiting for mine to come in the mail, anyday now so I hear.

I would like to mention that if you can't afford a 560, Marcum makes the VS460 which is an identical camera without the remote control, depth reading, and directional arrow pointer. The camera is the same, the lights are the same, the camera pans in the same manner but you have to use the controls on the unit rather than the remote control. The Cabelas in East Grand Forks has 4 or 5 on the floor right now and I was giving it a good look over and test drive today. I would have probably bought the 460 in a heartbeat if my 560 wasn't coming.

[jrsue]

I've been using the new 560 marcum and it is very cool indeed. this is my first camera and i must say its hard to imagine not being able to pan or not having a direction arrow. both of these features are a must have. the process of simply finding your bait is not that easy, and would be totally frustrating without the panning ability. also with the directional arrow you know the general area you need to look for your bait. believe its harder than you think finding your bait when the water isnt very clear and you have only a view of maybe 3ft. once your locked in simply note where the arrow is pointing and if you need to move things you can quickly find yourself again.

first i only fished with the 560, then i set up the lx3 and this is the ultimate set up. with the flasher you can tell if fish are in the vacinity and then locate them with the panning 560.

the 2nd time time out the ultimate scenario played itself out. I noticed a large red blob on the lx3 but it wouldnt come into view. after a few minutes of coaxing it finally came closser, i could tell from the size of the red mark it was a big fish, thought pike,next it came into view of the camera , it was a huge walleye, he came up to the chub and just looked at it ,then sucked it in , i coud tell from the camera he had it good, but he didnt, i lost him in seconds. dissipointed i reeled in and rebaited 5in cheb, he came back looked at it and sucked it in again , this time i did have him good. My first ten lb walleye. Ya I coulda done the same thing with just the flasher, but the camera made very very cool indeed.

[Matt Johnson]

I've had the chance to use the ZT Series from Aqua Vu that has the fish camera this winter and I happen to like the fish camera concept. I've had several occasions where fish, ranging from pannies to bass, pike and walleyes, swim right up to it and actually stick around and watch the camera for minutes. The fish are definitely not afraid of the fish camera, I've yet to see a fish dart away from the camera. I've actually watched a lot of fish get drawn in by the camera then fish that have shunned away. I've noticed that the fish stick around longer when the camera is down there too.

So, does the fish camera work? I think so. I don't have any clue how it would work in the open water or with current, I haven't had a situation like that yet, but it does work under the ice.

The MarCum 560 has something that I believe is a step above the ZT Series though. The ability to rotate the camera with the push of a button is very nice. And the fact that it rotates below the ice on the actual camera is even better. You don't have to mess with anything above the ice and worry about things freezing and what not.

The MarCum 560 and the Aqua Vu Quad 360 are both top end cameras and have excelled in their field. The Quad 360 is constantly looking in four different directions and you are looking at a screen that is split up into four different sections, which allows you to view all four directions. This is something that can be very usefull during a variety of situations.

So, to compare and contrast MarCum and Aqua Vu, they both have great characteristics and they both can help the angler learn a lot about whats below the ice.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Deitz Dittrich]

Dingo-If the boat is moving at 2 mph you would not be able to turn the camera off to the side. The fin on the back of the camera would keep it facing forwards.

Stradic- Its "not" a joke. The camera is designed to be a "decoy" it is reinforeced with 300 lb kevlar, there is not a fish in minnesota that could dammage that cable or camera. As a matter of fact I would love to have footage of the inside of a fishes mouth... That might just be my goal for the season! Having an extra decoy in the water, I dont see how it could hurt you!

[sdghsdgj]

i have one and im not sure wether to add a ballast weight or a No. 1/0 Treble hook hehehe

j/k