Aqua view ZT series... comments, reviews???

[mrwalleye_13]

Just couldn't hold back on spending college money and bought a new toy yesterday. Aqua view ZT50 series. I like it a lot so far and i am wondering if anyone has seen or heard any negatives or postives about it? I was using it in lake vermillion today and for those of you who know lake vermillion, it is a semi stained lake and there are walleyes. I am wondering if anyone has felt that the lights on the camera scare the fish? I did get to see some eyes' on there, but it seemed like they turned up more when i turned it off and watched the vexilar... thoguhts, comments, personal experiences... thanks alot guys.

[Wables]

I bought a ZT50 this week as well. Unfortunately I only got to use it for about a half an hour on the ice. Actually put it together while fishing out of my portable. In that 1/2 hour I made a fantastic discovery. I had a half dozen holes drilled on a large mud flat in 26-28 FOW. I was only marking fish in one of the holes. Underneath that hole was about 30 clams sticking out of the mud. Pretty neat! I never would have know that by just using my Vex.

It's nice to see another Eveleth native here! (I know that there are several) I graduated in '94, and have lived in the UP of Michigan ever since.

[only-eyes]

I don't know if I'm hard on equiptment or what, but i am on my second aquaview. when my first one's cabels snapped where it enters the unit in the cold, they told me they couldn't fix it so i ended up trading in my old unit and upgrading for another $170 bucks, and the system was set up a little different so the cables were a little more protected, but the same thing happened, but i can fix this one myself at least. Has anyone else had this problem? When i'm running and gunning holes, i don't have time to gently set my stuff aside and tuck it away, it gets tossed in and off i go. plus 4-wheeler rides across miles of lake will bounce things around a little too. Other than that, they are great tools to have in the arsenal. I have found that even with all of the claims that the fish aren't bothered by the camera, in my experience they seem to be. I have watched countless walleyes fly in and act very spooky with the camera down, yes i can get a few to go, but when i pull the camera up i can definately say more bite. The best use I have found for the cameras is finding bottom transisions from one composition to another, and this alone makes the cameras well worth while. Walleyes seem to move up on structure and travel along these transision areas which are easily found with any underwater camera. Once I have located a few money spots I'll pop holes and work the spots on the spot which I could have never found with out the use of the camera. They are nice to have. hope this helps, and good luck.

[mrwalleye_13]

Well since the post i have played around a little more, I can now say they aren't scared of it, crappies at least. But they certainly bite more when its not down or the light is off. I have gotten a little bit of harrassment from my friends but tough dump. Its not always as helpful when fishing as it is entertaining. And the best part is understanding the structure better and being able to see how far or close the fish on your vexilar actually are.

[Josh8481]

Only-Eyes, did the cable itself snap, or did the connector going into the monitor get bent/broken? I had that problem with the MX2C or whatever model that is when I first bought it. They recommend that you disconnect the cable from the monitor every time you transport it, although that is a hassle. The stores aren't supposed to return it if the connector is broken, although I was able to get mine returned because the "camera expert" wasn't working that night. Also, make sure the connector is solidly locked in as well, I made that mistake once and bent the connector as well. I don't know if this is the same problem you had, just throwing it out there...

[Matt Johnson]

I've used the ZT model several times and its a nice camera. Biggest problem I have is that I have a hard time getting the camera to hold still on one spot, it likes to keep spinning. The rotational features of the MarCum OVS 560 and the 4 directional viewing of the Aqua Vu Quad 360 are very nice and save a person a lot of trouble in my opinion. Just makes things easier. But, I've have no complaints with the ZT Series as far as camera quality is concerned. I don't have a lot of experience using it after dark or in stained water, but in clear or moderately-clear water it works just fine. It's definitely a good buy for the price.

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Josh8481]

Matt, was that you're camera you were using or a customers/rental? I assume you of all people know this kind of stuff, so this is for other people with the camera too, but the little holes on the side of the cable "reel" do a pretty good job of holding the cable still, assuming you loop it up through the one, and down through the other. Although you have to set it to the left or right of where you want it, to compensate for the memory of the cable unwinding, but it's not to bad once you get used to it. Also, I am sure you know about those tripods they sell at Capra's, as well as the Mo-Pod. I think both of those do a decent job as well.

[Matt Johnson]

Thanks Josh. I'll keep playing around with it. I guess I'm a little impatient at times out there on the ice

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Zaraspooks]

I used my new ZT last night for the first time. I agree, I was having a real hard time keeping the camera in one spot. It kept turning and I was not able to keep it on my bait. As for the light feature. I noticed that once I used that feature, the camera was attracting small bugs due to the light. After a while I got tired of trying to keep it from turning away from my lure so I shut it down. Whithin 5 minutes I had iced 2 walleyes. Not sure if it was the camera or not. I'll keep trying. Maybe I need to get one of those tripods.

[Duffer]

zara,

try getin a tripod for it it helps a ton.\

does the ZT have the direction the camera is pointing feature on it looking at geting one and really want that feature.

[Zaraspooks]

Duffer -

My ZT-50 does not have the directional arrow but it does have the temperature reading on the screen.

I went to Joe's today and talked to them about the problems I was having and, since I just bought it fron Joe's, they gave me a free tripod. I played with it tonight in the garage and I think it will solve my problem. Can't wait to get back on the ice to try it out.

[river-rat4]

The tripod is nice, but won't help with suspended fish.

[skinnylee]

has anybody tryed the scout package got the ok from wife to purchase a camera so looking for opinion price range 200-350

[mrwalleye_13]

i'll have to agree with that. The camera has a hard time stayin still, how much one of them tripods cost? I've already spent how much on it so whats the difference i guess. It seems to work in certain siuations with or without the light. It just depends i guess even though i am still new to it. either way don't get discouraged if u think the light is bothering the fish.. any underwater camera helps so much when looking for structure and just plain understanding whats going on underwater. Just think of where you were the day before you bought the camera. I personally think we expect way too much out of the camera. I am satisfied though.

[Josh8481]

If I am not mistaken, I think they are around $15-20 at Capra's, and probably similarly priced elsewhere. The Mo-Pod by aqua-vu is $100, and that is the motorized one where you can spin it around by remote control. As for what you were saying, I agree, the flasher really is the key for ice fishing, but the camera, no matter what the light conditions, does a very good job of letting you know what kind of bottom composition there is and whatnot. And it sure is fun to sit and watch the fish react to your lure while it's down there!

[mrwalleye_13]

devils lake... first time fishing it today.. stayed up all night at college and left at 430, the only fish i caught today was aperch out of our 4 diff spots. That perch was pretty much caught by the AQUA view. fish that are curious enough to come under the camera are awesome. You can work them, with my vexilar i might have had a chance but just watching the fish and how it reacted to my movements were awesome. It really gives u an idea of how the fish react to your lure and jigging action

[Josh8481]

Yeah, exactly. It's fun, and frustrating at the same time, to see some panfish around the camera, then you spin it around and see a pike slowly crawling by eyeing up the fish. Not to mention, it's a great way to see what the fish want you to put down there for them. Flashers work nice for seeing "fish" down there, but the camera is nice to verify your "walleye" isn't really a sucker or other bottom feeder. Does your model have the Spectral Response lighting? The Scout I have only has the infrared, so the night viewing isn't the best, although still fun nonetheless.

Kinda funny, my friend and I just started fishing this year, and we've already accumulated a lot of nice equipment, just wish that would all make me a better fisherman as far as techniques and whatnot. I guess that's where practice comes into play though. Good luck with your camera.

[mrwalleye_13]

Yea mine has the SR lighting. I like it, but still a little worried it might be scaring the fish away. What kind of hard plastic fish has lights shinning brightly out of its mouth, fish are somewhat dumb but geez. All i can say is the sexy vexi and the aqua make an awesome fishing machine. It would be hard to go back to the old waiting technique.