Iceing Walleyes with an underwater camera?

[MuskieJunkie]

I apologize if this topic has been on here before, I searched for it and couldn’t find anything.

Obviously walleye are the most finicky of the scaled species and I am sure they wouldn’t like to see a camera staring at them while they are trying to eat dinner. A resort owner on Mille Lacs once told me that walleye “don’t like the cameras.” I am just wondering what experience guys have with this on the ice. Any stories like “we were catching them left and right, then we dropped the camera down and they all scattered” or “I have never had a problem catching them with the camera right there”. Does using the vertical option on the camera and keeping it high in the water column help? Just looking for some input to pass the time as we wait for the water to freeze.

[nofishfisherman]

The one time I used a camera on Mille Lacs I had a walleye swim up to the camera to check it out. Its the only one I saw that day but it didn't seem bothered by it.

Maybe this one fish I saw was either more brave or dumber then the other walleye so I can't make a generalization.

It seems that setting it up in a vertical position might be a good option. Since most of the walleye will be in the bottom foot or two you could easily set the camera to look down from maybe 6 feet off the bottom and take the camera out of their immediate territory.

[walleyes12]

Through my experience with cameras and walleyes I noticed that I don't catch as many with the camera in the water. You can see the walleyes roaming around the outside of your holes being suspicious of the camera. Anyways I perfer to pull the camera right before the "Prime Time"

[Walleye Guy]

I have noticed that the lights (any lights) on a camera seem to scare walleyes away. I have seen many walleyes on my camera during non-prime time hours when I wasn't using a the light. Most were not interested in my near by bait however. I don't know if that was due to the time of the day or the fact that the camera was down.

[beer batter]

I've caught walleyes while watching on the camera so it doesn't scare them all away. Will you catch more without a camera - my guess would be yes. But it is cool watching them.

[Jim Hudson]

Yeah, in my experience, 'eyes seem to be more on guard when coming into a lure with a camera body also lurking nearby. I use my Aqua Vu quite a bit in the winter months, but mainly to search out spot on spot areas and such. So after I locate it, I pull up the camera and fish with my flasher.

[fisherdog19]

What about when using an aqua vu fish style camera. I have had great luck with them while panfishing, they seem to draw the fish in.

Fisherdog

[mr d]

i have the fake fish on my camera. great for checking structure and watching pan fish (faster hook set) and when i see a northern come into view (when not in season) i move out of the house and fish 30 + yards away then come back to the portable. Also, I was watching a spoon...gave it a snap and POW--------- a huge EYE out of no where just nailed it,,,,i felt nothing at the moment but took in the slack and the hook was set.the fish was stricking upward. very cool experience....

[Jim Hudson]

Fisherdog

Even with the fish camera, on most occasions, the walleyes seem to be more wary when snooping in and around the area. Always have those times with suicidal fish that just want to eat. But were talking ice fishing here, and at most times, the fish can be quite neutral or off. So anything to up my odds on catching them is what I will do. So up and out of the water comes the camera after I am done searching for ol marble 'eyes.

[fisherdog19]

Sounds good. I spend most of my winter, except for early ice, chasing panfish so I don't have too much experience with a camera and walleye fishing. The panfish don't seem to mind the fish shaped camera at all!!

[MuskieJunkie]

Thanks for all the info guys, next time I get into a school of walleyes on the ice I am going to drop the camera down a different hole and see what happens.

[joe joe]

i have had a camera for 6-8 years now. i have has fish swim under it, bump it never tried to eat it yet waiting for it though. just don't turn the lights on well i have 6 green 4red something like that. if you think it scares fish cut a J slot in the back fin. so you can use it as a down viewer if you hang it right like at a 45* angle and you can see out a little more

[moses321]

i have tryed the under water camera many times and what i have found is go to your local walmart in the pet department and find some kinda aqurium plants and wrap around the bottom and write up the line... have had many walleyes come in and sit rite by it...i have mine wrapped about 4 feet up so it looks like a weed down there

[clamtrap]

That is a really great idea thanks for the information I'm going to wal-mart to get some camo for my camera thanks

[huntingislife]

Quote:

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i have tryed the under water camera many times and what i have found is go to your local walmart in the pet department and find some kinda aqurium plants and wrap around the bottom and write up the line... have had many walleyes come in and sit rite by it...i have mine wrapped about 4 feet up so it looks like a weed down there

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Or just buy the Reel Weeds (Structure on a String) camera cable weeds. Its only like $10-12 and will work a lot better than that wally world stuff. I have it for my camera and the walleyes dont seem to mind at all. I just iced a bunch of them this last week while watching them on the camera.

[clamtrap]

I have never had the camera scare fish away I've had walleyes come right up to it and bump there nose on it, but if you have fish there and you turn the light on they will be gone.

[Tadpoletodd]

I was reading this thread and had an idea! Has anyone tried rigging the fishing camera to point downward over the bait??? The camera would be farther from the bait and possibly out of the sight-line of fish near the bait. It was just a thought and probably has been tried and/or already talked about at some time.

[crestliner16]

where can you buy reel weeds (structure on a string)At?

[Bobb-o]

Quote:

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I was reading this thread and had an idea! Has anyone tried rigging the fishing camera to point downward over the bait??? The camera would be farther from the bait and possibly out of the sight-line of fish near the bait. It was just a thought and probably has been tried and/or already talked about at some time.

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All the newer aqua-vus come with a downviewing fin

[huntingislife]

Quote:

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where can you buy reel weeds (structure on a string)At?

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thorne bros

[clamtrap]

Is structure on a string legal to use?

[ec30_06]

Yes. SOS is legal

[clamtrap]

Thank you very much I'm going to check it out to see if it's going to be worth it. Tankss much

[Casaloma]

Last year 'Perch A Rama ' I was fishing perch on Sliver flats directly next ( 15 ft ) to my buddy BlackJackDavey & all I got on the AQ View Scout was med. to small perch. All the morning he Hammered the eyes ( Last day of season last year ). I didn't see an eye on camera that was rigged vertical at 6' in 16'.

I have a bias: Perch fishin' = Yes, Eye fishin = No on cam's.

Later- CLoma

[joe joe]

go to hot spot outdoors for the weeds that you put on your camra cord they have a link there