Aqua-vu advice?

[RBuker]

My wife and I just got into ice fishing after MANY years away from it. For fun, we bought an aqua-vu scout underwater camera. It's fine for daytime but blanks out pretty bad during that magical hour right around sundown.

We have heard that the scout 2 is better for low light and night time use due to their multi-colored lights. We are considering buying one of those in hopes we'd be able to see better when the walleye bite gets hot.

Can anyone offer their opinions on this unit?

Thanks in advance.

Randy

[edkirkman]

I just got a Scout 2 and used it fishing the other day for walleye. I was not very impressed. I could make out the bottom near the camera but not very well and that was all I could see. Went out the next morning right at sunrise and I could not make out anything. Once the sun was up I could see w/o any problems.

The lake I was fishing doesn't have the best visibility anyway (4 feet or so) but I really did not find my light very helpful.

[iceman62]

I have an aquavu also and have the same problem in low light conditions. I heard that the marcum underwater cameras work much better in these conditions. It has a light that is above the camera lens so you don't get the reflection from plankton, small organisms or junk in the lake hence giving you more viewing distance.

[anyfishwilldo]

I've got a Marcum, and they suck as well. Stick with the scout, and spend the extra money elsewhere, like an H2Oc GPS, or something of the like.

[mrmanners]

Marcum is okay and better as far as the light position goes but it still a camera that depends on outside light and visability of the lake. I had a scout and bought the 560 and the features are much nicer but for night fishing buy the flasher and have the camera for day.

[B420]

None of the camera's work at night/sundown even with the infared lights. Is all they do is light up the particles in the water so it looks like "snow" on the camera. Put the camera away before primetime.

[Flaco651]

I would pick up a Vexilar or Marcum flasher if you don't have one and just stick with the camera you already have. Use the camera while setting up, find some good structure to fish around before primetime. Have fun with the camera while catching pike & panfish, then around primetime take the camera out and rely on a flasher. I don't know if its true, but some say eyes kind of shy away or are cautious around the cameras. I don't own an aqua vu, just a vexilar. My buddy has both and before dark he finds the same problem with visibility. After that he just relies on his flasher. That is gonna show ya everything you need to know, depth, fish, and your lure.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Its really going to depend on the water quality. The SR lights on the Scout 2 is better than the infra red lights on the Regular scout. Yet most water qualities are not good enough to do a lot of evening viewing. I use mine to set up on the spot and then put it away for walleye fishing at night. Its quite possible to see them during the day however as stated.

[fishingman93]

i have never seen a fish on my scout 2 after dark. the vex says there down there but i cant see them. and the only way you would be able to see one when its dark is if shines off the lights. also when the dark starts to set in it seems like the little water bugs or what ever those things are, are attracted to the lights so all in all its hard to see at night but works great dureing the day.

[Minnetonka]

I am OK with the quality of the picture from my new Scout II, but I hate the knobs that you must use to pull the handle out and adjust it. Mine are very tight and hard to grab when my fingers are cold. Do others feel the same way??

[fishingman93]

I also hate that. i normally bring a flat head screwdriver with. and after puling those out a couple times your fingers get raw.

[RBuker]

That's what I was afraid of. But, you guys just saved me about a hundred bucks.

Beer is on me!