Walleyes and Underwater Cameras

[Fuzzbient]

I've been using an Aqua-Vu for a while now to help me locate structure and fish along with a Vex and GPS. It's really helping me understand what's going on down there.

One thing I'm wondering about is if others are finding walleyes are generally spooked by a cam down the hole. I do see them swim in and then swim away frequently. I've also noticed that if I turn up the headlights on the cam, this does scare them off quickly. What are you guys seeing as the response to a cam in the vicinity of your bait?

[hhguide]

Their a great machine. In my portable what I do is drill a hole about 3 or 4 Feet way from all my lines. (usually shallower and almost try and hide it in the weeds. I think thats my best way to go about it. I think it does make the walleyes alittle spooky but its fun to watch them bite! I have a buddy that clips his so its pointing vertical down the hole so hes watching from above. I have never tried that but it sounds like it could work.

[PerchJerker]

Good ideas Drake.

I usually don't use my camera when walleye fishing, due to the spooking factor.

[AndyM]

I was using my camera on Sunday, while fishing for walleyes. My camera was right at the bottom and about 3' away from the hole I was fishing. The walleyes didn't get spooked from what I could tell. Great learning tool for fishing.

[Fuzzbient]

It is fun to watch them come in and see how they react to lures. I'll have to try the angle change and get a view from above to see how that works. Great idea!

[beer batter]

I used to think the camera spooked the walleyes, but I haven't noticed any difference with my camera down compared to when I pull it up. It's cool watching them swim around looking at all the baits, and trying to determine what makes them interested in one bait over another. Great learning tool, and fun way to waste time on the ice.

[BuckKiller]

I always use the downward view so that I can keep it 3-4 feet above my bait. haven't had any problems with scaring fish

[Lakehopper]

I havent noticed any spooking probs with the camera with the lights off. But lights on is a no go. They are good for checking things out in deep, stained, or heavily snow covered water. But the fish are most deffinitaly scared of the lights.

[Fuzzbient]

I've noticed the light problem too. I experimented with that a bit once I had some walleyes in view. As I turned the lights up they ran for the hills leaving a trail of dust.

[Foreverfish1]

I agree with the downward viewing angle, it seem's the fish don't even know the camera there. Whenever i have the camera at the depth of the lure however it does seem the walleyes are spooked more than most other fish. The lights are a no go too, which others have mentioned, as it seems to spook fish away.

[hitthebricks]

I've never used the camera with a light but when fishing at night on 20"+ of ice I drill a hole about 2/3 the way through and set a Collman lantern in it to illuminate a 15' dia circle of ice. Works great when fishing with bobbers and also seems to attract the crappies very well but the eyes will only come to the edge of the light.

HTB

[Jaspernuts]

When viewing from above are u fishing out of the same hole? How do you prevent tangling when catching a fish. I would like to know more about that technique.

[Fuzzbient]

I've been dropping the cam down a hole that's a few feet away from the one with the line. This isn't 100% free from tangles but it's better. With the wide angle from above you get a pretty cool view of what's happening down there.