The Benefits of an Underwater Fishing Camera

Until recently, it has been difficult for anglers to understand what goes on beneath the water’s surface when fishing. With the advent of underwater fishing cameras it is now possible to see exactly what the fish are up to allowing us to better predict their behavior and subsequently improve our lure selection and approach to the water.

There are a wide range of underwater fishing camera systems on the market today with a system for every angler. Even the most budget conscious angler can now find a cost effective option to help put more fish in the boat. The more advanced systems available to tournament anglers can also be used to fine tune presentations by allowing the user to view and evaluate the effectiveness of different lures.

One of the biggest benefits is being able to see what structure or bait is actually working in a particular area. It is all too often that we locate a school of fish on our sonar and when we drop the hook discover they are either not fish or they are a species we don’t target (ie suckers, sheepshead). Fishing cameras are also great tools for bottom truthing a particular spot by visually confirming what your sonar technologies are telling you.

Underwater fishing cameras are also a great way to scout out new waters before heading out on the lake. If you can see the water conditions you are going to be fishing in (depth, clarity, weeds) it makes selecting a boat and planning your fishing trip much easier. In addition if you can get an idea of the habitat and fish population in a particular water body it will make planning your baits and presentation much more efficient as well.

Many of the current underwater fishing camera systems are wireless which makes them a very easy to use tool. Some are able to be fished in-line meaning they can be hooked directly into your line or bait and then simply cast it out like any other lure. This eliminates the need to tie on a separate device such as a bobber to get an underwater view and saves time getting to and from your fishing hole.

A lot of these underwater fishing camera systems also come with infrared lighting which is turned on when the camera is turned on to give you a greater visibility in low light or cloudy conditions. This is a great feature for anglers who may be fishing at dusk or night and can reduce the chance of spooking the fish while you are evaluating your rig and lure choices.

Another great feature of the underwater fishing camera is being able to adjust the brightness of the screen. When the camera is turned on the brighter the screen is the clearer the image is. This is particularly helpful in murky conditions where sediment and mud can blur the images or block it completely. It is important to remember that the brightness of the screen can also impact battery life so be careful to turn it down when not in use.