under water cameras

[crappie master]

i am looking into buying a under water camera. I am looking for some advice on wich brand to get aqua-vu, antlantis etc etc... Which one do you own?? do you like it??? any bad experinces?? any thing that would help me make up my mind thanks

[ryan the poor college kid]

i have a vista cam. i personally wouldn't buy another one due to the "leaky lense". however, there are people that have them and they work great i guess.
i guess if i had one to buy it would be this one. it has a button you can push on the unit to turn the head of the camera underwater, which is a really nice feature. check it out.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jhtml?id=0012050014809a&navAction=push&navCount=7&indexId=cat21400&podId=0012050&catalogCode=IC&parentId=cat21400&parentType=index

[risor39]

Ryan I talked with a guy that works at Ed's bait in Devils Lake and he recommended the same unit.They rent three different kinds of cameras.The feature you are talking about is an ice fishing feature you put a cross support over the hole and you put the cable in the center and a motor turns the cable,thats how I was told by the same gentleman.He said they sent some aqua-vu's back the cable where it attaches to the camera was shorting out.The ovs was the better unit.Hope this helps you out.Have fun with your new toy Crappie master

[brad b]

I have a catch cam and have never had a problem with it. I rented an aqua view unit, but didn't care for having to stick my head in front of the little box all of the time.

[4Lakes]

Why not assemble one yourself and save a few hundred dollars. I did. Camera is a Sony CCD Infrared unit that has a great picture (can't vouch for in the water yet, just finished assembling it this past weekend). Bought a little 4.5" b/w TV and a small 12v rechargeable battery (about 5-6hrs run time) and it all fits in a plastic tool box from menards. Assembled the whole thing for less than $130. I have pictures if you are interested in seeing it.

Andy - 4Lakes
fourlakes_99@yahoo.com

[Skeeter]

If I was going to spend 500 bucks I would and did get an Atlantis. I have had no trouble with it and had it 3 or 4 years now and just love it. I also put the camera part in a bird box in the spring and watch everything that takes place in the box. The wife and grandkids love it.

[4Lakes]

I figured I would just go ahead and upload my camera pics to the internet. Here are a couple of links for them if anyone is interested.

http://www.geocities.com/fourlakes_99/images/camera1.JPG

http://www.geocities.com/fourlakes_99/images/camerafin.JPG

Andy - 4Lakes
fourlakes_99@yahoo.com

[Lund_Dude]

4 Lakes:

I got a page not found error from Yahoo! when attempting to view your links. I am curious to see how your camera is configured.

FWIW: I built my own camera assembly in the last month also. I got the camera on E-Bay from Intellicam and built the complete assembly for $97. I have used it on a small perch/walleye lake in SE Wisconsin and it worked great for perch. I haven't seen a waldo yet, but have learned a lot about perch. Our walleye season is closed on the smaller lakes, so I haven't targeted them at all. I took the camera to Petenwell (which is a flowage) and found the camera to be useless on that trip due to coffee colored turbulent water. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the performance of my configuration. It was a fun winter project. If anyone wants to see my pics, drop me a line at walleyeguywi@yahoo.com and I will send them. Good Luck!

[4Lakes]

Don't know why those links don't work, so I went in and renamed the files. Now try these links:

http://www.geocities.com/fourlakes_99/images/camera1.jpg

http://www.geocities.com/fourlakes_99/images/camerafin.jpg

I built my camera around an Intellicam camera as well. I was hoping to do it for your price but I ended up have to get a new battery which put the extra $25 on...

Andy - 4Lakes
fourlakes_99@yahoo.com

[4Lakes]

Okay, don't know what the scoop is with the links. Just copy the text and paste in the address line and it'll work...

Andy - 4Lakes
fourlakes_99@yahoo.com

[Lund_Dude]

Great minds must think alike. Mine is pretty similar to yours in construction. I didn't do the fin that you have. What is the "metal rod" that is located between the camera and the banding?

[Rocketman]

Andy,
I have the same setup and it works great, but I don't have the fin you have. BTW it looks great. Is that a cow magnet you have strapped on there? and what is it's purpose, weight?

Brian Price

[4Lakes]

Yep, that's a cow magnet! It's purpose is for weight, we'll see if it is enough.

Andy - 4Lakes
fourlakes_99@yahoo.com

[Rocketman]

Since we are on the subject, Do you plan to use it in the boat exclusively. I used mine thru the ice and all I did was tie the cable up with a couple of plastic ties and it worked great. I am not sure I could handle looking at that tv while moving in the boat, I get bad sea legs already.
Brian Price

[4Lakes]

As I am not an ice fisherman yes, I do plan on using it in the boat, hence the fin and extra weight.

Andy - 4Lakes
fourlakes_99@yahoo.com

[Dakota]

If you are trying to get an economical unit for $140-150. Go to Reeds Sporting Goods Online. They have the old Aqua-Vu Jr. or Z models for the above price with the same attachments. This stuff in the Z Deluxe is $299. The major difference is 50 vs 60'of cable. Fifty feet is all I want to battle. Usually I am fishing no more than 20-30 feet of water anyway.

[wycurly]

>i am looking into buying a under water camera. I am looking
>for some advice on wich brand to get aqua-vu, antlantis etc
>etc... Which one do you own?? do you like it??? any bad
>experinces?? any thing that would help me make up my mind
>thanks

We have done extensive testing with the Atlantis ice fishing and looking at presentation, we have been working with the factory folks this is a great unit very tough carrier. We can help you docurly@coffey.com