Cover In- Fisherman Mag

[elkman]

Just received my June,July issue of In-Fisherman magazine.Always have enjoyed the art work on the front cover but the underwater camera somewhat took the beauty away. I know there legal but for myself it would be like spot-lighting a big old whitetail buck. What do you guys think?

[Bacala]

Nah....I think its no different than when sonar first came out. I still think you got to find the fish...and then you got to entice them to bite.

I think fish are camera shy also.

I was thinking of getting one of them....for two reasons. One....to see them laughing at my lures when "I know they're down there"! And two...my favorite fishing spot in the world has something that snags every jig I throw near it. I gotta see what it is....and lord knows I cant swim to check it out.

Now I got a different opinion for the guy that invented the gill net!.

Get the Ne...vermind.

[Bacala]

Nah....I think its no different than when sonar first came out. I still think you got to find the fish...and then you got to entice them to bite.

I think fish are camera shy also.

I was thinking of getting one of them....for two reasons. One....to see them laughing at my lures when "I know they're down there"! And two...my favorite fishing spot in the world has something that snags every jig I throw near it. I gotta see what it is....and lord knows I cant swim to check it out.

Now I got a different opinion for the guy that invented the gill net!.

Get the Ne...vermind.

[larry g]

Lets see,just what takes the fun out of fishing?How about sharp fishing hooks?spinning reels?Anyone remember sculling paddles? the only thing taking the fun out of fishing, is water skiers, jet skiers, snowmobilers, and closed seasons.

[RANGER]

I agree with Bakala - this is just another tool to be used. When sonar came to the fisherman the dooms - sayers cried that there would be no fish left. We all know where that went!

RANGER

[Matt]

Just another tool. Used one on the opener and I will tell you from experience, you can NOT fish while using it. Between constantly adjusting depth and being totally distracted by the screen its impossible. You can't make fish bite either.

Right away my buddy and I tried to use it quite a bit but it quickly became a "I see fish on the sonar lets see what kind they are" tool.

Fish are NOT camera shy. We ran into lots of fish!

Was very enlightening for my buddy. The lake we were on is a lake that his Grandpa has had a place on for 30+ years. My buddy grew up there and knows the lake extremely well. He was surprised by the things he saw. He had his ideas about what was down there (structure) and sometimes he was right, sometimes partially right and sometimes totally wrong.

In one particular area near a rock ledge we caught an eye and were graphing lots of other fish. This rock ledge had 40 - 50 suckers just hanging around. But there were a few walleyes mixed in with them. Same size fish.

Great tool. Great educational tool. But it isn't the fish killing machine that legislators think it is. And it all boils down to YOU CAN'T MAKE THE FISH BITE!

[AquaMan]

I don't necessarily agree with the tool concept(in boats). To me, it is more of a toy for the curious. An insight to the depths of what most fisherman can only imagine. Scuba divers see it all the time, now we can see what they have told us about for 100+ years without getting wet. It gives the fisherman and the curious an opprtunity to "check it out."

Besides, like the other post pointed out, it is very impracticale to use the camera while fishing from a moving boat. I would be afraid of running into something or wrapping the line up in the prop. Ever been mowing the lawn with a baseball cap and walked into the overhang on the deck or a big tree branch? Same kinda idea. Your head is buried in the camera...who's driving the boat? LOL.

Now, ice fishing is a different gig altogether. In 10'-30'you would only have to worry about the hooked fish wrapping the fishing line around the camera cord. Bummer if that monster got away because of the camera, eh?

But how many of you would just like to get one to look at the bottom of your favorite lake? I have rented one for that reason and it was a blast. I know that I would like to have one someday, but it is not a high priorety right now.

What sells these cameras more than anything...just plain old curiousity with a little bit of Boy-toy-syndrome mixed in... :-)

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Matt]

Aquaman, I am shocked. Don't agree that its a tool in boats? Does your depthfinder tell you what species of fish or baitfish you are over? How do you find that "spot on a spot" that will never show up on a depthfinder? It is an incredible tool! How are the fish relating to specific cover/structure? Finding transition lines, forage, unique things that only an up close and personal look can tell you.

I tired of the novelty quickly. I want to fish not watch TV. But a lot can be learned about your favorite spots. And a lot of new favorite spots can be found. And a greater understanding of the fishes environment can be gained.

I agree, ice fishing is ideal for cameras. I have used a Vista-Cam on ice and it was great! That big monitor in the fish house was so easy to see. And yes, I too thought about my wall-hanger wrapping me in the cable and swimming off.

Don't think fun. Think education. Never too old or wise to learn something new.

[AquaMan]

Lemme expound, I agreed with the informational side of this camera that you point out, however, I think that the general public has been lead to believe that the effectiveness of these products is greater then it really is and has blown it out of proprotion. How many of you really think that this camera will permit you to get bigger and more fish..in reality??? It might make you a wiser fisherman, but I doubt that the populations will decline as a result, like the opponents say it would. Nor do I think that it is close to a depthfinder in terms of effectiveness

I think there are far more limitations on these units that make them impracticle in more situations then not. What is really appealing about this unit is the basic curiousity of any fisherman to see clearly what he has only seen on the depth finder. Just plain old curiousity. I mean, really, who would not like to try one and just float around for a day with your head burried in the viewer and see Walter swimming in the deepest haunts of your lake??? It would warm the coldest heart and may drive a man crazy trying to catch that elusive wonder.

From that curiousity, your right, we can learn a lot, but to use one while fishing in a boat under power I think is a risky venture. I was merely pointing out the simple basis of this products success. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have one for all the reasons you pointed out, but the basic instinct is founded on pure curiousity and my own boy-toy-syndrome.

Enjoy!

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Matt]

No argument here. I consider it a great tool, but it is not a tool that I will own for quite sometime. Spending a day with a rental will certainly be worth the $35.

[The Great Guide]

Hey! Watch those snowmobiler comments! This is a fishing page.... TGG

[The Great Guide]

I think that elkman makes a good point. As techno products continue to be introduced into fishing, I find myself getting more and more interested in watching the color Sytex or making sure the Pinpoint is pointed and locked on the right depth and right direction. I also spend lots of fishing time reading manuals and learning my new equipment.

I was fishing in Canada this weekend and I made the comment " Seems like I'm on informaiton overload in this boat". I was not paying attention to my surroundings. We had quite a discussion about the ultimate boat would be capable of being programmed on satalite uplink to the chosen reefs, downriggers would provide the bait presentation and we would be able to guide our bait by video image. When the limits were caught the boat would return to the dock and UPS would pick them up and deliver them. TGG

[T-Mac]

Like the others said...you can't fish while using it.
Hey...keeps my wife busy for an hour at a time. Very entertaining.
Would be great for kids.
Sure have seen a lot of carp and suckers, up close and personal.

[Mrrugs]

Cameras, temp gauges, lure color meters...They are somewhat helpful tools that may or may not get more fish in your livewell. What they are sure to do is empty your wallet and impel you to spend more time messing around with gadgets and less time actually fishing. Listen, I KNOW that there's fish in the lake or river or else I would not have dropped the boat in to begin with. The whole "secret" to catching fish is experimentation and spending time with your bait in the water. Any "tool" that offers shortcuts (kinda like those magic baits "outlawed in seven states") may eventually catch more fish but learning your body of water and then learning the nature of the species for which you angle and being willing to try new methods will certainly more than outweigh any advantages these tools can offer. My bottom line is this: Buy them if you must, but you still need brains to catch fish.

PS As for IN-Fisherman Magazine...I've had it. Despite their lenghty article, you will not catch me surface fishing for carp. When my subscription expires this time, that's it. It's become a real stinker, lately and a waste of money in my opinion.

[smally]

Mrrugs, I couldn't agree more about in-fish mag. What's even worse is their television show.