Catch Cam at the EXPO

[Da Fisherman]

Did anyone see the Catch Can booth at the Walleye Expo? Did you see the video they had that was shot with their camera? It was amazing at how clear the picture was, but even more amazing at how the pike all acted. One big bugger kept bumping the camera with it's nose and snapping at it. It was also neat to see how a pike could come up to the live shiner, chew it up a bit and spit it out, and not get hooked! My question is has anyone used one of these exact cameras? I am 99% sure I am gonna orser one of WalleyeCentral, but just wanted to hear from someone who used one of the Catch Cam's, not any of the others. Thank you.

[AquaMan]

I saw it and talked with the "developer", if you will, and it was just like any other system. Not saying that Catch Cam is the same as the rest, nor saying one is better then the other, but the technology is the same for all of these under water cameras. I have yet to see a head and shoulders difference between any of them. Features are different, yes, but for the money, you get one thing OR the other. Simply put thay are just packaged differently.


I would like one, but basically, I am waiting till prices come down and come with IR, Low LUX AND has built in directional compass. Let's face it, the entertainment value still exceeds the purpose value and I can buy a AC/CD TV/VCR for $199 and get the same value at this point.


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

--- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

[Ferny]

Hey Guys, I built my own camera. I got the camera itself off the net for $38. The B/W TV was $19. Had the guys in the shop make a aluminum housing $0(G job ;-) ) Misc cable IR LEDS and hardware...cheap. Here's my thoughts: I lost my only ice walleye this year on Green Lake in Chisago because it swam around the cable and snapped the line. :-( It seems like you'll either love it and use it all the time like a Vexilar or hate it and use it in begin with and shelf it after awhile since it's a hassle! I have seem them under $200 now so they're in reach of the masses.

Good luck,

Ferny.

[DaFisherman]

Okay, agreed. All the Cameras out there will do basically the same thing. However, I liked the mounting system, and the size. The cable is Kevlar reinforced and Catch Cam built their own camera, they did not use an existing one. More to the point, I was amazed at (cameras in general) being able to see the fish approach and stalk the bait and how hard they could hit it and not get hooked. I am going to get a Catch cam, because that is the one I liked. I am now trying to decide between the standard cam or the one in the softpack. But my basic point was, they had the video, and I was amazed at the fish in that video. I also wondered if anyon here uses a Catch cam? I know Gary Gray is on their pro staff, and I know I like what I saw. Anyone else use this camera?

[Walleye Daddy]

I've had a Catch Cam for a year now and absolutely love it. Some people say it won't help you catch fish, but that is not true. I can find the hot fish and nail 'em. These cameras are a must have in my opinion and will never leave it at the house. I'm sold on Catch Cam and this item is highly recommended by me and my fishin partner. You won't go wrong with it.
WD

[Gary Gray]

Yes, I am on their Pro Staff, I have been know for 2 yrs now. It is by far the best technology I have seen.

I have used them now for 2yrs, and I would not be without it for Ice Fishing. A good example, was this year on Lake Butte des Mortes, here by Oshkosh, Wi. The white bass action was great the first 2 weeks of Dec. I was out there, caught a lot, then they were gone. The Big Shad, about the same size as the Bass showed up. All the guys around my shack, were still fishing for days, chasing what they thought were white bass. They could mark them on their portable flashers, but not catching them, They all thought those marks were white bass, instead they really were Shad. Everyone who stopped by to see if I was catching any, told me the bass shut off, but they were still marking them. I pointed to the camera, then the light when on, when they seen they were trying to catch white bass, when they really were shad, every guy said" I have to get one of those, so I can see what I am fishing for" Besides, it saves a lot of time.

I also had a experience last year, when about a 75 lb Sturgeon tried to swallow my camera head. I could not believe what I was seeing.

I had another guy who bouhght a CatchCam last yr, and he stopped by my shack to see how the fishing was. I was catching a few good perch, showed him the fish, and told him to get to fishing. He replied to me," I won't fish without my camera" so I asked him where it was, he said," in the car, but I forgot to charge the battery". He honestly would not fish without it!

This camera, has let me explore, let me see while I was fishing, and has let me see what I was really seeing on my electronic's. I think it is a Great tool, to let you understand your electronic's better.

I know that the dealer here in Oshkosh, cannot keep them in stock!

Hope this helps,
Gary Gray #10

[AquaMan]

Best technology? What does that camera offer that the others do not? CatchCam built their own camera, that's great, but what makes that IR different from the other IR's? Mind you I am not dogging CatchCam, AquaVeiw or the others, I just do not see one being better then the other in terms of technology. The packaging might be different but that is dressing not technology. If you are buying one because it is packaged for your style, then that is what you need to focus on in your recommendation, not the technology. Ingenuity in packaging can make all the difference in the world. Let's compare that.

DaFisherman, you sound like you are buying one because you liked the video. That's entertainment. Perhaps they all have videos that are equally compelling and I refer to my original observation "Max Nix" (SP) It makes no difference until either the prices come down or the technology changes dramatically. I mean how can you improve a camera. Real time MRI?

As pointed out by the other post, there is truly a risk involved with these devises and, in my mind it from the start, puts these more in the entertainment category then the tool category. Be that as it may, I would still enjoy one for that entertainment...but not at $500.

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

--- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"

[Da Fisherman]

The packaging might
>be different but that is
>dressing not technology. If
>you are buying one because
>it is packaged for your
>style, then that is what
>you need to focus on
>in your recommendation, not the
>technology. Ingenuity in packaging
>can make all the difference
>in the world. Let's
>compare that.
>DaFisherman, you sound like you are
>buying one because you liked
>the video. That's entertainment.
> Perhaps they all have
>videos that are equally compelling
>and I refer to my
>original observation "Max Nix" (SP)
>It makes no difference until
>either the prices come down
>or the technology changes dramatically.
> I mean how can
>you improve a camera.
>Real time MRI?
>
>As pointed out by the other
>post, there is truly a
>risk involved with these devises
>and, in my mind it
>from the start, puts these
>more in the entertainment category
>then the tool category. Be
>that as it may, I
>would still enjoy one for
>that entertainment...but not at $500.
>
>
>AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You are partly right. I liked the video, it was entertaining and informative. But I also agree any camera that generated that video, would have had an entertaining video. What I like specifically about the catch cam, is the size of the unit, the way it can be mounted on my boat, and the kevlar cable, available in 3 different lengths. I know there are many similar features between the Catch Cam and the other units. However, it seems to be one heck of a camera, and I would certainly be able to use a camera as a tool as well as an amusement. Thanks.