“It’s always in my boat,” affirms Bassmaster Elite Series angler, Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson, referring to a particular fish-finding tool that’s been popping up in recent conversations among hardcore bass fans. You might be tempted to believe the ‘it’ in Gustafson’s statement refers to forward-facing or 360-degree sonar. But you’d be incorrect. 

“From Canada’s Lake of the Woods to Lake Eufaula, Alabama, an Aqua-Vu underwater camera plays a huge role in my tournament pre-fishing,” notes Gustafson, fresh off his first Bassmaster Elite Series win at the Tennessee River. “The way things were set up at the Tennessee River in 2019 didn’t allow me to deploy the camera. But I really wish I had because it would have shown me smallmouths right away and helped me understand how the fish were stationed in the current and relative to the big rocks.”

For the first two days of pre fishing for the Classic, Gussy found himself casting for shallow largemouths—a frustrating endeavor that left nearly every Bassmaster competitor scratching their heads. During the final afternoon of prefishing, the Ontario, Canada based bass pro drifted out into a deeper canal area separating two larger reservoirs and on a tip from a friend, decided to drop a jig and plastic bait below his boat. 

“Side imaging showed a lot of really good rock and concrete slabs in the area, but I never saw a bass on sonar until I put the bait right into the transducer cone and had a smallmouth rise up and eat it,” he observes. “I’m hoping someone will go back out there with an Aqua-Vu, because I’d really like to know what they see—how many bass versus other fish are there, and what the cover really looks like.”

At other current-dominated Bassmaster Elite Series tourneys, however, Gustafson studied the underwater terrain first-hand, gleaning rare discoveries that would put him well into the money. 

“A lot of the anglers have figured out that an Aqua-Vu is a mandatory piece of equipment at places like the St. Lawrence River,” believes Gussy. “These clear water rivers are perfect for a camera because the fish don’t show up well on electronics and the current lets you do long drifts, covering tons of real estate with the lens acting as your eyes below your boat.

“At the last St. Lawrence Bassmaster Elite event, I’d drift these long deepwater stretches and find little hard-to-find spots holding pods of big smallmouths. Every so often, you’d spot these isolated boulders, and usually, these current breaks would hold a few bass. But it was the ones attracting 5 or 10 fish, including a few real ‘kongs,’ where I’d drop a dot (GPS waypoint). 

“When the tourney started, I went back to these spots and it was like, one-hundred percent, you’d catch ‘em. A lot of people are probably ticked at me for sharing this tip, but it’s pretty hard to hide what you’re doing when you’ve got a camera cable over the side of the boat, staring at a screen.”

Gustafson, who gimbal-mounts an Aqua-Vu HD7i Pro in his console, notes that all Aqua-Vu models can also be used as a portable unit, as well. “One of the coolest little tools for quickly checking out a brush pile, isolated log or especially for fish species ID is an Aqua-Vu micro Revolution,” he explains. “The entire unit—camera and screen— isn’t much bigger than your phone, so it fits into a glove box or a tackle bag and has the same type of rechargeable battery. Deploying the optics and checking out fish species or a piece of cover takes as little as a minute or two, and shows you things you’d never learn with sonar alone.” 

Gustafson continues: “The micro camera is perfect for places where you’ve got bass on deeper structure, like brush piles or other isolated cover. 

“Few years ago, I had a really good tourney at Cayuga Lake in New York, using the Aqua-Vu to pinpoint big bass on little pieces of isolated cover. I’d side image and drop dots on every stump, log or little rock I found. On the last day of practice, instead of casting and burning my fish, I simply dropped the camera on all these waypoints, and identified the juice—the best logs, stumps or rocks holding the biggest fish. On the sweet spots, I’d observe three or more 4-pound smallmouths living there, or a small group of 4-pound largemouths. I weighed 80 pounds of bass that week and held a 5-pound lead going into the last day before barely being edged on the final day.”

While an underwater camera is a no-brainer fish finding tool in clear water, Gustafson has also benefited from its real-world advantages in stained water conditions. “Lake Eufaula in Alabama is a long way from the clearest lake, but I’ve found that even here, an Aqua-Vu proves its value. Especially for checking deep brush piles, the camera is huge. On Eufaula, I’ve used it a lot in 22 to 24 feet of water. You might not see the entire brushpile all at once, but the picture is plenty clear enough to show you fish species and their size. 

“What’s also awesome is the camera’s ability to reveal the sweet spots in a brush pile,” he continues. “You’ll quickly see and discover things like the side with the thickest branches, or the little section where most of the bass are clustered, or even little clearings in a certain part of the brush where it’s easier to get a bait into.”

Gustafson is often asked about determining the sizes of individual bass, on screen. “There’s a learning curve with this, no doubt,” he admits. “Even small bass can look big when they approach the lens. But you start to recognize certain anatomical differences in the big bass—fin shape, body proportions, or other things like the disproportionate size of a fish’s head, jaw or belly. Pretty soon, you just know when you’re looking at a kong versus another 2 pounder. That’s when things really get interesting.

Why the Aqua-Vu Micro Revolution 5.0 HD is the best Underwater Camera for your Fishing Boat

For fishing enthusiasts, having the right tools can make a world of difference in their success on the water. Among these essential tools, an underwater camera has proven to be a game-changer, offering insights into the underwater world that were previously inaccessible. When it comes to choosing the best underwater camera for your fishing boat, the Aqua-Vu Micro Revolution 5.0 HD stands out for its exceptional features and benefits. In this article, we will delve into why the Micro Revolution is the ultimate choice for anglers seeking unparalleled underwater visibility.

1. Small, Compact Design

One of the standout features of the Aqua-Vu Micro Revolution 5.0 HD is its small and compact design. Unlike bulky underwater cameras that can be cumbersome to handle and store, the Micro Revolution’s sleek design ensures that it takes up minimal space on your fishing boat. Its compact nature makes it easy to transport, set up, and store, allowing you to focus more on your fishing experience.

2. Built-in Cable Management Reel System

Managing camera cables can be a hassle, often leading to tangles and frustration. The Aqua-Vu Micro Revolution 5.0 HD addresses this challenge with its innovative built-in cable management reel system. This unique design feature allows you to effortlessly manage the camera cable, ensuring that it remains untangled and ready for use at all times. This cable management system sets the Micro Revolution 5.0 HD apart from other underwater cameras and highlights Aqua-Vu’s commitment to providing practical solutions for anglers.

3. Anchoring Technology and Electronics Understanding

Modern fishing techniques often involve the use of advanced technologies, such as anchoring systems on trolling motors and more advanced fishing electronics like forward facing sonar. The Aqua-Vu Micro Revolution 5.0 HD serves as an invaluable tool to help anglers make the most of these technologies. By providing a clear view of the underwater environment, the camera allows you to understand how to interrupt what your electronics are showing you, enhancing your ability to locate and target fish effectively.

4. Endorsed by Top Professional Bass Anglers

The Aqua-Vu Micro Revolution has gained the trust and endorsement of some of the world’s most accomplished professional bass anglers. Notable names like Jeff Gustafson, the 2023 Bassmaster Classic champion, along with Josh Douglas, Jonathon Kelly, Ott DeFoe, Dylan Hayes, Grae Buck, and Bryan New, among others, rely on the Micro Revolution to gain a competitive edge. The fact that these top anglers choose the Aqua-Vu Micro Revolution 5.0 HD speaks volumes about its performance and reliability in real-world fishing scenarios.

5. Extended Run Time with a Built-In Rechargeable Lithium Battery

When it comes to underwater cameras, longevity and reliability are key factors that can significantly impact your fishing experience. The Aqua-Vu Micro Revolution 5.0 HD takes this aspect to the next level with its impressive rechargeable lithium battery. With up to 6 hours of run time on a single charge, this camera ensures that you have ample time to explore and observe underwater conditions without the worry of running out of power.

The inclusion of a high-capacity rechargeable lithium battery is a standout feature that sets the Micro Revolution apart from the competition. Whether you’re spending a full day on the water or need to make the most of a short fishing window, the extended battery life of the Micro Revolution ensures that you have the flexibility to capture every moment beneath the surface.

Benefits of the Rechargeable Lithium Battery

• Longer Exploration Time: The 6-hour run time gives you the freedom to thoroughly explore different fishing spots, underwater structures, and fish behavior without the need for frequent recharging.
• Consistent Performance: The battery’s consistent power output ensures that you get clear and uninterrupted views of the underwater environment, allowing you to make accurate observations.
• Convenience: Rechargeable lithium batteries are easy to charge and maintain. You can recharge the battery overnight and be ready for a full day of fishing the next morning.
• Environmentally Friendly: Lithium batteries are more environmentally friendly compared to disposable options, reducing waste and minimizing your ecological footprint.

Conclusion

In the world of fishing, having a reliable underwater camera can be a game-changer, providing insights and advantages that were once unimaginable. The Aqua-Vu Micro Revolution 5.0 HD stands out as the ultimate choice for anglers seeking a compact, efficient, and highly functional underwater camera. Its innovative cable management reel system, compatibility with anchoring technology and electronic devices, and the endorsement of elite professional bass anglers make it a must-have tool for any serious fishing expedition. Elevate your fishing experience with the Aqua-Vu Micro Revolution and discover the underwater world like never before.

In the boat with Bassmaster Elite Series Champ and Aqua-Vu pro Jeff Gustafson 

“It’s always in my boat,” affirms Bassmaster Elite Series angler, Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson, referring to a particular fish-finding tool that’s been popping up in recent conversations among hardcore bass fans. You might be tempted to believe the ‘it’ in Gustafson’s statement refers to forward-facing or 360-degree sonar. But you’d be incorrect.  

“From Canada’s Lake of the Woods to Lake Eufaula, Alabama, an Aqua-Vu underwater camera plays a huge role in my tournament prefishing,” notes Gustafson, fresh off his first Bassmaster Elite Series win at the Tennessee River. “The way things set up at the Tennessee River didn’t allow me to deploy the camera. But I really wish I had because it would have shown me smallmouths right away and helped me understand how the fish were stationed in the current, relative to the big rocks.” 

For the first two days of prefishing, Gussy found himself casting for shallow largemouths—a frustrating endeavor that left nearly every Bassmaster competitor scratching their heads. During the final afternoon of prefishing, the Ontario, Canada based bass pro drifted out into a deeper canal area separating two larger reservoirs and on a tip from a friend, decided to drop a jig and plastic bait below his boat.  

“Side imaging showed a lot of really good rock and concrete slabs in the area, but I never saw a bass on sonar until I put the bait right into the transducer cone and had a smallmouth rise up and eat it,” he observes. “I’m hoping someone will go back out there with an Aqua-Vu, because I’d really like to know what they see—how many bass versus other fish are there, and what the cover really looks like.” 

At other current-dominated Bassmaster Elite Series tourneys, however, Gustafson studied the underwater terrain first-hand, gleaning rare discoveries that would put him well into the money.  

“A lot of the anglers have figured out that an Aqua-Vu is a mandatory piece of equipment at places like the St. Lawrence River,” believes Gussy. “These clear water rivers are perfect for a camera because the fish don’t show up well on electronics. The current also lets you do long drifts, covering tons of real estate with the lens acting as your eyes below the boat. 

“At the last St. Lawrence Bassmaster Elite event, I’d drift these long deepwater stretches and find little hard-to-find spots holding pods of big smallmouths. Every so often, you’d see these isolated boulders, and usually, these current breaks would hold a few bass. But it was the ones attracting 5 or 10 fish, including a few real ‘kongs,’ where I’d drop a dot (GPS waypoint).  

“When the tourney started, I went back to these spots and it was like, one-hundred percent, you’d catch ‘em. A lot of people are probably ticked at me for sharing this tip, but it’s pretty hard to hide what you’re doing when you’ve got a camera cable over the side of the boat, staring at a screen.” 

Gustafson, who gimbal-mounts an Aqua-Vu HD7i Pro in his console, notes that all Aqua-Vu models can also be used as a portable unit, as well. “One of the coolest little tools for quickly checking out a brushpile, isolated log or especially for fish species ID is an Aqua-Vu micro Revolution,” he explains. “The entire unit—camera and screen— isn’t much bigger than your phone, so it fits into a glove box or a tackle bag and has the same type of rechargeable battery. Deploying the optics and checking out fish species or a piece of cover takes as little as a minute or two, and shows you things you’d never learn with sonar alone.”  

Gustafson continues: “The micro camera is perfect for places where you’ve got bass on deeper structure, like brushpiles or other isolated cover.  

“Few years ago, I had a really good tourney at Cayuga Lake in New York, using the Aqua-Vu to pinpoint big bass on little pieces of isolated cover. I’d side image and drop dots on every stump, log or little rock I found. On the last day of practice, instead of casting and burning my fish, I simply dropped the camera on all these waypoints, and identified the juice—the best logs, stumps or rocks holding the biggest fish. On the sweet spots, I’d observe three or more 4-pound smallmouths living there, or a small group of 4-pound largemouths. I weighed 80 pounds of bass that week and held a 5-pound lead going in to the last day before barely being edged on the final day.” 

While an underwater camera is a no-brainer fish finding tool in clear water, Gustafson has also benefitted from its real-world advantages in stained water conditions. “Lake Eufaula in Alabama is a long ways from the clearest lake, but I’ve found that even here, an Aqua-Vu proves its value. Especially for checking deep brushpiles, the camera is huge. On Eufaula, I’ve used it a lot in 22 to 24 feet of water. You might not see the entire brushpile all at once, but the picture is plenty clear enough to show you fish species and their size.  

“What’s also awesome is the camera’s ability to reveal the sweet spots in a brushpile,” he continues. “You’ll quickly see and discover things like the side with the thickest branches, or the little section where most of the bass are clustered, or even little clearings in a certain part of the brush where it’s easier to get a bait into.” 

Gustafson is often asked about determining the sizes of individual bass, on screen. “There’s a learning curve with this, no doubt,” he admits. “Even small bass can look big when they approach the lens. But you start to recognize certain anatomical differences in the big bass—fin shape, body proportions, or other things like the disproportionate size of a fish’s head, jaw or belly. Pretty soon, you just know when you’re looking at a kong versus another 2 pounder. That’s when things really get interesting. 

Curiosity. Professional angler Grae Buck shares more than this valuable personality trait with the smallmouth bass he loves catching best.

Last season, Buck’s engaging, enquiring nature drove him to drop an Aqua-Vu underwater camera into the depths. Like most anglers peering through underwater optics, he relished thoughts of the cool things that might swim past the lens. What would it really look like down below? What secrets would he learn? That bass would instantly swim over and give him quizzical looks through the lens wasn’t something he necessarily anticipated. 

Following a successful 2020 FLW Tour campaign, 3^rd place in the Angler of the Year contest and an accelerated underwater learning curve, Buck recently added Aqua-Vu to his sponsor roster and his fish-finding arsenal. The reasons, Buck will tell you, go beyond a curiosity for the underwater world. 

“Many of the anglers on the different bass tours are realizing just how valuable an Aqua-Vu camera can be, particularly on clear northern and Great Lakes fisheries, as well as many of the deep reservoirs in the mid-south,” affirms Buck, a longtime smallmouth fan. 

“For me, an Aqua-Vu plays big in species ID— helping see and verify bass versus non-scoring fish like drum, carp, walleyes or catfish. And what’s cool is that curious species like smallmouths actually swim right over to check out the optics; an Aqua-Vu can actually be a fish attractor. Pretty cool side benefit.”

Impressed by Buck’s youthful drive and active fishing mind, Aqua-Vu president Kolt Ringer conveys equal excitement over the new partnership. “Grae’s positive energy, engaging personality and willingness to share what he learns embodies an Aqua-Vu pro, through and through,” says Ringer. 

“He’s a major smallmouth fan, but he’s also proving to be a top-notch angler on the country’s best largemouth lakes,” Ringer adds. “No question, Grae’s one of the great up-and-coming bass pros out there, and a lot of that relates to his thirst for learning all he can about the underwater world. We’re looking forward to working with Grae and to open more anglers’ eyes to the fun and learning of an Aqua-Vu camera.”

At the FLW Lake Erie Super Tournament last August, Buck wielded an Aqua-Vu in prefishing to help fine-tune a highly-productive pattern. “I used the camera to discover the exact size, color and shape of rock used by smallmouths on deeper structure,” recalls the Green Lane, Pennsylvania angler. “I’ve done this several times, and it’s a bigtime visual aid for helping to duplicate a pattern in other areas of the lake and generate a lot more bites than I could have without the camera. It’s such an efficient, time-saving play on so many lakes.” 

Relative to positive species ID, Buck relates another on-water scenario. “On Erie, the St. Lawrence, Sturgeon Bay and other northern fisheries, it’s unbelievable how many drum and other fish are out there. Drum look exactly like smallmouths on sonar. But when you drop a camera, the difference becomes clear. Beyond obvious physical differences, drum often act much more skittish, while the bass swim right over to check out the Aqua-Vu. So even if I don’t see any bass right away, I’ll leave the camera down for a minute or two, and any smallmouths in the vicinity will swim over to investigate. 

“And if there’s a giant living on a boulder, you’ll see it right away. No doubt, if you’re in to catching big smallies, you need to have an Aqua-Vu on board.”

New Aqua-Vu® 4-in-1 QUAD HD™ Underwater Camera reveals full 360-degree waterscape

Crosslake, MN (December xx, 2020) – Remember your old grade school teacher, the one who kept her class from misbehaving by claiming she’d grown eyes in the back of her head? Her uncanny ability to spot student misdeeds with her back turned made you marvel at this apparent superpower. 

Now envision this amazing ability while angling— the power to see in all directions, simultaneously, while searching for fish. Imagine not just the waterscape immediately in front of your eyes, darkened by vast peripheral blindspots, but a complete, breathtaking view of the entire underwater panorama. Eyes in the back of your head.

Amplifying its tradition of underwater innovation, Aqua-Vu recently released the QUAD HD™ Underwater Viewing System—a 4-in-1 underwater camera that unlocks and reveals the aquatic terrain in all directions at once. Surveying a complete, 360-degree underwater swath, the QUAD HD packs four high-definition (720p) lenses into a single all-seeing camera module. Deploying the optics provides an instant real-world video view in four directions, leaving no fish, brushpile, rock or sweet-spot unseen.

“The Aqua-Vu QUAD HD represents four years of lab and field research, engineering and development,” says Kolt Ringer, president and owner of Aqua-Vu. “This amazing camera system gives ice anglers the power to watch up to four fishing lures on one screen. But we’ve also engineered the QUAD camera housing for all-season boat, dock and shore applications. The camera module is compatible with the  Aqua-Vu XD™ Accessory System, such as the XD Live Strike sight fishing system or XD Trolling Fin, which stabilizes the lenses while searching, slow-trolling or drifting in a boat. 

“For the first time,” Ringer explains, “anglers can see fish and structure ahead of as well as to the sides and even behind your position. You quickly learn how many fish can be attracted to and actually follow the camera as it moves through the water. Sometimes, you’ll see entire schools of sunfish or bass following from the rear. With four cameras working for you, you’ll never overlook another fish again. Just one of many ways Aqua-Vu is helping anglers find and catch more fish—and certainly having a lot more fun along the way.”

A ready-to-fish underwater viewing system, the QUAD HD features the 4-way QUAD camera module, 125-feet of rugged camera cable and a super bright (1300 nits) 10-inch Daylight Viewable LCD with 360 TouchZoom technology. Simply touch one of the four quadrants to zoom in and receive a full-screen view of any section of the water. On-screen digital displays of depth, compass direction and water temperature at camera provide critical underwater data. 

For connecting to an auxiliary HDMI enabled display, including an ice fishing house TV, the system also includes an HDMI output for the ultimate big-screen experience. A Power-Saving mode extends LCD runtime to up to 6-hours per battery charge. 

To enhance full-spectrum visibility in low-light conditions, the QUAD HD module contains a 360-degree array of high-intensity, adjustable infrared (IR) LEDs. Premium Opti-RX lab quality lenses amplify clarity, color and sharpness of the underwater image. Super Low-Light Vu™ Technology allows the optics to efficiently gather light and project a bright, color-rich image, even in lower light or stained water conditions. 

Engineered for compatibility with Aqua-Vu’s modular XD Accessory System, the QUAD HD can be enhanced with the XD Trolling Fin / Live Strike Lure Monitoring System, XD Auxiliary Trolling Weights and the XD TurnTable Cable Spool Manager. The QUAD HD comes with a 12v 9Ah rechargeable battery, smart battery charger and a custom soft carry bag. 

“Since the original, transformative underwater camera landed in anglers’ hands over twenty-three years ago, Aqua-Vu has continuously given us innovative, patented optical technology,” said longtime Aqua-Vu pro and legendary angler Brian Brosdahl. “The new QUAD HD opens up the entire underwater world, letting us look for fish in all four directions, simultaneously. 

“Think of it as an angling superpower—real-time, real-world video of the fish and their habitat. Finding and seeing the fish in their element isn’t just valuable in helping us catch them, it’s also a blast to just sit back and watch the show.” 

Angling electronics expert recounts a lifetime of fishing and education

Crosslake, MN. (November 2, 2020) – He’s known as Doctor Sonar, but for over a decade professional angler Bruce Samson has looked through the lens of an Aqua-Vu camera to boost his underwater intelligence. Now, the Central Minnesota fisherman is being recognized for his lifelong contributions to the sport he cherishes. One of seven legendary individuals inducted into the 2021 class of the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame, Samson remains a passionate, inquisitive student of the underwater world. 

Launching a super-successful career as a tournament walleye pro in 1986, Samson won ten major tournaments and over $800,000 while competing on the Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC), Professional Walleye Trail (PWT), RCL/FLW Circuit and AIM Pro Walleye Series. Now retired from the tournament game, the ex-medical doctor remains highly active in the fishing community. 

Acknowledged as one of the nation’s preeminent authorities in angling technology, Samson conducts educational seminars, on-water training, DVDs, online videos and articles teaching thousands of anglers around the world how to interpret their electronics and understand the mysteries beneath the surface. Punctuating his commitment to education, he has earned honors such as Top Teaching Pro on the Professional Walleye Trail. 

During a recent day in the boat, the all-time great walleye pro recounted some of his fondest fishing memories . . . 

When did you quit your medical practice to become a professional walleye angler?

When I completed my medical education in 1976, I moved to Minnesota to practice medicine and go fishing. Fishing had always been my passion and in 1986, I fished my first MWC event. My partner Jerry Anderson and I won the championship that year, fishing the Missouri River at Bismarck, North Dakota. In 2002, after winning $300,000 at the RCL Championship, I knew it was time to hang up the stethoscope and go fishing full-time.

Tell us about that big 2002 tournament win.

I’d had really a tough first day on the Mississippi River. But I tried to maintain a positive attitude throughout the four day tourney, telling myself I was going to win no matter what. On the second day I needed a good fish to make the top 12 and reach the finals. Finally, I hooked the big one I needed. But it dove hard right under the boat and swam right toward the big motor. Nearly in a panic, I stuck my rod down into the water and somehow kept the fish out of the prop. Eventually, it swam further downstream and came up to the surface—seemingly too far away to reach with a net. My co-angler was a tall, former college football player who reached way out there and executed the most amazing net job I’d ever seen. That fish put me into the finals and helped me earn a big payday. Tim and I have relived that moment and that big fish many times over the years. 

How did you become an authority on fishing technology?

I’ve always strived to drop my lure only where I knew fish were present. That meant relying on sonar and underwater cameras. It all started with an old Humminbird flasher. Once I realized I could differentiate between hard and soft bottom and see actual fish, I was hooked on sonar. My first computer graph was a Lowrance X15. It had a long complicated manual. So, one day, I hooked the unit up to a battery in my office and ran through the entire instructions, punching buttons and trying every setting and menu there was. I discovered a lot of interesting tools, so I decide to share what I learned by writing a series of six articles for the In-Fisherman Walleye In-Sider magazine. I found out when you write about complicated electronics, you quickly become an “expert.” Which then led me to create a sonar-training DVD that ultimately launched my educational adventures.

Explain some of your pioneering work with digital lake maps.

Quite a few years ago, my friend Warren Parsons and I started making our own custom digital lakemaps, merging historical aerial photos with contours and accurate GPS coordinates. Eventually, we also added side imaging mosaics—or overlays—onto the cartography. Originally, you couldn’t view these maps on a traditional sonar unit, only on a laptop computer.

I won a PWT tournament at Ottertail Lake, Minnesota, running a Panasonic Toughbook laptop in my boat with a map no one else had access to. Never had a single other boat on my tournament spots—small rockpiles in the middle of the lake. That’s unheard of. Word got out about our maps, which we now sell for places like Devils Lake, ND, Bull Shoals, AR and the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. 

Why do you consider an Aqua-Vu an invaluable fish-finding tool?

It’s really the best and only way to identify fish species with total certainty. I use the camera especially when I’m marking fish on sonar that don’t bite. You can’t believe how often you’ll actually be fishing for carp, suckers or other fish you’re not targeting. Sometimes, too, even your target species, like walleyes, just don’t want to bite. Fish ID with a camera almost always solves the puzzle within a few minutes. 

The Aqua-Vu is also the best way to find walleyes and other fish living in vegetation, brush, big boulders or timber. Drop the camera into weedbeds and you’ll be amazed by how many walleyes, in particular, live there.

Is an Aqua-Vu helpful for interpreting sonar?

Even for someone like me who’s looked at a sonar screen for thousands of hours, an Aqua-Vu camera remains one of the best teaching tools of all. For beginners, an Aqua-Vu is invaluable in helping them interpret their sonar screen. When you see a live visual of the lake bottom and can compare it to the sonar, side-by-side, your learning curve speeds up exponentially. 

What are some of the more interesting discoveries you’ve made with the camera?

I’ve found that the ledges of supposedly soft mud flats can have super sharp drop-offs and ravine-like ledges that look like a mini Grand Canyon. Everyone thought these spots were flat and featureless until the camera showed otherwise. 

Another little discovery is that fish like bluegills and smallmouth bass are actually attracted to the Aqua-Vu. They’re curious about the lens. They’ll swim over to inspect it and even follow it for many minutes at a time. When I’m fishing for bluegills, for example, I’ll deploy the camera and leave it there and then fish right beside the lens. I can actually attract and hold a school of fish right on my side of the boat and catch fish after fish this way. 

You’re a big fan of using wild-caught minnows for big walleyes, right? 

I grew up in North Dakota where the only fishing I had access to was in a small river. Myself and friends always tried to catch the biggest white suckers, creek chubs and river shiners available. Some of these species get pretty big. Eventually, I learned that the reactions of wild bait, especially chubs, attracted big walleyes like nothing else. I used big chubs to win $300k at the RCL Championship, and have caught hundreds of big fish up to ten pounds with them.

Today, I still catch my own bait, particularly big creek chubs with hook and line. But finding public creeks harboring good minnows isn’t easy. And these days with invasive species and laws, you’ve got to transport your bait in a good cooler with your own water and a nice reliable aerator. Bait catching, care and fishing is a lost art, no doubt. But wild minnows still catch a lot of big fish. 

What’s your biggest walleye?

I caught a 14-pound 4-ounce giant fishing with two buddies at Tobin Lake, Saskatchewan in the mid 1990s. It was my first fish of the trip. Initially, I didn’t think it was that large until it was in the net and it looked like a goliath crappie with an enormous white belly. 

What are you into when you’re not on the water these days?

While I live on a nice fishing lake, my newest adventure is playing pool. I’m studying and practicing the game pretty intensely. Just like everything I tackle, I put my heart into it. Winning is important, but the journey lasts longer and provides a lot more fun.

.           .           .

* Dr. Bruce Samson lives in Osakis, Minnesota with his girlfriend. He has two daughters and four grandchildren, who all vie for time in the boat with their popular grandfather. To learn more about Samson, visit www.doctorsonar.com, or the Doctor Sonar Facebook page. 

The Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum is the international headquarters for education, recognition and promotion of fresh water sportfishing. Inductees into the Hall of Fame include legendary anglers, communicators, fishery scientists and other individuals who have exhibited a lifetime commitment to and lasting impact on the sport of freshwater fishing. For more information, visit www.freshwater-fishing.org.

High-definition Aqua-Vu® HD viewing system unlocks astonishing underwater fish behavior

Crosslake, MN (October 22, 2020) – Nathan Cutler remembers the first big carp he ever hooked. Standing on shore that day in 1999, exhausted and beaten, Cutler lamented the battle, the lost fish and the damage it had inflicted upon his gear. Among the casualties: The carp had stripped 150-yards of line from his spool, straightened the hook, melted the gears in his reel, burned the eyelet inserts on his rod and stripped the reel right off its seat.

That was the day the lifelong Canadian angler decided to learn all he could about this massively under-appreciated creature, the common carp—and that meant immersing himself in the underwater domain of his favorite fish.

“I’ve learned more from my Aqua-Vu HD underwater camera in a year than I probably could have in decades of regular fishing,” says Cutler, who operates ImprovedCarpAngling.com and a corresponding YouTube channel featuring spectacular underwater carp footage. “As a scientist, I love to test out every new tactic, bait and rig and watch how fish react. Not only does the Aqua-Vu camera allow me to record the fish in their natural environment, but more importantly, I can view things as they happen in real time. This lets me adjust rigs and baits on the fly to see what works and what doesn’t.”

At home near the crystalline waters of Lake Huron and the St. Lawrence River, Cutler enjoys immediate access to numerous shore fishing spots, each one hosting concentrations of carp up to 40-pounds or more. “I have no idea why more anglers don’t target them,” wonders Cutler. “Carp are one of the largest, hardest-pulling catch-and-release species that live in abundance close to shore. You can set up pretty much anywhere along the shoreline here and enjoy a very successful day of fishing.”

On most of his shore spots, including breakwalls and marina docks, Cutler finds it easy to deploy his Aqua-Vu HD10i camera by dropping it right off the bank, dock or pier. On shallow flats, Cutler simply wades out and places the camera by hand. He then casts his fishing rig and bait to lie within several feet of the camera lens.

“One cool thing about carp angling, which makes using the camera very easy, is that you usually bait or chum an area and wait for fish to come to you,” he notes. “I’ve designed a mount for the Aqua-Vu that acts as an anchor, positioning the lens at any angle I want, adjacent to my fishing area. I use the Aqua-Vu XD Pole Mount attached to a base of concrete poured into a 5-gallon bucket.” Instructions for Cutler’s camera stand can be found in a YouTube video explaining the setup. 

On-Screen Observations

In the past year since his first underwater carp forays, Cutler has observed some truly fascinating fish behaviors, as well as the hidden habits of other aquatic animals. “I’ve seen cormorants and otters swooping at baitfish in 25 feet of water,” he says. 

“I see salmon all the time that seem intrigued by the camera and like to bump and knock it over. Smallmouth bass often stop and look directly into the lens before moving on. When all the fish suddenly clear out, it usually means a big pike is about to swim through the lens. You also can’t help but notice all the round gobies down there. In real time they’re difficult to spot because they move in bursts, stop and disappear into bottom. When I speed up the recorded footage it looks like the whole bottom is moving.”

Carp, known by their most ardent angling fans as highly intelligent, discerning and wary, exhibit some fascinating underwater preferences. “I’ve been a fan of the simple hair rig for years and thought by presenting my bait a few inches above bottom over my pre-baited areas, fish would notice it quicker and I’d catch more fish. 

“Actually, the camera showed me that the fish would nudge the rig, appear to feel the hook and avoid it altogether. Only about one of every ten fish I saw on screen took the bait without nudging the rig first. That was a huge revelation. As soon as I pinned the hook to the bottom, with the bait barely floating above, my catch rate nearly doubled.”

Cutler’s camera work also revealed that carp often detect and avoid his fishing line. “I’ve watched carp on camera detect my line and bolt off in the opposite direction. To combat this, I now use a ‘back lead,’ or a a second weight attached to your line nearest the rod tip, pinning the line to the bottom so fish are less likely to see it. Line visibility isn’t something many anglers ponder, but with carp, it can be a major factor.”

The camera screen further surprised Cutler with the sheer number of fish haunting his pre-baited areas. “Many days I’ll be sitting without a nudge on my line. I’ll drop the camera to see if my rig and bait are presented properly and I’m always shocked by the number of fish visiting my baited area—up to 15 different carp moving in and out of frame, taking mouthfuls of bait as they feed.”

What Carp Eat

Cutler says the camera has proven to him that carp favor canned sweet corn from the grocery store. “No idea why North American carp love it so much, but I’ve learned if I’m targeting a new area, I always toss in a can of Jolly Green Giant and lower the camera. With other baits, it can take a long time and a lot of chumming before carp stop to investigate or eat it. 

“If you pre-bait an area for an extended duration, you can have great success catching larger fish with other baits, especially boilies (a hardened, flavored dough bait that fends off smaller nuisance fish.) Another great carp bait is a pack-bait recipe combining sweetcorn and bread, which nearly always produces fish.”

Interestingly, Cutler frequently observes carp eating mouthfuls of invasive mussels. “I see carp eating zebra mussels on the camera all the time. I believe it’s why carp grow so large in the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. Come fall when temperatures drop, carp move in to deeper rocky areas with heavy mussel concentrations. Carp sometimes feed so heavily on zebra mussels that they develop red sores on the roof of their mouth resulting from the sharp shell edges.” Carp crush shells and ingest the soft-bodied mollusks with special pharyngeal teeth in their throat. “After watching carp in the same area, you begin to differentiate certain specific fish by visible characteristics, such as scale patterns, scars, etc.,” he notes. “For me, a fun challenge is to target individual big carp I see on the camera screen. We call it ‘specimen hunting.’ I’ve named one particular carp Popeye, and I’ve been trying to catch him for two years now. I see him on almost every outing, but I’m still waiting for him bite my rig. Hopefully, next time.”