Ice fishing is a great way to spend time with family and friends. However, it can be difficult to attract the fish when you’re not using bait.
One solution is to use an underwater camera that lets you see what’s happening below the ice.
One of the most important things to consider when ice fishing is whether or not your camera will scare away any fish.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at what you can do to reduce that likelihood and help you get better pictures while fishing.
Let’s dive in!
Contents
Do ice fishing cameras scare fish?
You’re probably wondering if underwater cameras scare fish away. The answer to this question may depend on the type of fish you’re after.
Some fish are more sensitive than others and can be scared off with a camera that looks like an animal or predator.
Other types of fish don’t care about their environment and might not even notice your camera.
If you want to know what kind of fish live in the area before deciding whether or not to bring your camera, do some research beforehand!
You can determine what fish are in the lake you are at by doing some of the following:
- Gather intel from the local bait shop. Fishermen in the shop can tell you what’s working and what’s biting. They can also tell you the best parts of the lake to fish at.
- Check the Department of Fish and Wildlife for that area. The authorities protecting the environment for the fish will know what species are in the area. You can check their website or call them.
The camera usually only scares fish when it is first dropped into the water. This is in part because they’re environment changes so abruptly.
Typically, once fish adjust to it being there, they tend not to be as worried. At times, fish will actually check out the camera and possibly attempt to bite it!
Are underwater cameras worth it for ice fishing?
Underwater cameras can help you see what’s going on in the surrounding body of water to give you an idea of what you’re working with.
You should take into consideration what depth you’re fishing at before using the camera.
The depth can have a huge impact on the potential visibility of your camera.
As long as you’re not fishing in very deep water, underwater cameras have several advantages when ice fishing:
- They can check what fish are around you.
- Underwater cameras help ice fishermen by letting them see the bottom of their fishing hole, to make sure they’re only catching what they want, avoiding snags and rocks.
- It’ll help you avoid the smaller fish you might not care about which will prevent you from wasting your time.
- Underwater cameras also let fishermen know if there is anything in the water that might scare away fish like turtles or snakes.
- The camera can help find mud/sand/gravel transitions near your location which helps determine if there’s fish and what species are near your location.
- The cameras can increase the fun by allowing you to watch schools of fish swim by. Fishing takes patience and watching them on a screen can help the time go by as you wait patiently for a bite.
- Also, in today’s digital age, the camera can record your trip to show off your fishing skills! It’s great when sharing on social media or with friends so they can see what an epic day out ice fishing looks like.
- Finally, video footage allows you to relive the experience and be able to share it with friends or family even if they weren’t there.
- Using a camera also allows you to see the fish’s reaction to your lure or bait. This is useful in determining if the fish are interested in your bait and will actually bite.
You should keep in mind the body of water you’re fishing in. If it’s dirty lake water or murky, you will most likely not be able to see anything.
A trick that experienced ice fishers use is to shovel as much snow away from their hole as possible to allow light to shine through into the water.
This will greatly improve visibility!
If you’re fishing in a river, your visibility will depend on how clear the water is and what angle your underwater camera is at.
The best option for viewing fish would be a lake or pond with clean and clear water and low weeds, where the fish can easily swim around.
Some disadvantages to underwater cameras:
- The price of underwater cameras can be expensive compared to other ice fishing equipment like nets or lures.
- Underwater cameras have a short battery life so you’ll need extra batteries on hand if your trip is long.
- It’s hard to tell if you’ve snagged bottom or a fish with an underwater camera.
- Underwater cameras also tend to fog up in cold weather, which can make them hard to use.
- The camera’s battery can freeze and be ruined in cold weather. So, it may not work well during ice fishing season or on very cold days.
- They require a fair amount of setup time and the owner must take care that they don’t get dunked while fishing with them.
There are many reasons why you might want an underwater camera while ice fishing, but they may not be necessary if the goal is just to have fun on the ice.
Does light attract fish while ice fishing?
As long as the light is not abruptly turned on in front of fish, they’re not afraid of the light. Typically, light under water will attract fish.
It does depend on the depth and time of day you’re using a light to attract fish.
At night or in deeper water, the light will do a better job of attracting fish.
But, if you’re only dropping the light a few feet on a sunnier, more visible day, the light will not be as effective for attracting fish.
Keeping your distance is key in order for them not to feel threatened by any type of light source.
If done properly when using artificial lighting while ice fishing, they can attract the attention of more fish, allowing for more successful fishing.
An advantage of using fishing lights when ice fishing is that you will not have to roam much.
When lights are placed under the water, they will attract plankton and increase their visibility. This improves the visibility of the main food source for schools of baitfish.
When these baitfish are attracted, it’ll lead to bigger game fish coming to the area to feed on the baitfish.
What is the best color light for attracting fish?
Green light is the undisputed best choice for attracting fish.
Due to its short wavelengths, it can penetrate the water’s surface and make it clearer.
This color will help jumpstart the ecosystem of your surrounding location to increase the number of fish and baitfish near your light.
Keep in mind, if you’re in an area where there aren’t any fish nearby to begin with, the light will probably not serve you well.
In combination with a camera, you can check to see if the area has potential for bountiful fishing prior to using a light.
Another effective light color is blue!
What is the worst color light for attracting fish?
The worst color light for use when ice fishing is red.
Red light is absorbed more easily due to its short wavelengths, meaning it does not carry well.
This means it has a less visible range compared to other colors.
Is fishing with lights legal?
Laws and regulations for ice fishing vary from state to state.
Some states may allow you to use lights on the ice while others won’t permit it under any circumstance.
If you are unsure of your state’s laws, check with local authorities or an online resource for clarification before using a light source when ice fishing!
Many states also only allow fishing at night for particular species or in specific locations.
Make sure you contact your state’s authority if you are unsure about the ramifications of using a light when ice fishing, day or night.
There are several reasons why fishing with lights may be illegal in your state.
It can increase bycatch, meaning the capture of unintended species of fish which can damage the ecosystem.
The effectiveness of lights can result in overfishing, another issue that will greatly damage a delicate ecosystem.
Using lights can also catch immature fish which will reduce the potential population by having fewer fish reproduce when the season comes around.
Conclusion
In conclusion, fishing with underwater cameras has many advantages and provides you with important information.
You are able to see if you have chosen a good spot, you can get feedback from the fish on the effectiveness of your lure, and cameras are great entertainment for your trip.
Cameras can be worth it to help those that are serious about having successful trips.
If you’re not a serious fisherman, a camera might not be the best choice compared to other possible tools such as different baits and lures.
Using a camera with the assistance of a light will usually not scare fish away and give you a huge advantage during your trip.
However, make sure you check with your state about the legality of using a light when ice fishing as it may be illegal due to the possible damage it can cause to the surrounding ecosystem.