BY BOB AND GINNY RIEGE

The wind was blowing about 35 miles per hour and the snow was falling horizontally as we settled into Bob Auel’s wheelhouse on Leech Lake. The annual eelpout festival had ended and Bob had a few days before a guide trip with Leisure Outdoor Adventures, to take us out on the ice for a lesson on the use of an underwater camera.

Lowering the Vexilar Fish Scout camera to the depth of 24 feet we started to see a variety of fish appear on the flat panel screen. First there was a perch, then another until we could count six with some larger walleyes moving in the background. Our offerings on ice spoons ranged from euro-larva to minnows and even some plastic Gulp for good measure.

We watched as perch came into our baits and looked at them as we jigged, or merely swam away without hesitation. Suddenly, we noticed that the water became cloudy and all of the perch were gone from the screen. About five minutes later, the water clarity returned but lying right below our fish house was a five to six pound northern. He had taken up an ambush spot and had settled into the soft floor of Leech Lake waiting in ambush for some unsuspecting perch or walleye to swim by.

Fishermen have used fish finders or flashers using sonar technology for many years to gain a glimpse of the underwater world. Trouble with these units is it is difficult for some fishermen to interrupt sonar signals. For many it might be just as difficult to build a mental image of what the underwater world looks like. Whether you are ice fishing or fishing open water, underwater fishing cameras take all the guesswork out of seeing underwater. With a very clear image fishermen now easily identify fish including species, along with seeing the type of bottom and any other associated structure such as fallen trees, weed beds, and rock. Simply put, using an underwater fishing camera is like watching TV from a recliner in your living room.

As soon as your hole is drilled and free from ice chips, put your camera down the hole and lower all the way until it is just above the bottom. Turning the cord slowly, look and see what is surrounding your ice shelter. It would be great to see some fish, but if not don’t fret. Make sure to turn the camera at least 360 degrees. It is even better if you do this a few times stopping to look if anything catches your eye. Is there any structure in the general area that will attract fish? Are there any weeds surrounding your fishing spot? If there are weeds, ideally look for healthy weeds that are green in color. Are there drop offs around and/or any boulders that may bring in the fish? This simple procedure is an excellent way to note why a successful spot in the past is attracting fish or to understand if a new spot holds any promise prior to fishing it for a long time. If it does not look promising, pack up and move to another spot that does look promising.

Watch the monitor and pay attention to how the fish are reacting to your bait. Through the camera, you will be able to see if the fish are reacting favorably to jig movement, or if they are not. This will tell you how you should control your bait for that day and will greatly increase your success rate. We discovered by watching the monitor that the perch were interested in the euro-larva when it was held perfectly still. Walleyes on the other hand wanted the minnow and they wanted it jigged or moved then held stationary while they sucked it in.

Underwater cameras will show the fisherman what type of structure exists underwater and what fish inhabit them. Obviously fishing where the fish are improves the likelihood of catching fish. Knowing what structure exists will help determine the bait and presentation for the fishing effort. This type of scouting can be done while not actively fishing. Use a handheld global positioning system to note the exact location of spots on the lake or river that holds promise for future fishing trips.

Whether your’re ice fishing or fishing in the open water, an underwater fishing camera will help you become a better fisherman. For years I relied on my Vexilar flasher to see underwater for me when ice fishing. And yes a flasher will help you catch more fish. But a flasher can’t tell you what species of fish is below you, or separate fish from tree branches nearly as well as an underwater camera can. After using an underwater fishing camera both ice fishing and in the open water I have witnessed first hand just how valuable of a tool an underwater fishing camera is. Now Vexilar has combined the underwater camera with the flasher unit and have named it Double Vision. “The Fish Scout Double Vision system starts with a great 16:9 wide-screen color monitor, 80 foot of cable, a color/black and white camera system that automatically shifts from color to black and white mode in low light conditions. Your Fish Scout Double Vision system has its own carrying case with two options for over- hole suspension arms and even a battery status indicator. This system comes with a 9-amp hour, 12-volt battery and a 1-amp hour battery charger. The FL20 Tri-Beam Ice-Ducer system is the ultimate sonar system. It has two zoom zones for deep water fishing, a night mode option and special low power mode for shallow water fishing.” According to www.vexilar.com.

Enjoy the underwater world. I suggest that an underwater camera will help hold the attention of children during a fishing trip. Other uses include monitoring the lake bottom and occasionally finding some lost item. An underwater camera can also help backup some of the proverbial fish stories about the one that got away.

As you can see, there are many ways that an underwater camera can help while out on the ice. By using these tactics, your underwater camera can become a secret weapon. Seeing is believing. For more ice fishing or open water fish on Leech Lake contact Bob Auel’s Guide Service at 612-518-3298 or on the web at www.leisureoutdooradventures.com.