hen you find a major concentration, it’s best to anchor securely. They settle down once quiet resumes and fish will start to move from the thickest cover to edges where you’ll spot and catch them without alarming others.

Underwater Cameras

Of course, crappies spend most of the year at depths beyond what even the keenest-eyed angler can detect. The development of underwater cameras extends our ability to peer into the world of our quarry. Underwater cameras have proven extremely popular with anglers who fish clear lakes and reservoirs, which we might define as those where a crankbait can be seen two feet below the surface, directly down from the side of the boat.

In-Fisherman co-founder Al Lindner has been a fan of underwater cameras since field-testing them in the late 1990s. “After scouting with an Aqua-Vu, my mind is alive with new places to take it,” he states. “I thought I had a pretty good idea of what structures looked like, so I was shocked to see how wrong I’d been about some spots.”

Minnesota fishing pro Ted Capra echoes Lindner’s enthusiasm. “Underwater cameras are one of the most important new tools for anglers since sonar. I’ve wondered why I’ve caught fish on only one side of a bar, and now I know. Does the camera give anglers an unfair advantage? Typically, if I view a spot and see 10 or 20 fish, I may catch a few of them. But at times, schools seem uncatchable. There’s no way to make fish bite. When I first started scouting I caught lots fewer fish, because I spent more time looking and less time fishing.”

Today, underwater viewing systems are available with features like lights for night viewing and enhanced camera positioning systems. Many can be bought for less than the cost of a good sonar or trolling motor, or about the same as a top-of-the line reel.

We’ve found that a camera doesn’t usually spook panfish or bass. Rather, fish often seem curious, swimming up to investigate the apparatus. Closely examining specific cover objects on favorite spots demonstrates that subtle characteristics attract groups of crappie, while other nearly identical areas remain fishless. We’ve discovered that it isn’t odd to spot crappies roaming far above the bottom, sometimes removed from cover objects. We’ve also learned that crappies sometimes do swim downward to chase prey.

Beyond solving mysteries, underwater viewing during fishing trips brings an immediate boost of confidence, whether you’re exploring a new lake or preparing for tournament competition. Accurate visualization spawns this confidence, a mindset that inevitably yields more fish.