GoPro Mounts and RATS!

I got the answers I need about GoPro battery life, I have a shiny new HERO7, and realized right away that the mounting rig I planned to use wasn't going to work with a fly rod.  With a gear rod, sure - since that's what I used 100 percent of the time when I put the rig together - but it'll be in the way when fly casting.

I'd like to learn what others are using to mount an action camera to their kayak(s).  Two things that are important to me are: (1) I paddle, so I'll need to mount a good setup to a position out of the way when paddling, and (2) I don't use gear tracks, so I need to be able to adapt a good setup to other fitting.

I'd add (3) a setup I can mount and dismount easily when launching and landing because I'm capable of creating a calamity in a flat, calm pond - and I'd rather not have a camera running to capture those moments...

(crash, that's why "Oh, $hit!" probably won't work for my voice command)

I've watched a bunch of YouTube videos about mounting cameras (more than a few folks mount 5 or more cameras at a time!) and haven't seen one that looks promising.

Help!  Help!

PM sent.

in the way when fly casting.

(1) (2) (3)

Help!  Help!

A head, vest, or chest mount would cover all four of your points if you want a POV look.  If you want more of a selfie shot it obviously wouldn't work.

Thank you.  I'm sure it would keep everything out of the way for the most part, but I'm looking for something different than point of view videos when in the kayak.  I won't rule them out for my bank-fishing adventures, but where I was once poised and coordinated, I tend of fall over a lot more often lately than before now.

Why, just the other day I did a World Class, Blue Ribbon belly flop onto a sheet of plywood I walking up like it was a ramp.  A GoPro on my chest would have made that one a bit less fun for me, but maybe not for the audience.

I haven't seen a vest mount.  I'll have to look that one up.

I have a YakAttack camera boom stick that attaches to a rod holder - made by RAM mounts.  Could that work for you?
It's about 4ft long (I'm sure you could get longer if desired) - you could have the boom in a rod holder coming from behind your seat down low and looking to one side (the side you land all your fish on).  It's got all kinds of angular adjustments on both ends.

What fish?  Who said I catch fish.  I just sit in my kayak, stylin' and applaud when that guy I fiah with catches fish - especially salmon.

Thank you, bb2.  I saw a video where someone uses YakAttack mounts but I thought their sticks could only be mounted on a gear track.  I'll look again.

I'm thinking I may make one of my own patterned on a design I blatantly stole from Captain Redbeard.  I have a can of yellow permanent PVC dye I use for other DIY attachments and the thought of a custom homemade camera boom that matches my Trident is mighty enticing.  Stylin' counts, you know.  After all, if you can't catch fish, you may as well look good doing it.

I use a homemade boom shooting from behind me and an articulated Scotty arm in front.  I may upgrade the rear mount to a YakAttak boom in the future but the front camera is perfect for me.

-Mark-

I use a homemade boom shooting from behind me and an articulated Scotty arm in front.  I may upgrade the rear mount to a YakAttak boom in the future but the front camera is perfect for me.

-Mark-

Thanks, Mark, but hold on - you aren't getting off that easily.  What more can you tell me about your front mount?  It looks like it would work behind me with a little tweaking to put the camera a bit further outboard, but I haven't run across "an articulated Scotty arm".

And how did you attach the camera to your rear homemade boom?  I've seen one DIY method that works, but I always appreciate every tip and suggestion I can get.

- Kevin

Damn you Tink!  You'll probably want pictures too....

I use a Scotty Gear Head Mount Extender for the arm
http://scotty.com/product/no-429-gear-head-mount-extender/

with a Scotty Camera Mount
http://scotty.com/product/no-135-portable-camera-mount-for-your-sports-cam-or-standard-camera/

attached to a Round Flush Deck Mount
http://scotty.com/product/no-344-round-flush-deck-mount/

I forego the slip disks that I use in my rod holder articulated arm because I don't want the camera moving once it's mounted.  It can be adjusted but it can't be knocked out of position.

The homemade boom is a two piece telescoping arm from some useless thing I had in my garage.  It extends to about 6 feet but I usually have it at 4'.  I'll take a picture later and add it. 

You can see how these two angles work together in this video:


-Mark-

Oh my God, Mark!  That's the best damned fishing video I've seen!  I ran right out to create a YouTube account just so I could subscribe to your channel.  Wow!  Forget the parts list, thank you for that!

And thanks for the parts list, too.

Wow!