Underwater test for gopro - Need flat lens replacement

Not sure where to put this.  I think we've seen some really interesting underwater videos from various folks.  Yesterday I went out icefishing and tried my new set up.  After seeing the results and doing the research, I think a flat lens is a must for underwater gopro footage.  Just ordered a flat lens housing so we'll see how it works and will report back  once I use it.

I also hear the new Gopro 2 is much better at low light conditions. 

Here's the vid I shot yesterday while ice fishing. It was about 12 feet deep.  A few more details on my blogs http://guidesak.blogspot.com

Cool video.

did you have a second hole with the camera dropped to the bottom in it?

Cool video.

did you have a second hole with the camera dropped to the bottom in it?

Yup. I mounted it on the base the gopro came in, weighted it down and attached a line to it. The fish eating the sinker was on the camera line to get the line out of the way of the lens.  It was about 3 feet away from the hole I was fishing though it looks farther away.  Unless the flat lens really improves thing, I may have to have it closer and looking more "up" to get a better image though it will be more of a silhouette.  The water is fairly clear so I was a bit disspaointed in the light capturing abilities at 12 ft.  I have videos from a sunny day in slatwater at 70ft and there was more light.  I'm trying to rig up a system for the kayak that will allow me to drop the camera on a pole maybe 5 or 6 ft down and as far away from me as possible to get a wider view.  Now its going to have to be even farther as all my research shows a flat lens is going to work MUCH better for focus and clarity than the wide angle lens underwater.

Fun to try out new things though.   

Damn---now I've got camera lust---again!!

The 6" of ice cut down a lot of the ambient light.  Those were some fat rainbows.  Nice.  I am shocked at the numbers of fish. 

Didn't take you long from leaving Seattle to hitting the ice.  Nice meeting you!

The 6" of ice cut down a lot of the ambient light.  Those were some fat rainbows.  Nice.  I am shocked at the numbers of fish. 

Didn't take you long from leaving Seattle to hitting the ice.  Nice meeting you!

Hey hey, nice meeting you as well.  Always great to attach real person to the digital one. 

I started taking notes when I saw fish, and there wasn't 30 seconds that went by in my three hour of footage that there wasn't something on the view screen.  Mainly immature salmon.  That did surprise me.  I am trying to make a sped up video to show my friends because they were surprised too. 

True about the light but it seems like we sight fish with 3 feet of ice later in the year.  It just seemed really dark.  Landed in Anchorage at 7pm saturday at 7pm, was on the ice at 1pm Sunday.  I WASTED an entire half day since sunrise is at 9:23 am and sunset is at 4:07pm.  Very disappointing...lol.  Gotta try harder.

Go pro2 ordered, Eye of mine flat lens housing ordered.  Also a mako flat lens kit. But I am all thumbs so it's going to take a little testing before I trust anything that I tinkered with regarding the mako replacement lens.   Hopefully it improves the underwater clarity.   

Bonus footage!  lol.

I posted this on an ice fishing forum for Alaska so I thought I'd share.
Just food for thought....

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So to show my friends, I took 18 minutes of footage, pretty much at random and sped it up 10X to show the activity that happens under the ice.  Now keep in mind that if you weren't looking down the hole, you'd think there was nothing there since I didn't hook a fish during this 18 minute portion.  What amazed even me, was the number of fish on the video that I didn't see while peering down the hole in a darkened shack.  I can watch fish all day so I find it interesting.  Others may just scratch their heads and say "so? What's the point of the video?"  But I am an information nut and I like to think it helps me become a better fisherman and I don't know anyone who fishes that doesn't think catching isn't more fun than just fishing!

So here's the lessons I learned at how this type of "research" changes or reinforces some of things I do to be a better ice fisherman.

1) Looking down the hole is not only good to see the fish strike but also gives you tremendous confidence knowing that the fish are there.  Now I know that for every fish I see even in fairly shallow water, there are probably another 4 or 5 outside the hole I can't see.

2) You can see the small immature salmon congregate whenever I re-positioned the camera and kicked up a cloud of silt.  We often bounce or large spoons off the bottom for a similar effect.  I know a buddy of mine that will aggressively pound the bottom and just let his spoon lie on the bottom with no action for a few seconds.  big fish will suck up the lure right off the bottom.  The only reason I don't do it more is it clouds up the water and I love to sight fish so its a love/hate deal for me.  What I may do is to jig a big spoon or even use a 8oz cannon ball sinker and just pound the bottom with it every now and then.  Not sure if its the silt cloud, the sound, or the combination that attracts them but I know it does.

3) It's hard to tell when its sped up 10X but what you would notice at normal speed is that all the immature salmon came cruising leisurely by.  That's not good.  They are too comfortable.  I have witnessed many times where small immature salmon or sticklebacks would be swarming my bait and then all the sudden instantaneously scatter and you know a big fish is near by.

4) With the number of 6 to 8 inch immature salmon I saw on the tape, I am definitely going to spend some time jigging BIG spoons or big swimbaits here.  There has to be BIG fish utilizing this food source.  I have caught some nice dollies and burbot on Big Lake using spoons that I used to jig halibut and rockfish.  I think they were 3oz 5 inch long Krockadile spoons designed for saltwater.  These days I hear you have a shot at Big Pike as well. 

Ok, killing time before the turkey hit the table.  Besides I am going FISHING timorrow.  Too bad it isn't from the yak.  But I hope that what I learn from a still environment will translate into better footage from the yak.

So here's two ice fishing video tools I put together last night.  One is to drop to the bottom.  It's not heavy enough for in current situations.  But this should eliminate the dark bottom and get over some of the weedy and soft bottom areas where the camera just sitting on the bottom won't be optimal.  PVC, electrical box, and some lead in the base.  Attach the camera with a handlebar, seat bar mount. 

The second is much simpler but I hope this can be adapted to underwater shots from the yak once I figure out a mounting system. It's a little over 8 ft long and I figure I can rotate it 360 degrees.  Just PVC pipe with a bungie running down it.  Any advice on being able to adjust the length on the go would be welcome.  SHouldn't be that hard but couldn't find anything I wanted at Home depot. 

I wonder if I will have to paint either to keep the fish from shying away from the area. 

Hope to try both out tomorrow!  Any and all suggestions welcome.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

I use a 12' paint roller extension with the go pro handlebar mount. Got it at Lowes for about $20.

I use a 12' paint roller extension with the go pro handlebar mount. Got it at Lowes for about $20.

Is it aluminum?  I was thinking of using a golf ball retriever.  They collapse small and extend to 18 feet.  I think your paint roller would be much sturdier though.  I will have to go look at some.

Yes, I'll have it tomorrow.

The half inch PVC pipe for ice fishing is nowhere near stiff enuf. You need something stiffer for our of water shooting or your video will be shaky. Something like the paint roller handle should work for not only durability but  to eliminate shaking. I may go get one if those!


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