Avid fishermen, and also ardent fans of flying radio-controlled drone models, show in practice that the idea of using drones for fishing is very interesting and real. And many even managed to try to bring it to life. Let’s take a closer look at the process.
With the advancement of technological progress and the reduction in the cost of amateur drones, the use of quadcopters for fishing was only a matter of time. As soon as sufficiently productive models began to appear on the market, angling enthusiasts began to actively adapt the flying assistants to bait fish (at least).
Talking about the effectiveness of a quadcopter for fishing, you should not exaggerate its capabilities. It will not do all the work for you, but it will make it easier and turn an ordinary thing into a gambling and exciting one.
Here are 5 unusual ways to use drones while fishing
- Searching for schools of fish using an echo sounder and obtaining information about the size and weight of fish, as well as the direction of movement of the school;
- The remote casting of bait and bait at certain points;
- High-resolution underwater photography, including at great depths using a searchlight;
- Live video broadcast;
- Inspection of the reservoir with the effect of full immersion using VR glasses.
Thanks to each of them, you can easily find the right place to fish, as well as easily cast the bait anywhere. Diving in real-time online will also not leave you indifferent and will make your hobby even more exciting.
Benefits of using drones
- All in one. A powerful set of recreational fishing tools fits into a small and lightweight carrying case suitable for transport by land, air, and personal transport.
- Move the drone at a distance from the coast, find a school of fish, and layout the bait; the whole process is fully controlled, accompanied by video filming and live broadcasting of the image.
- Assess the situation in those places where it is impossible to look on your own. Dive to depths of up to 30 meters, look under the ice, and scan the water area with sonar while remaining in a comfortable and safe place on the shore.
Applications
- Fishing on the lake, in the reservoir
- Exploring underwater space, water temperature, and depth
- Saving time for preparing and determining the fishing spot
- Support for the installation of a boat for the delivery of bait, quick release of the bait
- Real-time monitoring of the situation and fish around the bait
- Support live streaming and recording of the fishing process
Fishing on a boat, raft
Determination of underwater topography, temperature, water depth, and fish school location
- Helps to determine the depth of the fish, the type of fish
- Supports live streaming and recording of the fishing process
- Winter fishing
- Determination of underwater topography, temperature, depth, and location of fish
- Saving time for preparing and determining the fishing spot
- After casting the bait, it allows you to observe the situation with the fish in real-time
- Supports live streaming and recording of the fishing process
Fishing with bait
- Determination of temperature, depth, fish species, and location of the school
- After dropping the bait, real-time monitoring of the situation around the bait
- Supports Sonar Installation
- Supports live streaming and recording of the fishing process
Can you buy the right drone for fishing?
Several manufacturers have already started adding drone fishing gear and attachments to the base kit, and this has become a separate category of “fishing models.”
A dedicated set of accessories, including sonars and electrospinning, create a true system that helps you pinpoint the location of a school and then catch it quickly after casting the bait.
Such systems are quite expensive (the price of a basic set starts at $3,000), and for this reason, they are not numerous on the RC-model market.
If you are attracted by sports fishing excitement, then it is quite possible to take a closer look at amateur drones, but do not think that you can get off with a penny model. A light-budget drone is sure to be a disappointment, especially if the angler doesn’t have the proper piloting skills.
Fishing with a quadcopter should be planned in closed waters, in calm, windless weather. But in addition to weather conditions, you need to choose a model that matches several parameters:
Availability of the «autopilot» option. If the signal is lost, the drone will be able to return to the take-off site without any problems because a fall into the water threatens the inevitable «death» of the model.
Availability of the «Altitude Hold Mode» function. Stabilization in the air and the ability to maintain altitude are additional guarantees of the safety of your drone.
Water resistance is, of course, a desirable option if we are going to fly over the water surface.
Availability of navigation aids. Positioning using GPS coordinates will help you cast the bait exactly at a certain place and then safely return to the starting point. This point is worth considering if you plan to move away from the coast for a considerable distance (more than 100 meters).
The option to turn in place by 360 degrees is necessary so that the device can turn around before returning to base.
Capacious battery. Make sure you have enough energy for a smooth round trip. Found the slightest malfunction – give up the idea; otherwise, the flight over the water may be the last.
Probably the first prerequisite for successful drone fishing is the ability to skillfully pilot and instantly respond to non-standard situations (for example, a sudden gust of wind or an unexpectedly large, which means heavy fish that quickly swallowed the bait). Therefore, before heading to the pond, ensure that your flying skills are sufficient for maneuvering flight.
An example of a great drone model for fishing
The PowerRay underwater drone can dive to a depth of 30 meters and is designed to operate in both fresh and saltwater. The drone’s battery life reaches four hours.
An unmanned underwater robot can show the situation underwater and determine the presence of fish there. The video is received on a smartphone, laptop, or virtual reality glasses. The drone is equipped with built-in lighting and a bait holder. Its signal is transmitted over a waterproof, robust 30-meter cable connected to a beacon drifting on the surface. PowerRay will be controlled with special remote control and a smartphone, tablet, or virtual reality glasses by tilting the head.
Searching for fish can be performed using a video camera using the included VR glasses, but this is not limited to the possibilities. The Wizard model drone takes the process to the next level. This is achieved through light bait and the use of PowerSeeker sonar. It sends an alert about the detection of fish to a mobile device and transmits telemetry data about the state of the bottom, depth, water temperature, etc. Also, the sonar can be used for remote installation of bait or additional light bait.
Using this example, we just show you what technical characteristics a drone should have for fishing and what functions it can perform. Now you can definitely choose the best quadcopter option for yourself
Fishing is a favorite hobby for many, a real rest from work. Technological progress does not stand still and helps us make our life easier and more convenient. Your vacation can be made many times more enjoyable and exciting by saving yourself unnecessary problems and starting to use a special drone. An amazing miracle of technology will give you new opportunities. However, classic fishing without the participation of flying and underwater robots also remains an excellent pastime. We hope this article was useful and interesting for you and your hobby.
About the author:
Kyle Enciso is a financial analyst who analyzes the financial market without error. He works for ICOholder company. Kyle believes that the best work is done quickly and accurately.
