OK, I'm not unfamiliar with the "hope something swims by" part, but I prefer my water considerably softer -and warmer- than the surface of a frozen inland ocean. Being an average warm-weather angler, I have never tried ice fishing. To catch ice, I go to my refrigerator.
As you can imagine, that makes me slow on the uptake for useful ice-fishing gear. Until about a week ago, that included the now seemingly ubiquitous imaging systems that ice anglers drop into their tiny fishing holes and watch for something to swim by.
Aqua-Vu's Claw system. Now you can not only look under the water, you can use the claw to find- and retrieve- things you or other anglers might have accidently deposited down there. |
That's because a press announcement the other day caught my eye. In turn, I asked Aqua-Vu to send me one of their newest camera units. It's purpose isn't just to watch the happenings down there. This unit is made to initiate underwater action.
When it arrived, I realized that Aqua-Vu's Claw Discover wasn't just a camera, it was the underwater equivalent of the metal detector. An underwater treasure hunting rig appeals to me.
Technically, The Claw combines an Aqua-Vu camera system with a powered basket (the claw) that can be opened and closed on objects.. The company says it can be used for finding things as small as car keys or as large as marine batteries. I can't say that for certain, but I do know from experimentation that it's certainly capable of picking up rocks that weighed about ten pounds.
The view through the Aqua-Vu camera (Above) is clear and extends about three feet with no effort in clear water. (Below) LEDs around the camera also provide illumination that should help you separate trash from treasure - or decide which crab you really want for dinner. |
But I had a great time watching big trout swim up against the camera lens to see what the heck was hanging off their dock. The size of those trout explained why there are "no fishing from the dock" signs all over that dock.
Looking through the seven-inch HD LCD screen, it was easy to pick out detail through the Sony HD 480 TVL camera the system uses. Thirteen LEDs around the camera help you see clearly, even in dark conditions. And 75 feet of Hd marine cable looped around the dry end of the system means you're capable of dropping a camera further than you can see-or deeper than you'd want to venture without a scuba tank.
But it's certainly more than an expensive (MSRP$999.99) toy.
With the lift capacity, a battery life allowing nearly 8 hours of continuous use, and high-definition color imaging, the Aqua-Vu Claw could certainly be a serious piece of equipment for law enforcement, marine mechanics, and dock owners. If you're looking for evidence, a lost propeller or motor part or a visitor's dropped a cellphone off the dock, the Claw is more than capable of searching an area in a very thorough manner. It's also far simpler than dragging out the mask, snorkel and flippers in 50-degree weather.
Walking around a fishing dock on Arkansas' White River last week, I had no problem keeping the Claw in the water and moving accurately, despite a fairly stiff current. And the test unit was missing the wraparound sun shade for the monitor and stabilizing fin to help hold the unit more steady in a heavy current. The weight of the unit itself, especially when swinging from several feet of the cable, still offered a stable enough platform that I could look around without feeling as if the Claw was being buffeted about.
The bright yellow case might give the impression that the Claw is a toy, but the components are all ruggedly built and solidly assembled. Exactly what I'd expect from a company that developed its technology around frigid weather conditions and water that's a bit harder than what warm-weather guys like me are accustomed to.
If you've ever lost a valuable piece of gear overboard in water too-deep to reach without a scuba tank, you won't have any problem seeing the possible applications of Aqua-Vu's Claw. Learn more - and watch a video of it in action at http://www.aquavu.com/Products/AV-Claw/Aqua-Vu-Claw-Discover. Unlike other units offered by the company, the Claw I tested didn't have a hard disk recording capability, although it does have a video out that would attach to one of their mini hard disk recorders. As an add-on, it would complete what is already an attractive package- especially in underwater investigations.
--Jim Shepherd