Drones have become part and parcel of everyday life and it is not only for professionals but armatures as well are increasingly integrating them in their lives. Over the past few years, drone fishing has become a popular occurrence. While some traditional fishing diehards say that it is a lazy way to fish, fishing drones makes it fun and easier.
In this light, several drone manufacturers are producing drones for fishing and you ought to check them out. Browsing on Amazon or other ecommerce sites will give you a multitude of fishing drones, and you ought to be careful in how you make your choice. We have a buying guide that you will find useful, but today, we look at how to fish with drones.
Benefits of Drone Fishing
Global warming is causing unusual fish migration as they adapt to changing water temperatures. What this means is that they are constantly searching for new breeding and feeding grounds. What this means for fishing enthusiasts is that they have to work harder and longer using traditional fishing methods.
The introduction of drones in fishing has several benefits and we suppose that there will be more as drone fishing gains in momentum across the world. Here are the benefits you will get from using fishing drones.
Scouting for fish grounds
It is getting harder everyday for the traditional fishing enthusiast to find fish worth reeling in, and this takes too much time. One of the earliest applications of fishing drones was in scouting for new fishing grounds. While it might seem daunting to fly your expensive drone over water, you could get a person who knows how to fly it and you can monitor what it sees in real time. This way, you will have better luck identifying where you need to drop your bait.
What’s more, you could use your fishing drone for scouting missions and you could keep other fishermen in the know where they can expect to find the fish. You could earn some good money while you are at it too.
Drop bait faster
Since the introduction of drones in fishing, fishermen can now drop bait faster than ever in places they have identified a shoal of fish. Various fishermen have invented new ways of dropping bait that s easier and less tedious than the time-tested angling or torpedo kontiki.
There are a variety of propulsion systems to choose from and you ought to identify the one that will work best with your drone. Power is of great importance when it comes to dropping bait, so be on the look out for a battery that gives you enough fly time and power. Also go for a drone with GPS capabilities. It will come in handy when dropping the bait.
Drones make fishing easier
Fishing of yester years involved a lot of equipment and this required extra hands to make the fishing expedition a success. However, with fishing drones, one able person can carry the equipment alone with ease. This makes it easer for you to go fishing alone when you want to clear your head.
More so, when you need to undertake long distance casting, most fishermen use kayaks and boats. The price of a kayak or a simple boat s about the same as that of a fishing drone. The drone is simpler to use, compact and will do the job more efficiently.
Catch bigger fish
With fish moving further away from the shores, it means that the probability of angling a fish worth talking about are slim. Since you know where the fish are, you can use the drone to drop the bait, and you will have a higher chance of catching the big fish. Fishermen have reported hooking sharks among other big fish.
When it comes to tuna fishing, using boats and kayaks is frustrating and takes much time. A fishing drone makes the experience exciting and efficient with fewer or no losses at all. Read on to the end for how to fish with drones.
Fish photography
Several videos on YouTube has got tongues wagging about fish photography. Traditionally, many photographers would have to board a boat and search for fish for hours. With FPV fishing drones, you now get a front row seat to what the camera on the drone is seeing and you can take perfect aerial photos of fish whenever you want. You can also record video and you will be set to become a fish photographer not only a fisherman.
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5 Best Drones for Fishing
Ordinary drones will hardly give you the service you require. This is because they are not suited to be flown over large areas of water and they corrode easily. While waterproof drones will play the part for a moment, your best bet is in using fishing drones. There are various options to choose from and here is our list of the five best fishing drones you will get today.
1 Splash Drone 3 Fishing Drone
Splash Drones by Swellpro have completely changed the drone game altogether. The Splash Drone 3 Fishing Drone comes equipped with a 4K camera and it has a payload release system. The battery gives the drone 16 minutes of flight time and it will survive several dunking in the water. You could get more batteries if you are fishing from a boat.
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2 DJI Phantom 4 Pro
This is one of the best all round drones and it became one of the best drones for fishing when a video popped up on YouTube where two guys were catching longtail tuna with the drone in Australia. It can fly for approximately half an hour, with a range of 7 kilometers, uses a 4K quality camera at 60 fps. It also comes with obstacle avoidance, intelligent flight modes, and so much more.
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3 Upair One
This drone gives approximately 18 minutes on a single charge with a range of 300 meters. The 4K quality camera will be useful in scouting for fish. It is an easy drone to use and it is one of the most affordable on the list. The receiver has a 7-inch monitor with altitude hold, auto take off and landing and so much more.
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4 Autel X-Star Premium
This is a ready to fly fishing drone that is similar to the DJI Phantom Pro in terms of features, but it is cheaper. You will get 25 minutes of flight time and a range of 2 kilometers, and in this time, you will have spotted the best places to cast your bait. When the battery reaches 25% the drone goes into autonomous mode and it will fly to you. If it reaches 10% the drone will start to land itself in the current location. The camera has a 4K capabilities and it will do more for you than just spotting.
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5 3DR Solo
If you are a beginner using drones for fishing, then this is the ultimate drone for you. It is a proper drone for casting out your line although you will need to attach a gimbal and an action camera. Otherwise, you get a flight time of 25 minutes on a single charge and it has a range of 800 meters. You also get 5 autonomous flight modes, one-key return to home and auto take off and landing.
If you already own a drone, you could take matters into your own hands and waterproof it yourself. No matter the drone you get, always inspect it for damage after every fishing expedition.
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How to Use Your Drone for Fishing
While drones are relatively new to fishing, the fundamentals are simple and when done correctly, you will be catching bigger fish that were previously too far to cast. Here is what you need to know about how to fish with drones.
- Using a clipper attach your fishing line to the drone before you launch it
- Fly the drone to the place you want to fish
- Cast the line into the water
Trawling and bait casting
These are the two main types of drone fishing, and with time there could be more, so watch this space. Bait casting involves flying the drone over the water and drop the bait into the water, you will need a release mechanism since the drone does not have enough payload capacity to yank the fish out of the water.
Trawling is a different from bait casting in that the drone drops the line into the water and drags it until a fish bites the bait. You will need a release mechanism to avoid the drone dropping in the water when the fish pull on the line. This method of drone fishing is fun since you are chasing the fish into the water, but it is best left to professionals.
Setting Your Drone for Fishing
With the right drone, you will be able to catch bigger fish, cast your line faster and further away, and have much fun while at it. You will have to set up your drone for fishing, and here is how to fish with drones.
Downriggers and outriggers
The easy part of drone fishing is in the dropping the line. However, you need special clip to ensure that you have a successful fishing expedition. There are clips for outriggers and downriggers and they are an effective and inexpensive way to rig your drone for fishing. The clips hold the lines until a fish bites and then it releases the line for you to reel it in.
You can fly the drone out further or you can pull the line. Jerk the rod like you would in the traditional angling and the clip will release.
Fishing gear
There are drones specially built for fishing and with the proper release mechanisms, you will need several other fishing gears to make your expedition a success. You will need the following basic fishing gear
Fishing rod
When choosing a fishing rod for drone fishing, you ought to consider the following aspects of the fishing rod
- The rod and weight rating out to be a minimum of 12 kgs
- You need an overhead spool for your fishing reel and this reduces the chances of jamming
- Considering your casting length, have an additional 50 meters or more just incase
Fishing rod holders
Most fishermen find holding the rod as they wait for a bite tiring and boring. You could get a rod holder and they come in handy if you fish alone.
Setting up the trace
Drone fishing uses more sinkers and baits than the typical fishing. A trace system will prevent tangling of the line and it makes transporting the drone fishing set up a lot easier.
Electric fish reel
Fishing lines are extremely long and while this makes it a difficult task of winding it back onto the reel. For efficient fishing, you could get an electric reel that will wind the line back with less effort on your part.
Fishing tackle
If you have been using the conventional method of fishing, you will be pleased to know that the sinkers and hooks you have been using are compatible with the drone fishing. The tackle ought to be placed at least one meter from the loop and this avoids unnecessary weight dragging the drone down during takeoff.
The unit knot
This knot is one of the most widely used mainly because it is easy to tie, and it is dependable. The unit knot can be used for both swivels and hooks and it will work efficiently with any recreational fishing line for a drone or other typed of fishing.
The most crucial part is in where you tie the fishing line loop. The loop needs to be at the end of the line and ensure that there is no slack, other wise it will tangle with the drone’s propellers.
Where to Go Drone Fishing
Unlike the conventional fishing methods, there are precautions you must consider when fishing with a drone. The best place to go for drone fishing is one where
- There is a large set up area
- There is few or no people in the area
- Few or no obstacles such as large trees or power lines
- There are no flight restrictions
- Low wind conditions
Depending on where you live, there is emerging fishing maps that will direct you on the best places to fish. However, with your drone, you could scout for a school of fish on various locations but ensure to keep in mind the above points on where you ought to fish.
Conclusion
Drone fishing is fun, but you need to know that the additional weight will make the drone work harder. This will reduce the flight time and you will need extra batteries so that you can fish for longer periods. The fishing line also pulls that drone away from the flight direction and this makes the drone slower. When the line jams, stop the drone and resolve the issue to be safe and avoid unnecessary losses.
Do you have experience with drone fishing? Drop us a comment in the section below and let us help as many fishermen know how to fish with drones and the best drones they ought to use for fishing.
