The Difference Is Often Made Before the First Cast
Instead of guessing what sonar is showing, an underwater camera helps answer important questions:
- What species are these fish?
- Are they tournament quality?
- Is this spot worth fishing?
- What type of structure is holding them?
From Bassmaster Classic champions to regional tournament winners, many successful anglers use underwater cameras during practice to gather information while leaving fish undisturbed.
Practice Smarter, Not Harder
Professional anglers know that catching fish during practice can sometimes work against them. Rather than repeatedly hooking fish before tournament day, many use an underwater camera to scout productive areas without affecting the bite.
After winning the Canadian Bass Open, Ryan Flaro explained:
"When I'm searching for fish, I use an Aqua-Vu underwater camera one-hundred percent of the time."
By scouting instead of fishing, his team returned on tournament day with confidence, knowing exactly where quality bass were holding.
Verify What Sonar Can't Tell You
Sonar is excellent at locating fish and structure, but it can't always confirm exactly what those returns represent.
An underwater camera helps anglers identify:
- Fish species
- Fish size
- Bottom composition
- Vegetation
- Rock piles and brush
- Baitfish activity
Bassmaster Elite winner Chris Johnston summed it up well:
"To confirm fish species, size and their position without putting hooks into them in prefishing, a camera is invaluable."
Want to see this strategy in action? Watch Bassmaster Classic champion Ott DeFoe explain how he uses an Aqua-Vu underwater camera to verify what sonar is showing and make smarter decisions before tournament day.
That confirmation helps anglers spend more time fishing productive water and less time chasing false opportunities.
Real Tournament Advantages
Many professional anglers credit underwater cameras with helping them make better decisions during practice.
Ryan Flaro used an Aqua-Vu to scout bass without catching them before winning the Canadian Bass Open.
Ott DeFoe, Bassmaster Classic champion, has shared how his camera revealed that promising sonar returns were actually schools of gar or crappies—not bass.
As DeFoe explained:
"For that reason alone—fish identification—I always keep the camera in the boat."
Jeff "Gussy" Gustafson, another Bassmaster Classic champion and longtime Aqua-Vu user, encourages anglers to think beyond ice fishing:
"If you don't have a camera in your bass boat, you're definitely missing out on big bass in a lot of waterbodies."
These examples highlight how underwater cameras help eliminate guesswork and build confidence before competition begins.
Learn More Than Fish Location
An underwater camera doesn't just show where fish are—it reveals how they're behaving.
Tournament anglers use cameras to observe:
- How fish relate to structure
- Where bass position on rocks and brush
- Forage species in the area
- Bottom transitions
- Fish activity levels
These observations can influence everything from lure selection to boat positioning.
Tournament Lessons for Every Angler
You don't have to compete professionally to benefit from the same strategies.
Using an underwater camera before fishing can help you:
- Confirm what sonar is showing
- Identify productive structure
- Learn seasonal fish behavior
- Avoid wasting time on unproductive spots
- Fish with greater confidence
Whether you're preparing for a tournament or simply trying to catch more fish on the weekend, having a clear view beneath the surface can make every trip more productive.
Fish Smarter With Aqua-Vu
The best tournament anglers gather as much information as possible before making their first cast. An underwater camera complements sonar by providing the visual confirmation that electronics alone can't offer.
If you're looking to better understand fish behavior, verify what you're seeing on your electronics, or simply spend more time fishing the right water, an Aqua-Vu underwater camera can become one of the most valuable tools in your boat.
Ready to learn what lies beneath? Compare Aqua-Vu underwater camera models, explore our lineup, or read our guide on pairing an underwater camera with sonar to fish with more confidence.