marcum cs 485 or aqua vu 715

i am leaning towards the marcum just because the camera is better than the aqua but i also would like to know some input on how important do you guys think a underwater camera is pros cons i am looking to getting one so i can really hone in on why walleye are in one area than another any input will be appreciated its all about why they are there and finding more spots to catch them

I went through the same decision. I ended up getting the marcum 485 mainly because it comes with the Sony super had II camera instead of aqua vus CMOS. Also, everyone that has had a marcum gives it high reviews and that was a selling point also. I have it out a few times this year and clarity and stowibility is bar none! Very happy with my purchase. Hope this helps!

Hi Robert,

I’ve spent more then my share of time nosing around the Mississippi River with a Marcum and other brands.

If you decide to get a camera I haven’t found any that will compare to the image of a Marcum in deep water (25′ or better) or after dark. Bright daylight and pretty much any quality camera will work.

Here’s both the pro and con. I stopped taking out my fishing rod when I’m going out to find fish. Now remember, I’m not ice fishing I’m in a boat looking to see why fish are “here” and not “here”. In the short run, I catch less fish. I do believe it helps me in the long run. Of course just because there’s fish in a location doesn’t mean I can make them bite…but if there isn’t any fish there I’ll never get bit!

I’ll just share one quick story from a few years back.
The prior year in January I found fish (lots of them) on a certain stretch of sand near L&D #3. The following year there wasn’t any form of life that I could see in that large area. Angler reports confirmed this. Then one day folks were saying they were catching fish in that location. I got up there a few days later and sure ’nuff, it was plumb full of fish again. Still haven’t figured out why as the dam gates, temp and flow didn’t change. “Fish just being fish” as RRR would say.

Then there were the new rocks they put in down here during some construction. I bounced my Marcum through those rocks and wood. The size and number of the walleyes I saw was just amazing. I told a few people to try there, but take along extra jigs because it would be a bait shops best friend with all the jigs they would snag up.

Would I recommend a camera over a good sonar? Nope, but it’s a fantastic tool! Kids have a good time with them too!

Thanks for the info guys I think I am sold on the marcum I am mainly gonna use in open water to find new stuff. I have the lowrance touch with structure scan do you think it would work better than that to find go productive spots and Brian that’s what I want do leave behind the rods and just get information

I run an HDS 2. The StructureScan is invaluable for finding (catfish) structure that I’m looking for. When I do see fish, it hard if not impossible for me to tell what kind of fish they are.

With a camera, there is no doubt what species the fish is. Using the HDS and the Marcum together will surly cut down our “seeking” time.

yea i am a walleye guy but i just like going out targeting fish and succeeding in doing it by putting them top side i think it will be purchased soon so i can get some ice time too thanks for the info i am looking forward to it. does the battery last a long time

I’ve only used mine 4-6 hours continuously without issues.

Let us know how you like it after dunking it a few times!

yea will do thanks for all the help