Well-known tournament angler Jeff Gustafson explains how he utilizes Aqua-Vu underwater cameras in tournament fishing situations — from deepwater fish and cover to shallow water dock systems.
This article will explore how professional angler Jeff Gustafson, also known as GUSSY, utilizes underwater cameras in bass tournaments. GUSSY travels all over North America participating in bass tournaments and relies on an Aqua-Vu underwater camera for various applications, including identifying fish species. Let’s dive into the details of how GUSSY incorporates this tool into his tournament pre-fishing.
Identifying Fish Species
During tournament pre-fishing, it is crucial to identify the target species, which in GUSSY’s case is bass. However, many lakes and reservoirs are now infested with Asian carp, making it challenging to differentiate between bass and carp visually. GUSSY explains that marking fish on his depth finder doesn’t guarantee they are bass, as carp often resemble bass. This can lead to wasted time trying to fish and catch them.
To overcome this challenge, GUSSY relies on his Aqua-Vu underwater camera. By dropping the camera down on the ledges where he marks a lot of fish, GUSSY can immediately determine whether they are bass or carp. This saves him valuable time and allows him to focus on targeting bass during the tournament.
Finding Underwater Structure
As an angler who enjoys fishing offshore and in deep water, GUSSY spends a lot of time idling around, using his GPS and sonar to locate underwater structure and fish. He looks for features like standing timber and uses his depth finder to identify fish in those areas. However, with the Aqua-Vu camera, GUSSY can take his search to the next level.
When GUSSY finds a promising spot, such as a small piece of timber, he can drop a waypoint and then use the camera to examine the area more closely. This allows him to determine if there are bass or other species mixed into the structure. In lakes and reservoirs where there are many alternate species, the underwater camera helps GUSSY avoid wasting time fishing for non-target species.
Exploring Deep Water and Shallow Water
GUSSY also utilizes the Aqua-Vu camera in deep water scenarios. He uses it to examine isolated brush piles, deep trees, and other underwater structures where he sees a lot of fish on his depth finder. This is particularly useful in southern reservoirs where there are numerous alternate species that can be easily mistaken for bass.
In addition to deep water fishing, GUSSY also uses the Aqua-Vu camera in shallow water situations. He attaches the pole cam attachment to the camera and uses it to examine docks. This allows him to assess whether there are bass present without actually catching them during practice. GUSSY’s goal is to save his catches for tournament days, where they count the most.
