So, you think it’s warm in Western New York? You all should be in south Florida the second week of July. Miami plays host again this year for ICast 2019. For those who aren’t familiar with ICast, it is the shot show for the fishing/boating industry. ICast showcases the latest and greatest for anglers and boaters.

There is everything from speed to off-shore boats to new technology in electronics to the newest fishing tackle. If soft-water fishing is your game, then ICast is a must stop.

A piece of equipment that I have used since day one is underwater cameras. We use this technology not so much to find fish but to see underwater structure. The folks from Aqua-Vu have not let us down this season, especially if you are shooting video.

Technologists call it augmented reality, a digitally enhanced video display that enriches the real-world environment and increases user entertainment.

For Aqua-Vu engineers, the only “real-world” that matters is the one that lies hidden beneath the surface; goals perpetually focused on maximizing enjoyment of anglers and underwater explorers. On the eve of unveiling its next-generation HDi Series cameras, the pioneering optics company has once again opened new underwater vistas.

Numerous upgrades to Aqua-Vu HDi Gen2 models deliver unparalleled underwater visibility both in terms of what the lens perceives and what the user ultimately sees on the viewscreen.

Featuring Aqua-Vu’s expandable, modular XD Camera Housing, all new 1080p HD optics show even greater underwater details.

“The new 1080p camera enhances details and image sharpness under varying light conditions,” says Aqua-Vu vice president Tom Maschhoff.

“We’ve integrated advanced, multi-exposure optics that detect and display background images such as fish and vegetation in much greater detail,” Maschhoff explains. “Instead of seeing just the silhouette of a bass or a walleye, you’ll discern the greens and the dark lateral bars along a largemouth’s body, or the greens and reds on a stalk of submerged vegetation. The lens differentiates color contrasts between fish and cover, so anglers will easily spot fish hiding in grass or timber, even in stained water or imbalanced light conditions.”

Complementing the camera’s crystal-clear 1080p resolution, the new optics include innovative firmware that auto-adjusts white balance and adds natural colors back into the video image. Auto-Clear Technology yields an enhanced underwater picture, clarifying the image in off-colored, stained or moderately dirty water.”

This proprietary water-clearing technology projects a truer image by removing heavy color casts, such as red or green hues that often highlight algae and other suspended particulate,” adds Maschhoff. “When you look at the surface of a lake and see stained or coffee-colored water, for example, the Aqua-Vu HDi camera will surprise you with a much clearer underwater image than you’d expect.

“Scuba divers who have tested Auto-Clear technology have captured footage that seems impossibly clear compared to what they see with the naked eye.”

Angler and underwater explorer Kim Stricker have been astonished by the power of Aqua-Vu’s exclusive water-clearing technology.

“The difference in clarity between what I saw through my scuba mask and the lens of the Aqua-Vu HDi camera absolutely blew me away,” said Stricker, referring to diving in water that appeared almost dark at 17 feet deep through his scuba mask. “The image on the Aqua-Vu HD screen looked almost like aquarium water, as if I was looking at an entirely different lake. This is amazing, breakthrough technology.”

While the camera’s internal organs process and augment the underwater image, a high-grade lens further focuses the video. “Gen 2 HDi cameras use a prescription-grade lens we call OptiRX,” says Maschhoff.

From lens to LCD, Aqua-Vu has also innovated what the angler sees on the other side of the surface. Each of four Aqua-Vu HDi Camera Systems project a super-bright underwater image, utilizing up to 2,200-nits for maximum visibility in sunlight. A new Power Saver feature allows the user to add up to 40-percent more run-time, particularly when viewing the LCD in lower sun conditions, including inside an ice fishing shelter.

The first to engineer a high-definition underwater viewing system, Aqua-Vu HDi Gen 2 models include HD 10i Pro, HD10i, HD7i Pro and HD7i all HDI Gen 2 Series cameras include Aqua-Vu’s patented XD Camera Housing, compatible with all Aqua-Vu XD accessories. Each system comes complete with a Super-Bright 7- or 10-inch LCD, 75- to 125-feet of camera cable, built-in adjustable infrared (IR) lighting, and a 12-volt battery with charger. All HDi Gen 2 Camera Systems are ice fishing ready as well as RAM Mount compatible for direct in-boat wiring. MSRP ranges from $599.99 to $999.99.

Keeping your eyes protected on the water is just as important as sun screen and there is no better company to help us do that than, Hobie but Hobie has taken their offerings in a different direction a couple decades ago with kayaks.

Hobie revolutionized kayak fishing with the invention of the original MirageDrive. The radical engineering feat was met with worldwide acclaim and leg-propulsion became the new standard for kayak fishing locomotion.

Imitators eventually arrived on the scene, but the original remains the industry benchmark…

Hobie knew improving on its revolutionary MirageDrive wouldn’t be easy, but they weren’t deterred. Six years in the making, for 2020, Hobie is proud to announce the greatest achievement to date in the form of an astonishing 360-degree rotating pedal drive-an all new paradigm in kayak fishing boat control, complete with a nearly 100-page patent registration.

Put simply, the remarkable new Hobie MirageDrive 360 propulsion system is a 360-degree rotating pedal drive that allows anglers to easily maneuver their 2020 Mirage Pro Angler 36012 and 14 fishing kayaks in every direction backwards, forward, sideways, diagonally or even effortlessly spin on its own access. Upping the ante with all-new Kick-Up Fins, which automatically retract upon impact, the new MirageDrive 360 delivers precision boat control and close-quarter maneuverability that’s unrivaled by any other human-powered watercraft. With the MirageDrive 360, anglers go where they want and fish how they want with total control and complete confidence.

The MirageDrive 360 is designed for versatility on the water and to help anglers catch more fish. Infinitely more maneuverable, anglers will immediately discover they spend less time positioning their boat, and more time catching fish. Boat control is brought to an entirely new level, affording anglers the ability to surgically position themselves to make the best cast and presentation to the fish, as well as staying right on top of fish once found, shallow or deep or anywhere in between.

The MirageDrive 360 allows access to tighter quarters and more fishing scenarios. Imagine being able to turn on a dime in every direction. It also allows you to follow shorelines or underwater structure in a way kayak anglers have never experienced.

“The MirageDrive 360 completely changes how you engage with your boat and the environment,” says Philip Dow, Lead Design Engineer for Hobie. “For example, if you’re fishing along a shoreline or highly contoured underwater structure, you can follow those nuances exactly with boat placement. Similarly, with the Kick-Up Fins, shallow and structure-filled waters become far more manageable. Hobie’s MirageDrive 360 completely redefines boat control.”

He continues: “In the same way a trolling motor can hold an exact point, you can do that with the MirageDrive 360. You can hold an exact location and direction against a wind or a current, too. Previously, when you drifted out of position, you had to pedal in a circle to point the hull in the right direction between casts. Now, when you’re sitting idle, if you turn the drive and start to pedal, you’re immediately turning. It’s extremely effective for place-holding in an exact location. You feel like a sniper. If you want to swing the bow past a rock, you can do it exactly and make your next cast without any unnecessary boat movement.”

Designed to accept Hobie’s vast array of accessories, the Pro Angler 360 series fishing kayaks can be easily outfitted with additional angling equipment.

“In every environment there’s the need for better control in order to position yourself to present your bait to the fish in the most natural way possible,” says Morgan Promnitz, Hobie’s Sr. Fishing Brand Manager. “Whether you’re fishing offshore, inshore, or freshwater, the benefits are numerous. We’ve tested the boats in a multitude of fishing environments and our test team response has all been the same the MirageDrive 360 gives anglers a huge advantage that results in more fish caught, period.”

“The Kick-Up Fins add peace of mind to anglers exploring waters with submerged objects such as rocks or tree stumps because the fins will automatically retract upon impacting an object. This greatly reduces any chance or damaging the propulsion system and allows anglers to explore with confidence-no more damaged props or bent fins.”

The future is bright for the water sports industry. Next week we’ll go over a few of the newest fishing offerings this season.