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In the past, traditional ways to fish have been limited to casting from shore, using a boat and some people even used kites and balloons – wind direction dependent. The traditional surf fisherman relied on their skill to read the surf to determine where the gutters and holes are to increase yield. The boatie has had the luxury of fish finders to improve their chances in deeper waters locating structure and water depth.

Without knowing the demographics of the water, you are fishing, will result in a luck approach, as opposed to a more targeted/pinpoint strategy. Those anglers that understand the importance of knowing how to read the surf and using fish finders to place their baits in potentially more productive water always catch more fish than those that do not.

Drone fishing improves yield dramatically enabling the shore-based fisherman access to much deeper productive waters at a fraction of the cost of owning a boat. Simply sending a bait out 300 – 400 meters will not automatically improve your chances and nor will casting into the surf at any spot. By utilising certain App’s and educating yourself on fish habits and the terrain the fish may prefer will massively increase your chances.

The Navionics APP is a fantastic way to explore areas to locate optimum drop zones. The Navionics APP has a free download but has limited features. The annual subscription service provides the angler with all the information they require to successfully identify drop zones. The annual subscription is quite cheap and costs approximately $30-$40.00 – the higher-level subscriptions are also available which provide even greater information.

When reading the Navionics APP, you will need to setup the APP to display the information you want it to show. Contour lines like those found on land based topographic Maps show the terrain and elevations by using contour lines – the closer the conture lines indicate a steep gradient, and conture lines that are far apart indicate more even ground. The contour lines found on the Navionics APP is essentially the same as looking at a topographic map and the conture lines indicate steep drop offs etc. Sonars are used to map the ocean floors and the most useful maps to use are Sonar Maps.

The Navionics App also shows water depth and structure which can be used in conjunction with the conture lines to find optimum ground to fish. Simply creating a spot on the shore and dragging the pointer out to these identified areas will also display the distance from shore you need to drop your bait.

The Navionics App can be downloaded directly from the Drop Zone website at this link: https://dropzonemag.com/useful-apps/uav-forecast/ and additional information and how to can be found here: https://www.navionics.com/usa/apps/navionics-boating This short video by Navionics shows in more detail how to read a Sonar chart, and shows you what to look for when looking for optimum fishing spots, and How to read SonarChart™ (Video)

It is vitally important that all drone fishing pilots understand the various GPS flight modes and non-GPS flight modes. Most UAV GPS systems are highly accurate and reliable, however the GPS signal from satellites can be interrupted due to interference from various sources. Due to the possibility of GPS interference all drone pilots must be aware at all times of this possibility and be ready to take action to avoid losing the drone. Failure on the part of the drone pilot to understand and be proficient in flying in both GPS and non-GPS flight modes could result in loss of the drone, and the situation will be deemed as user error – not a failure of the drone itself.

When drone fishing, a pilot requires a high level of skill in flying in ATTI/ALT Hold mode due to the chances that the drone will be over water and in the event of an issue, this non-GPS flight skill becomes even more critical.

Global Navigation Satellite System ‘GNSS’

The Global Navigation Satellite System or GNSS comprises of 4 main satellite constellations being.

GPS – The USA’s Navstar Global Positioning System

GLONASS – The Russian Federations Global Navigation Satellite System

Galileo – The European Unions global navigation satellite system

Beidou – China’s GNSS

GPS interference and what causes it

GPS interference can be caused due to several factors such as intentional or unintentional GPS jamming, space weather/atmospheric conditions, Electromagnetic fields, and near band width RF interference from other sources.

GPS signal failure – Understanding and what to do in the event of signal interference

The majority of UAV’s have several GPS flight modes such as Loiter, POS Hold, RTL – ‘return to land’. These GPS flight modes are what most drone pilots use when flying their UAV and are unaware of non-GPS flight modes and when to use them.

Most UAVs utilise a GPS module and a barometer.

GPS module:      Holds the horizontal position of the drone.

Barometer:        Also known as a pressure sensor, it measures the atmospheric pressure and maintains the drone’s height. The drone’s initial height is determined at the start-up stage, and therefore it is vitally important not to move the drone until this start-up procedure is finished.

Non-GPS flight modes such as ALT Hold, Altitude Hold or ATTI mode utilise the Barometer solely and it holds the drone’s height, but not its horizontal position. If wind is blowing in one direction it will naturally push the drone in the direction of the wind.

When to use a non-GPS flight mode

Some advanced drones will advise the pilot that there is a GPS glitch or loss of signal, but many do not. If you have ever heard someone, say, ‘My drone just flew off’, it is more than likely the drone suffered a loss of GPS signal or interference and the drone lost control. If ever this occurs the pilot must select a non-GPS mode such as ALT Hold, Altitude Hold or ATTi mode immediately, and this will require the pilot to have the necessary skills to maintain its horizontal position and manually fly the drone to safety.

It is incredibly important for the safety of the drone that all pilots practice flying in a non-GPS flight mode. If the pilot is not proficient in flying in a non-GPS mode, the chance of losing the drone is highly probable due to a GPS glitch and the incident is determined to be user error – not a malfunction of the drone and warranty is not covered.

Many advanced drones such as the Cuta Copter TRIDENT will provide visual and verbal broadcasts informing the pilot in the event of a GPS glitch, and some will after a period automatically select a non-GPS flight mode and advise the pilot.

Practice safely in a non-GPS flight mode

Whenever learning to fly in a non-GPS flight mode you should only attempt this when the wind speed is less than 20kph or lower is advisable. The more you practice the better you will get, and your hand eye coordination will improve – it is a bit like when you flew the drone towards you for the first time and the control sticks left and right are opposite.

When switching to a non-GPS flight mode you will need to adjust the left or right sticks to counter the wind direction and hold position – You are the GPS!

Once you have mastered holding horizontal position then you can begin learning to fly forwards and backwards in addition to maintaining the drone’s horizontal position. Simple exercises such figure of eights will greatly improve your flight skills.

Do’s

• Always fly and maintain a minimum altitude of 20 metres.
• Determine the direction of the wind – as wind direction will determine which way the drone will be moving.
• Always position yourself in the middle of an oval and away from trees or other obstacles and away from people.
• Keep the drone within a circumference of 5-10 metres – if the drone gets away from you simply switch back to a GPS flight mode, bring the drone back to position and try again.

Don’ts

1. Never panic as the drone will hold its height – if ever the drone get’s away from you simply return to a GPS flight mode and bring the drone back and try again.
2. Never fly in wind speeds exceeding 20kph and lower wind speeds are advisable – be away if you are flying at a park or suburbia wind turbulence will increase the difficulty to control the drone.
3. Never fly near obstacles or people.

While all of this may seem daunting, practice does makes perfect. If you recall your first attempt at flying your drone you may have been overwhelmed, but in time and with practice your skills improved, and you became proficient.

Learning to fly in ALT hold or ATTI modes is not only useful it is Essential!

Drone Battery Safety Tips and Maintenance – LiPo batteries can be extremely volatile and dangerous, and you should always observe and ensure you follow the following top 10 tips. These top 10 drone battery tips are as important as each other and are not in order of importance and

1. Always BALANCE charge a LiPo battery – each cell must be balanced individually perfectly.
2. Never discharge the LiPo battery below 3 Volts per cell, this will cause degradation and reduce the batteries life expectancy.
3. Always monitor the LiPo during charging and never leave them unattended. Always use a fireproof LiPo bag or box while charging, and if possible, keep a fire extinguisher handy.
4. Never store a LiPo in a fully charged state for long periods of time, this can cause the battery degradation quickly and cause the battery to swell or puff up. If a LiPo battery swells or puffs up immediately discharge the battery fully and dispose of it safely.
5. For the best battery lifespan always run a LiPo storage function after use – the optimum storage level is 3.6V per cell.
6. Never buy a used LiPo battery, you have no idea how the battery was maintained or if there are any previous issues with it.
7. Always store LiPo batteries in a cool and dry place, and never leave a LiPo in direct sunlight or in a hot car. Always keep your LiPo batteries stored in a fireproof LiPo bag or box.
8. Never charge a LiPo directly after use while it is still hot – wait for it to cool down first.
9. If the protective film surrounding the LiPo is damaged or if it has had contact with water dispose of the LiPo in a safe manner. Lithium is highly volatile when in contact with air and water.
10. Never dispose of a damaged fully charged LiPo battery in your bin – this is a bomb waiting to go off and it could cause serious damage or injury.

Please watch this video carefully to see how incorrect LiPo battery use and care can result in highly volatile explosive situations: Top 5 causes of Lipo Battery Fires – Lipo charging mistakes

Drone Fishing Braid

PE Confusion and what it is exactly

Drone fishing requires line that has a small diameter with high breaking strains to enable a greater quantity of line to be spooled to the reel. Lower diameter braid also reduces the drag by wind and water when fishing at distance.

PE is an acronym for Polyethylene and is a Japanese measurement/numbering system of line diameter ‘Area’, also known as ‘Gouw’ and was originally used as a measurement for silk thread. As such, this is what has caused so much confusion as it is the measurement of diameter and not the breaking strain. PE ratings vary between manufacturers due to the different technologies employed, materials used, and the number of braid strands utilized.

One manufacturer may advertise a PE rating of 5 and note a break strain of 30lbs when another manufacturer may have a break strain 40 – 50lbs.

So, forget the PE rating – Always look for the lowest diameter braid in the poundage you require.  

Use a shock leader

It is always important to use a mono or fluorocarbon leader when using braid to absorb shock and provide better abrasion resistance on rocks and reef. Anywhere from 10-30 meters is sufficient depending upon the species being targeted and the terrain.

Ideal drone fishing braid characteristics

If you are using braid for drone fishing, look for one that has a low PE with matched break strain ratings relevant to the rod used. Drone fishing requires large line capacities of ideally 500-700 metres, so the smaller the line diameter, will enable more line to be spooled to your reel.

Colour increments at intervals of 50 metres or more will assist you in counting the distance, and it also provides a good morale boost when hauling a larger fish in at distances of up to 500m.

Another important factor to consider when choosing braid is its abrasion resistance and quality. The braid should be silky smooth to limit reel bind and reduce heat on bait delivery and retrievals over large distances. OANNES SkyLine braid is made from quality UHMWPE ‘Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethene. UHMWPE has the highest impact strength of any thermoplastic presently made, and in some forms is 15 times more abrasion resistant than carbon steel. UHMWPE has extremely low moisture absorption, is self- lubricating and is highly abrasion resistant.

Both OANNES SkyLine9 and SkyLine12 finesse quality drone fishing braids can be purchased online at www.ultimatedronefishing.com

With more and more players entering the waterproof drone fishing market it can be hard to navigate between them and determine what drone will suit your needs. Every drone is different in many ways and each drone has its own set of features and benefits. We will endeavour to assist you to find the right drone to suit your needs and requirements, and hopefully help you to avoid expensive mistakes.

The first question you need to ask yourself is, are you after a dedicated waterproof drone for fishing or are you after a multi-use drone that can also provide camera and video functions? This is a particularly important question as most dedicated fishing drones have reef spotting cameras between 720P and 1080P, and some are fixed without a gimbal, so the ability to take 2K or 4K images will be exceedingly difficult.

The second most important question is regarding the manufacturer – What is the manufacturer’s track record? – How long have they been manufacturing drones? What service and technical knowledge networks are accessible and are parts readily available?

When considering the purchase of a dedicated waterproof fishing drone please consider the following in addition to the important considerations listed above.

10 Most important questions and features to consider

1. Is the drone highly stable and reliable?

A recent survey conducted showed that flight stability and reliability was the most important thing a consumer wanted in a fishing drone, such as Multiple safety functions, Strength of transmission signal and GPS signal strength. The stronger the GPS signal and satellite acquisition will reduce loss of GPS connection and signal. (It is important to note here that all drones have two main flying modes being GPS and Altitude mode) – ‘Fly Away’s’ due to loss of GPS signal is not a failure of the drone, but in most cases a failure of the user to understand the two flying modes and when to use them.

Every drone owner should upskill themselves in Altitude mode so in the event of a GPS signal failure, they can safely and manually fly the drone to safety.

• Does the drone have multiple safety functions? Safety functions that are most important in a fishing drone include the following:
  • Verbal warnings such as Altitude, battery level, magnetic interference, GPS status and so forth.
  • Return to Land ‘RTL’ due to loss of signal
  • Return to Land ‘RTL’ due to low battery
  • Return to Land ‘RTL’ due to loss of thrust
  • Does the drone have Self-Protect functions? In addition to RTL, does the drone deploy the bait when these safety functions are activated?
• Flight stability – Can the drone handle winds up to 40kph, and wind gusts up to 50kph?
• Does the drone have the latest flight controller technology? Does the flight controller have the capacity and speed to quickly process data when it is dealing with high winds and payloads that exceed 1Kg?
• Does the drone have a high flotation and waterproof rating?
• Can the drone land on all types of surfaces including sand, rocks and unlevel ground?
• Does the drone have a GPS system that enables concurrent satellite acquisition of up to 3 GNSS satellite systems? The stronger the GPS system the less risk of GPS glitches.
• Can you set waypoints and save favourite GPS fishing spots?
• Can you create missions to automatically launch the drone with the bait rig – fly to GPS position – drop the rig and bait – return to land and shut down the motors with the push of a button?
• Does the drone have a Worldwide community forum?

Ultimately the final question you need to ask yourself is – Are you prepared to risk $2000 -$3000 on a drone that does not have these most important specifications and Safety features?

Multi-Use Waterproof Drones

The Swellpro SD4 is not included in the comparison below as we regard the Swellpro SD4 as a waterproof camera platform that enables drone fishing. Swellpro has been successfully manufacturing drones for more than 4 years now and their products have steadily improved over time. Swellpro SD4 is the clear winner when it comes to a ‘Waterproof Multi-Use Platform’ drone that provides the user with a drone they can use for 50% fishing and 50% for camera/video usage. As Splashdrone SD4 is not a dedicated fishing drone, it does not have the features that a high-end fishing drone has, but it does have multi use features that a dedicated fishing does not have.

Dedicated Waterproof Drones for Fishing

The only dedicated fishing drone that has all these specifications and features listed above is the new Cuta Copter TRIDENT. Cuta Copter has been manufacturing fishing drones in South Africa for over 6 years and is the pioneer in this field. Extensive research and development over the years has produced the most advanced fishing drone on the planet – the TRIDENT.