Drone fishing is an exciting and innovative sport which can reap many rewards including big fish, but as with all good things – with reward comes risk. This is our top ten tips to safeguarding your drone.
Losing your drone can be an expensive exercise and although there are some risk factors such as Mother Nature that are beyond our control, we can mitigate certain risk factors that boil down to piloting errors and poor judgment. Keeping my drone safe is a number one priority for me which is why we compiled this list of drone safety tips!
Power lines, birds and trees
Just as kerbs are a danger to your vehicle, there are plenty of obstacles in the sky ready to cause more than the need for a wheel alignment for your drone. It’s always important to remember that the view from your drone is from the camera and that your propellers are positioned much higher, you need to be careful not to misjudge distances when manoeuvring around tree branches and the likes. Keep in mind also that power lines are difficult to see in the screen monitor and seagulls will actually follow your drone, they love to fly with company.
Making sure that you are flying at the right flight height will minimise your chances of a drone disaster. For drone fishing a height of 15 to 20 metres above the water is optimal for fish viewing and risk reduction.
Your drone is not your rod
Drones really are revolutionising the way we fish BUT when safeguarding your drone remember a drone is not a replacement for you and your rod when reeling fish in. As tempting as it may be to drag your bait through the water whilst attached to your drone, don’t do it! You run the risk of a fish dragging your drone into the water.
Trolling a live bait or lure
Trolling a live bait or lure can be achieved successfully by using a tension release clip on an electronic bait release module or by using a mechanical bait release clip with a tension adjustment feature.
Keep within the drone’s parameters
Most drones will have maximum load lifting ratings – always stay within these parameters and remember that adding load to your drone also reduces the battery life significantly.
Stay within the drone’s normal wind rating capability and maximum wind gust ratings and remember wind also reduces your drone’s battery life.
Observe the drones maintenance guidelines
After using your drone near water or salty environments, ensure you thoroughly clean your drone within 1-2 hours after use. For waterproof drones, ensure the motors are momentarily submerged in clean water ‘without the propellers attached’ and engage the motor underwater and also out of the water to remove excess water. Dry with a cloth and allow to thoroughly dry before putting it into a case.
Double Check and Triple Check
Always calibrate your drones’ compass whenever you are flying at a new location. If your drone requires the removal of a lid such as Poseidon Pro to replace the battery – Always double and Triple check the lid is replaced with the arrow facing towards the front of the drone. Certain drones will have the GPS module located in the lid and failing to secure the lid in the correct position will cause the drone to lose stability and could result in a catastrophic accident.
Such a simple way to prolong the life of your drone… Landing pads will protect your drone from external elements such as dust and sand.
Disable the return to home function
The return to home function is great if you are fishing from land and in the same spot when your drone returns automatically to your starting location. If you are fishing from a boat however, chances are you won’t be at the start location and it’s wise to disable this function at the start of your trip.
Safeguarding your drone starts with investing in the right fishing drone
There are many drones on the market that are being used for fishing but are not actually purpose built for fishing. Fishing exposes your drone to elements such as wind gusts, water and harsh salty environments, so by investing in a specially designed fishing drone with a waterproof and wind gust rating you will essentially be protecting your investment and enhancing your experience. For example, the Poseidon Pro has a waterproof rating of IP67, a Beaufort wind force rating of up to 6 and is constructed from anti corrosive materials.
So, in a nutshell… drone fishing brings with it rewards and risks and being aware of your surroundings and the limitations and specifications of your drone will assist in keeping your drone in action longer!
If you have any tips on safeguarding your drone, we would love to hear from you. Visit Drone Fishing Collective on facebook.
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