Drone fishing

RANGER-77

New member
Drone fishing for newbies

I’ve started Drone fishing as a newbie, paid my school fees. So I thought I’d share my knowledge and experience. I’ve been “Drone” fishing for the past 2 Years. Started off with a CutaCopter Revo 3, used it for about a year and a half then upgrade to the new Revo 25 Cuta Copter. I’ve drop about 500 baits.

I will be going through Drones, Tackle, Traces and Baits.

Note the prices I use is estimates, it will depend where you shop

Drone options that I know of. R10 000 to R35 000

Cuta Copter Raggie (1.2kg Lift)
Cuta Copter Revo 3.3 (2kg Lift)
Cuta Copter Revo 25 (3kg Lift)
DJI needs an extra bait dropper device.
DJI Phantoms 3 (500g Lift)
DJI Phantoms 4 (500g Lift)
DJI Phantoms Mavic pro (500g Lift)
Splash Drone 3 (1kg Lift)
Note – This is approximately Lift weight (use at own risk read the user manuals)

Choosing a drone is up to you, I wanted the lift power to get big baits out for non Eds. What is your needs?

Tips and Tricks for Drones
*The best and most valuable tip with a Drone is “Don’t take chances”
*Keep your eye on the drone at all times and you finger on the bait drop button.
*Wait for Green light and never ignore Red light
*Don’t overload your Drone
*Make sure you have enough battery power to do a return flight.
*When flying in against the Wind remember you will use more battery power.
*When flying with the Wind make sure the Wind isn’t too strong to return the Drone after a drop, we have had close calls were the drone struggles to return against the strong wind.
*Keep your drone clean and services regularly. At least every 6 months depending on use.
*Get Drone insurance
 
Tackle Options (Non Eds)
This is my suggestions there are other great options available in the market.

Budget Spinning Setup: (R4500)
Rod: Okuma Metaloid 13.6” 6-8Oz (R2000)
Rod: Loomis Franklin ShockWave HMG 14 – 5-7Oz (R2000)
Reel: Okuma Metaloid 90 Spinning reel (R2000) http://www.alanhawk.com/blog/mtd.html
Line: +- 550m 50lbs Grinder Braid (R500)

Budget Casting Setup: (R4500)
Rod: Loomis Franklin ShockWave HMG 14” 7-9Oz (R2000)
Reel: Shimano Torium 30 / Daiwa Saltist BG 40/50 / Penn Fathom 40 – Second hand would be your cheapest option (R1500-R2500)
Line: 40-50lbs 500m Backing with .55 Top Shot +-200m (R500)

Option 1 Lever Drag: (R6500)
Rod: Shimano Technium Surf Elite Heavy 7-9/8-10Oz (R2800)
Reel: Okuma SLX 30 2speed (R3000)
Line: 900m 80lbs Grinder Braid (R700)

Option 2 Lever Drag: (R7500)
Rod: Shimano Technium Surf Elite Heavy 7-9/8-10Oz (R2800)
Reel: Shimano Tyrnos 30 2speed (R4000)
Line: 900m 80lbs Grinder Braid (R700)

Option 3 Lever Drag: (R11000)
Rod: Blue Marlin Bronzie (R+-5000)
Reel: Shimano Tyrnos 50 2speed (R5000)
Line: 1000m 100lbs Grinder Braid (R700) + .80 Topshot (R300)

Spinning Options: (R9000)
Rod: Okuma Makaira 15” 7-9Oz (R3500)
Reel: Penn Slammer 3 9500 (R4800)
Reel: Shimano Saragosa 20000/25000 (R4800)
Line: Penn Slammer 3 9500 +- 670m 65lbs or +-730m 50lbs Grinder Braid (R700)
Line: Shimano Saragosa 20000 +- 600m 65lbs Grinder Braid (R700)
Line: Shimano Saragosa 25000 +- 900m 80lbs Grinder Braid (R700)

What I use:
Setup 1
Rod: Shimano Technium Surf Elite Heavy 8-10Oz
Reel: Shimano Tyrnos 30 2speed
Line: 900m 80lbs Boss Slick Braid

Setup 2
Rod: Shimano Technium Surf Elite Heavy 8-10Oz Changed to Spinning Guides.
Reel: Shimano Saragosa 25000
Line: 900m 80lbs Grinder Braid

Setup 3
Rod: Blue Marlin Super slim 7-9Oz
Reel: Shimano Saragosa 20000
Line: 600m 65lbs Grinder Braid

Knots
This is what I use:

Braid to Braid
-Double uni knot
-Bimini + Double Cat’s paw

Mono to Braid
-Bimini + Double Cat’s paw
-Double uni knot

Mono Leader to Braid Main line
-FG Knot
-Double uni knot
-Windon Leader with Cat’s paw

The following link can be used for more info
https://www.sportfishingmag.com/top-fishing-knots-from-seven-professional-skippers

Leaders

Braided: Boss Leader braid 200-250lbs (R90 for 50m)
Mono: T-Line Game Leaders 1.4mm to 2mm (R170 for 100m)

Traces

Terminal Tackle used:

Power Swivels:
3/0 King Fisher (R50 for 10)

Hooks:
12/0 Land-It 4x Heavy Duty (R15 for 3)
12/0 to 18/0 Circles (Mustad, Eagle Claw)

Steel:
FishMate or Centro 200/250lbs (R70 for 10m)

Thimbles:
Plastic from Big Catch (R250 for 500)

Drone Trace 1 (Non Eds)
From the image(1) below you can see there is two power swivels, the reason for that is it gives your bait better maneuverability in busier water. I’ve found that I get less tangles rigging it this way.


Drone Trace 2 (Non Eds)


Drone Trace 3 (Non Eds)


Tip: Use a Circle Hook where possible and Bend those barbs closed on all hooks ;)

More Info:
Options for getting bigger baits out with lower lift power.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIojo1VM26c


More great info from other anglers:

ASFN Drone Fishing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM96BRhkYbo

East Coast Angling Guides – Extreme Heavy Tackle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwtwhoWQ5KI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiUlZNMqo2Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrFZ8XiV274

Baits
Some Pics of the baits I use for Non Eds



[align=center]With the use of PROUDHOOK
Welcome to check my report on Proudhook
http://www.sealine.co.za/view_topic.php?id=110538&forum_id=1
[/align]

[align=center]IF YOU ARE IN CAPE TOWN
JOIN OUR MADFIN SOCIAL DRONE CLUB FOR ASSISTANCE, TRAINING, FISHING BUDDIES AND MONTHLY COMPETITIONS
madfindronecomps@gmail.com
[/align]

My last tip
In your 1st few outings try and join guys with experience that can assist you where needed it will make your experience much better and less chance of loosing a fish or your Drone
 

DD

Senior Member
This is an awesome post. Pity it is hidden here in some obscure corner of this forum.
 

BIKS

New member
Good Day All ,

Great article!! ((goodp_

Not my intention to tread on forum rules here but if someone requires a drone we can supply DJI drones.

Drop me a PM if interested.



::tight:
 

Redrogue

New member
Awesome post
Good to see some information on drone fishing.

Could you do a review on the cuta copter25?
I have not seen anything of value marketing wise from cuta copter on how its better or whats improved over the revo 3(which is a very capable unit).


((goodp_
 

Stefan001

Senior Member
Thanks for the post Ranger.
My 2cents
Dont include casting option tackle, rather use heavier tackle to get the shark to shore safely quickly and effectively.
The green bait hold clips should be banned as its a useless piece of plastic that gets added to the ecosystem. Toothpick is just as good.
 

Enigma

Moderator
Great post and lots of good info there.

Seen 4 drones go down because of the type of traces you show there. Cause, largely operator error, flying wildly, heavy wind and or drone on the edge of capabilities, 2 phantom and 1 x Mavic

With to short a drop (Skyhook in Military aviation terms) the Drone cannot adjust to the swing fast enough as it is using full power just to stay airborne. in all cases the wind was wild.

We attach the drop loop to the leader, 6-20m from the bait so the drone lift's off, stabilises and then takes load.

The swing is long and slow an the drone has no problem coping. Been doing it like that for 4 years now and have logged 2040 drops. Biggest paload (bait and sinker) dropped was 4.4kg at 350m

Bigger the bait the further to suspend the bait.

This video of a 4kg lift, long and short skyhook shows immediately the impact

[flash=640,480]http://www.youtube.com/v/Qa4tqtwlo1k[/flash]
 

Enigma

Moderator
Here is a demonstration on taking out a baited rig with the drone on your own

[flash=640,480]http://www.youtube.com/v/wENyVm_1Bxw[/flash]
 

Enigma

Moderator
Add to the list of fishing drones

DJI Inspire I 2kg Lift
DJI Inspire II 3.7kg lift
Sharkan Mini 2.2kg lift
Sharkan Standard 2.7kg lift
Sharkan "Enigma" 5kg lift

Note – This is verified Maximum Lift weight at sea level (reduce 15-20% at altitude)(use at own risk read the user manuals)
 

Enigma

Moderator
This was a lift test in 35km Wind at van Stadens.
Sealed 5l water..... didn't drop the bottle as it was our drinking water

[flash=640,480]http://www.youtube.com/v/jcmr-vitD3w[/flash]
 

Enigma

Moderator
Dropping a 2.4kg tuna head with 2 x 10oz weights on big tackle

[flash=640,480]http://www.youtube.com/v/XJF-tR3g3ms[/flash]
 
Regarding the plastic bait hold clips, I met up with an old mate in CT this week who is actually now doing bamboo fabrication in Cape Town, so no need to go to china anymore. They can fabricate anything out of steamed bamboo. The promotional items, keyrings, gear and merchandise, stamped, milled, cnc'd and lazer cut, he'd done that I saw this week were amazing..I am pretty sure this product can be easily stamped out of bamboo, locally.

Nice post BTW..Mana and all that..Great tutorial to add to the library.
 

Enigma

Moderator
It is my own drone range

M - 1.8kg payload
S - 2kg+ Payload
E (Enigma) - 3.5kg+ Payloads

http://sharkan.co.za
 
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