Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Jungle I had DI but the coontail was so thick that's all I could see on screen. A camera may work once it penatrates the thick layer. We both had good recovery magnets. I'd throw it out n pull in a 10lb ball of weeds. With the small amount of metal on a rod n reel it would have been direct hit

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

I know how it feels to lose items overboard, but I would suggest being very careful if you do happen to locate the gear and try to recover things. It is amazing how items will "settle" on the bottom in soft soil and weeds.

The process of retrieval will require a larger boat and I would imagine some specialty equipment. The trolling motor battery, for instance, will be rather heavy...and would need an inflatable salvage bladder to bring it up.

I like what a few others have suggested about contacting some local scuba divers. For a modest fee, or the pleasure of helping you out, they could make some passes below and see what turns up.

Regarding your design for a scope, I have seen "flared" tapered bucket styled viewers with plexiglass bottoms for just such a purpose. Maybe even a kayak rental shop near you might have one of the "glass bottomed" style boats available?

Whatever happens, I do wish you safety and success in getting back some portion, if not all, of your equipment!

fast_randy Loc: Blackfoot, Idaho

A couple years ago I had this idea to make a viewer like this for shallow water ice fishing. I wanted to get a magnifying lenses for the bottom, and you guys on this forum got me sourses for them. A six inch 2 to 5 power lens on the bottom for 6 inch pvc.
But I got a fish finder and camera instead.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

What is the water visibility? In other words, how far can you see through the water with a diving mask? Is the bottom fairly clear or is it covered with a deep layer of vegetation? The best way of recovering anything with magnetic parts is a super magnet. As for your scope, be sure to make some sort of hood so that no light gets in from the top. Even a little light will have a major negative effect on visibility. Work off the bow with your scope and have someone else maneuver the boat. That will increase stability. I made a scope back in the dark ages. I found gluing a pvc ring inside the outer tube allowed me to set the viewing glass against the ring and have something to seal the glass/plastic too. Good luck with the project

Harris T. Fudpucker Loc: Lafayette, Louisiana

Aren't you suppose to mark the boat, that way you can find your X.

Anybass Loc: Pa.

With the amount of gear you lost, might be worth getting a mask, fins and snorkel and wet suit if temp. an issue. Six feet should not be an issue. Other thought--see if can find someone through a dive shop that for reasonable fee can help. Try define as close as possible location of loss to cut down time under, approx an hour.

Mousetrap Loc: Virginia

It’s called a flogger. Underwater viewer look it up Amazon has them so does tackle warehouse

HooknJack Loc: Orland Ca.

Billy Bob Loc: Terre Haute,IN

The pros where just using something like that at a bass tournament up north. Water was really clear and they were looking for bedding small mouth bass. The thing they were using was called a fogger I believe. It looked like a traffic cone with clear glass in bottom. I believe you can buy them on line. Do not know the cost, but bet you could goggle it.

JB134 Loc: Montana

Also called a bathyscope. Not trying to influence you from making one, but Multiple versions out there. I have used them before. It’s work… that ones you see on line are all about the same size. Reason for that it will maximize your viewing while easier to maneuver. I have see longer ones similar to the one you are considering. But their viewing scope is really narrow, and very difficult to maneuver and use. But good luck, be interested in hearing some field test. P.S. but you do need to have somewhat clear water. If stained or dirty, not sure it will work out for you

cedarirvergirl1

you know where you lost your gear. Find a local diver to go get it for you in that depth of water. Pay him for his time and air. It does not sound like to big of a job for a qualified diver. Go to a dive shop and they probably could tell you of someone who does this for extra money. My husband used to do it when we were in the Coast Guard. As well as cahnge properllers, etc underwater.

lorafa93 Loc: North Venice, Florida

Goggles and a snorkel unless the water is too cold to get into. How do you plan on retrieving the items once you “see” them in your scope?

Captain Lahti Loc: Kennewick, WA

I’m assuming you think you can spot your gear if you can just see through the surface glare and water refraction. That only takes having a pice of boxed glass or plexi just below the surface a couple inches. The box needs to be wide at the bottom with a light screen at the top like the sides of a snorkel face mask fitted without its plastic window fitted to the top of the box. You don’t want any light coming in at the top or you destroy your view thus the goggles fitted to the top to look into. For safety you need to be laying in your boat with the box off the bow. Centered and low center of gravity so you dont get a repeat dump. Someone else in the stern to power and steer.

Make up some anchored floats with string tied to liter bottles and wrapped around them.. as you spot gear just drop a bottle over the side and let its anchor unwind to the lake floor. With those markers you can then dive for your gear with snorkel and fins. Maybe a wet suit if it’s cold. You’ll likely need a bigger boat if your going to get in and out of it it in the lake. I guess you could grapple the gear from the bow looking through your box if the box is fixed so you don’t have to hold it in place. With another boat operator.

As has been pointed out, making a viewing box out of long pvc just lowered your field of view down further so if it’s 8” pipe you’ll only see 8” of bottom whereas a 12” box about 18” deep lets you see a wide portion of the bottom several feet wide. Even an 18” long piece of 12” pvc lets you see a wide area. The other problem with a long piece of pipe is the leverage needed to hold it down and the weight you talked about needing to eliminate that. But in any case DONOT TRY TO WORK OVER THE SIDE OF ANY BOAT NOT ALMOST AS WIDE AS YOU ARE TALL!

If you think you can grapple your gear off the bottom make the grapple a fixed to the end of a long pole you can maneuver to the bottom. Works better than on the end of a rope. If you want to get trick then fix a hand at the bottom of the pole that is opened and closed with a rod along its side up o your hand with a lever to squeeze or pull on. Think about how those pickup tools work they sell to us old folks to pick up stuff without bending over.

My experience? 78 years old, 30 years USN operating most of the Navy’s smaller boats and ships. Privately fishing, sailing, running rivers in canoes, kayaks, other small boats up to 18’ jet and prop boats. 25 years as a fire Capt and I don’t like getting wet! ⚓️👨‍🚒

Jungle Ranch Fish Camp Loc: Punta Gorda, FL

What’s up, Jack

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Best way to go 👍👍