Best Underwater Ice Fishing Cameras

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An underwater camera lets you see what is happening under the ice: which fish are coming to your bait, how big they are and how they react to your jig. This guide, updated for 2026, explains what to look for in an ice fishing camera, how to use one, and which cameras from established brands are currently on the market — from compact 4–5 inch units to large-screen systems with recording and built-in sonar.

Our picks are based on manufacturer specifications and angler feedback, not on our own long-term testing. Features and availability change from season to season, so check the current listing before you buy.

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Ice Fishing Cameras Compared

Why Use an Underwater Camera for Ice Fishing?

A flasher or sonar shows a mark rising toward your jig. A camera shows you what that mark is. Through the ice, that difference matters:

• Identify fish. See whether the school is perch, walleye, crappie or bluegill — and whether the fish are keepers — before you spend an hour on the hole.
• Read the bottom. Find weed edges, rock, wood and the transition from hard to soft bottom, where fish often hold.
• Learn how fish react. Watch fish inspect your bait and see which jigging cadence, pause or lure size makes them commit.
• Scout new water. Drop the camera down a few holes to check cover and fish before setting up a shelter.
• Get kids involved. Watching fish on the screen keeps young anglers interested between bites.

Cameras work in open water too: from a dock or a boat you can check weed beds, brush piles and spawning areas. They work best in reasonably clear water; in muddy or heavily stained water visibility may be only a few inches.

How to Use an Underwater Camera Through the Ice

1. Charge the battery the night before and keep it warm on the ice.
2. Drill two holes close together — one for the camera, one for your line — so the cable and your line don't tangle. Many anglers space them about a foot apart; in shallow water you can drop the camera down the same hole.
3. Lower the camera slowly to just above the bottom or to the depth of your bait. Most cables are marked in feet.
4. Aim it. Point the lens at your lure, not at the sky, and use a stabilizing fin, rod mount or tripod if the camera spins.
5. Adjust the light. Turn IR lights down or off in clear water with daylight; use them in deep or dark water. Too much IR can make particles in the water glare like snow.
6. Use shade. A shelter or visor makes the screen much easier to see and cuts glare on the ice.

For most ice fishing, keeping the camera a foot or two above the bottom and a short distance from your lure gives the best view without spooking fish. There is no single "right" depth — it depends on where the fish are, which your sonar or first drops will show.

How to Choose an Underwater Ice Fishing Camera

Most ice fishing cameras share the same basic design: a small waterproof camera on a cable, a monitor, and a rechargeable battery, often packed in a soft case. The differences that matter on the ice are these:

• Screen size and brightness. A 4–5 in screen keeps the kit small enough to carry in a pocket or bucket; a 7 in or larger screen is easier to watch for hours inside a shelter. On bright days in the open, a sun visor matters more than size.
• Image quality and low light. Look for a camera that handles low light well and has infrared (IR) lights that can be dimmed or switched off. IR helps in dark, deep water, but in clear water with some daylight the picture is often better with the lights off.
• Cable length. 50 ft is enough for most perch, walleye and crappie water. Longer cables add weight and bulk but help on deep lakes.
• Recording. A built-in DVR or SD-card recording lets you replay how fish reacted to your jig, which is useful for learning and fun to share.
• Battery and weight. Lithium batteries are much lighter than sealed lead-acid packs, which matters if you walk to your spot. Cold shortens any battery's run time, so keep it warm between drops.
• Camera orientation. A stabilizing fin or a mount lets you aim the camera at your bait instead of watching it spin on the cable.

Best Underwater Cameras for Ice Fishing

The Pursuit HD L packs the features ice anglers ask for most into a small unit: an HD camera, a built-in reel so the cable doesn't tangle, both LED and infrared lighting and the ability to record what you see. Recording is useful for reviewing how fish reacted to your lure and for sharing catches. It takes the place of the Aqua-Vu AV Micro 5.0 Revolution Pro from our earlier list, which Aqua-Vu no longer sells; Aqua-Vu's successor, the Micro Revolution 5.0 HD, was listed as "coming soon" when we checked.

The AV715c is a classic ice shelter camera. The 7 in screen is easy to watch for hours, the sunshield helps outside, and the infrared lighting brightens the view in deep or dark water. It uses a sealed 12 V battery rather than a small lithium pack, so it is heavier to carry, but it runs a long time. There is no built-in recording, but the RCA output lets you connect an external recorder or screen.

The Micro Stealth is the camera to take when you fish on foot and move a lot, for example when chasing perch or panfish across a flat. The wide 135° view makes it easier to spot fish coming in, and the auto IR adjusts lighting to conditions. The screen is small, but for quick checks of a hole it is all you need.

The VS485c is a straightforward 7 in system for anglers who fish from a shelter and want a bigger picture than a compact unit offers. It replaces the Anysun camera from our older list; we now prefer models from established ice electronics brands with clear specifications and support.

The LX-9L is for serious ice anglers who want one unit that does it all: the sonar shows fish arriving and your jig's depth, and the camera shows what those marks are. The lithium battery lasts a full day. It is expensive and was out of stock at the manufacturer when we checked, so it may take some searching. It is the current lithium version of the LX-9 we listed before.

Eyoyo offers a large screen for much less than the big brands. Picture quality and support aren't at the level of Aqua-Vu or MarCum, but it is a reasonable way to try an underwater camera. Check the exact version before buying: the manufacturer's current 9 in model does not record, while some retailer listings include a DVR.

Want to see a budget camera in action on the ice? This video shows one angler's setup: .

Underwater Camera or Live Sonar?

Forward-facing live sonar units for ice fishing show fish and your lure moving in real time over a wide area, even in dirty water, but they cost far more than a camera and show fish as images on a sonar screen rather than as real video. A flasher shows what is directly below you. A camera covers a much smaller area but tells you exactly what species and size you are looking at. Many anglers use a flasher or sonar to find fish and a camera to identify them and fine-tune their presentation.

Tips for Using an Ice Camera

• Use it to scout, not just to watch. Check several holes for weeds, rocks and fish before settling in.
• Target species you can see. Cameras are especially useful for perch, crappie and bluegill, which often hold in schools near weeds and bottom.
• Watch how fish react. If a walleye comes in and leaves, try a smaller lure, a slower cadence or a longer pause.
• Keep the camera out of the way. Position it slightly away from your line so fish aren't spooked and your line doesn't tangle with the cable.
• Protect the screen and battery from the cold between drops, and dry the camera and cable before storing them.
• Stay safe. Check the ice before you go out. The Minnesota DNR ice thickness guidelines (opens in a new tab) recommend staying off new clear ice thinner than 4 inches, and ice is never 100% safe.

Ice Fishing Camera FAQ

Do underwater cameras scare fish?

Usually not, especially when the camera is kept still and slightly away from the bait. Some fish will come to investigate. Bright lights can bother fish in dark water, so use IR or dim the lights when you can.

How deep can an ice fishing camera see?

Cable length sets the maximum depth (usually 50–75 ft). How far you can see depends on water clarity and light: in clear water you may see several feet around the camera; in stained water, much less. Infrared or LED lights help in deep or dark water.

Do ice fishing cameras work at night?

Yes, if they have infrared or LED lighting. Most cameras above include IR, LED or both. The image is usually black-and-white under IR.

Is an underwater camera worth it for ice fishing?

If you fish through the ice regularly, yes. A camera helps you find fish-holding cover, identify the fish under you and learn which presentations work — and it makes ice fishing much more fun for kids and beginners.

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