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Remote control fishing is a fishing technique accomplished by using a remote control boat. The remote control fishing boats are almost exclusively battery operated, since batteries provide several benefits when compared with glow engines: less noise during operation, consume no power during idle time, requires no oxygen, easier to maintain, finer power and speed control, etc.
Remote control fishing boats are either modified RC boats or custom build RC fishing boats. Theoretically, as long as a fishing line can be attached to the remote control boat, any remote control boat can be used. But, good electric RC fishing boat should be:
- water tight up to a certain depth - if pulled down by larger fish, it should stay operational after being submerged,
- visible from long distances - if fishermen lose the RC boat out of sight, it is very hard to bring it back again,
- have enclosed propellers or small jets - fishing lines, sea-grass and various debris can get entangled around unprotected propellers and can prevent the RC boat from operating normally,
- rudder should be omitted or should be enclosed with propellers - if two electric engines are used, rudder can be omitted and boat steering is done using electric motors,
- have low center of gravity - boat is stable and can handle bad weather, waves and wind,
- should be mono-hull - mono-hull RC boats with low center of gravity always position them properly (even after being fully upside down) and, if they are water tight, can resume operation right away. Catamaran RC fishing boats are very stable boats, but when turned upside-down due to wind, waves, fish etc., they are unable to return to proper position on their own. Regardless of hull type, hulls should be strong, durable and water tight and should be able to withstand hits and impacts with boats, debris, rocks etc.
- batteries should be swapped easily, with minimum tools required. NiMh batteries are common in most RC boats, with NiCd batteries being slowly phased-out due to environmental concerns, battery memory effect, lower capacity and generally being inferior to NiMh batteries. High-end models of RC boats are mostly powered with strong, lightweight and expensive lithium polymer batteries.
- electric motors should be brushless electric motors. Brushless motors are more expensive and require more complex motor controllers, but they require less maintenance and are more reliable than brushed electric motors,
- boat should be able to achieving various (trolling) speeds, not just to have simple motors 'off and on'.
etc.
There are several fishing methods that are usually employed:
- A section of fishing line and baited hook are permanently attached to a remote control boat. Using remote control, bait is positioned on desired location and fishermen either wait for a fish to strike or use RC boat for trolling. The limitation of this method is if a big fish is hooked, there is a risk of the fish pulling the remote control boat underwater.
- Attach a line release mechanism to the RC boat and then attach the line/hook and (instead of casting) drive the line out with the RC boat. When a fish strikes, the line disconnects, and the fisherman reels in the fish with a regular fishing pole. This allows the fisherman to catch any size fish.
- Similar to the previous method; RC fishing boat is equipped with line release mechanism and when on desired position, line is released by fishing rod strike or by remote command. After fishing line is released, RC boat is retrieved using remote control or even automatically using some sort of homing system (ultra sound, infra red, GPS, etc.).
RC fishing methods are limited only by imagination of RC fishing boat users.
Line release mechanism can be attached to any suitable RC boat. Instead of using fast electric RC boats, slower, but stronger and more durable RC boats should be used. Line release mechanism is mounted on the stern of the boat, so that the fishing line stays clear of propellers, rudders, antenna and any other protrusions.
Also, line release mechanism can be improvised using various methods, mostly using ordinary plastic clothespin requiring some testing before such system can be actually used.
There is debate about whether RC fishing should be legal. Most states will allow it if the line disconnects when a fish is hooked to the boat, and the fisherman reels in the fish with a fishing pole. When the RC boat is used to pull in the fish, it may be illegal unless on private property. [1]
An electric boat is a powered watercraft driven by electric motors, which are powered by either on-board battery packs, solar panels or generators.
An outboard motor is a propulsion system for boats, consisting of a self-contained unit that includes engine, gearbox and propeller or jet drive, designed to be affixed to the outside of the transom. They are the most common motorised method of propelling small watercraft. As well as providing propulsion, outboards provide steering control, as they are designed to pivot over their mountings and thus control the direction of thrust. The skeg also acts as a rudder when the engine is not running. Unlike inboard motors, outboard motors can be easily removed for storage or repairs.
Trolling is a method of fishing where one or more fishing lines, baited with lures or bait fish, are drawn through the water. This may be behind a moving boat, or by slowly winding the line in when fishing from a static position, or even sweeping the line from side-to-side, e.g. when fishing from a jetty. Trolling is used to catch pelagic fish such as salmon, mackerel and kingfish.
A model aircraft is a small unmanned aircraft. Many are replicas of real aircraft. Model aircraft are divided into two basic groups: flying and non-flying. Non-flying models are also termed static, display, or shelf models.
Radio-controlled cars are miniature model cars, vans, buses, trucks or buggies that can be controlled from a distance using a specialized transmitter or remote. The term "RC" has been used to mean both "remote controlled" and "radio controlled". "Remote controlled" includes vehicles that are controlled by radio waves, infrared waves or a physical wire connection.
A radio-controlled model is a model that is steerable with the use of radio control (RC). All types of model vehicles have had RC systems installed in them, including ground vehicles, boats, planes, helicopters and even submarines and scale railway locomotives.
A dinghy is a type of small boat, often carried or towed by a larger vessel for use as a tender. Utility dinghies are usually rowboats or have an outboard motor. Some are rigged for sailing but they differ from sailing dinghies, which are designed first and foremost for sailing. A dinghy's main use is for transfers from larger boats, especially when the larger boat cannot dock at a suitably-sized port or marina.
Round-the-pole flying (RTP) is a form of flying model aircraft, in which the model is attached via a line from its wingtip or fuselage to a central support structure. Control signals can be passed to the model via wires alongside or integral with the attachment line. The operator can control the aircraft using a control console, situated outside the flying circle of the aircraft. Contrast this to control line flying where the pilot/operator stands at the centre of the flying circle and directly supports the aircraft.
Boat building is the design and construction of boats and their systems. This includes at a minimum a hull, with propulsion, mechanical, navigation, safety and other systems as a craft requires.
A trolling motor is a self-contained marine propulsion unit that includes an electric motor, propeller and control system, and is affixed to an angler's boat, either at the bow or stern. A gasoline-powered outboard used in trolling, if it is not the vessel's primary source of propulsion, may also be referred to as a trolling motor. The main function of trolling motors is to keep the boat running at a consistent, low speed suitable for trolling. Trolling motors are often lifted from the water to reduce drag when the boat's primary engine is in operation.
A brushless DC electric motor (BLDC), also known as an electronically commutated motor, is a synchronous motor using a direct current (DC) electric power supply. It uses an electronic controller to switch DC currents to the motor windings producing magnetic fields that effectively rotate in space and which the permanent magnet rotor follows. The controller adjusts the phase and amplitude of the DC current pulses to control the speed and torque of the motor. This control system is an alternative to the mechanical commutator (brushes) used in many conventional electric motors.
An azimuth thruster is a configuration of marine propellers placed in pods that can be rotated to any horizontal angle (azimuth), making a rudder redundant. These give ships better maneuverability than a fixed propeller and rudder system.
A radio-controlled aircraft is a small flying machine that is radio controlled by an operator on the ground using a hand-held radio transmitter. The transmitter continuously communicates with a receiver within the craft that sends signals to servomechanisms (servos) which move the control surfaces based on the position of joysticks on the transmitter. The control surfaces, in turn, directly affect the orientation of the plane.
A radio-controlled helicopter is model aircraft which is distinct from a RC airplane because of the differences in construction, aerodynamics, and flight training. Several basic designs of RC helicopters exist, of which some are more maneuverable than others. The more maneuverable designs are often harder to fly, but benefit from greater aerobatic capabilities.
An electronic speed control (ESC) is an electronic circuit that controls and regulates the speed of an electric motor. It may also provide reversing of the motor and dynamic braking. Miniature electronic speed controls are used in electrically powered radio controlled models. Full-size electric vehicles also have systems to control the speed of their drive motors.
A radio-controlled boat is a boat or ship model controlled remotely with radio control equipment.
A downrigger is a device used while fishing using the trolling method, which places a lure at the desired depth. A downrigger consists of a three to six-foot horizontal pole which supports a cannonball, generally 10 to 15 pounds, by a steel cable. A clip, also known as a "release," attaches a fishing line to the cannonball weight. The bait or lure is attached to the release.
Fishing techniques are methods for catching fish. The term may also be applied to methods for catching other aquatic animals such as molluscs and edible marine invertebrates.
Servos are small, cheap, mass-produced servomotors or other actuators used for radio control and small-scale robotics.
An underwater thruster is a configuration of marine propellers and hydraulic or electric motor built into or mounted to an underwater robot as a propulsion device. These give the robot movement and maneuverability against sea water resistance. The main difference between underwater thrusters and marine thrusters is the ability to work under heavy water pressure, sometime up to full ocean depth.