Underwater Trolling Videos & The Equipment to Capture Them

Trolling has long been a go-to method for anglers targeting everything from offshore pelagics to inshore predators. But now, with the rise of compact underwater camera technology, you can do more than guess what’s happening below the surface—you can see it in stunning detail. Westin Cam makes it possible to capture underwater trolling footage with ease, helping you refine your presentation, analyze fish behavior, and relive those adrenaline-pumping strikes in HD clarity.

Why Record Trolling Strikes?

Recording your trolling runs isn’t just about the cool footage—it’s about knowledge. When you watch how fish respond to your lures in real time, patterns emerge. You’ll learn which colors draw more attention, whether your trolling speed is too fast (or too slow), and which fish follow but don’t commit. This type of insight is impossible to get from above the waterline.

And let’s be honest—nothing beats the satisfaction of seeing a predator rocket out of the depths and smash your bait.

Meet the Cameras Built for Trolling

Westin offers two purpose-built underwater cameras: the Explore Cam and the Escape Cam. Both are compact, streamlined, and ready to capture action at trolling speeds without throwing off your rig balance.

• Explore Cam: Weighs under 1 oz—about the size of a AA battery—and records in 1080p at up to 60 fps. Perfect for shallow to mid-depth trolling, especially when you want to keep your setup light and low-profile. Battery life: ~1 hour and 25 minutes.
• Escape Cam: A more robust option, weighing 1.4 oz, with a built-in stabilizer (Y-fin) and Dive Lip that keeps the camera steady and submerged even at higher trolling speeds. Battery life: up to 2.5 hours, making it ideal for longer runs.

Both are waterproof down to 650 feet and mount easily in-line with your trolling setup, allowing full capture of lure action and fish interaction—no external float or bulky housing required.

Dialing in Your Setup

Capturing clear, compelling underwater footage while trolling requires more than just attaching a camera to your line and hoping for the best. Small adjustments to placement, stabilization, lighting, and trolling speed can make a massive difference in what you capture—and how usable that footage is for analysis or content creation.

Start with camera placement. For ideal framing, mount the Westin Cam approximately 2 to 4 feet ahead of your lure. This distance gives the camera enough room to capture the full motion of the bait while keeping any approaching fish fully in frame. Positioning it too close might obscure the action or cause turbulence that affects video clarity, while placing it too far may reduce detail and make strikes harder to see. The sweet spot ensures you’ll catch the full scope of interaction—from subtle followers to all-out strikes.

Stabilization is another key factor, especially when trolling at moderate speeds or through choppy water. The Westin Escape Cam is designed for this exact scenario, featuring a built-in Y-fin stabilizer that keeps the camera upright and steady during movement. This fin minimizes wobble and shake, resulting in smoother footage that’s easier to review and share.

For anglers using the lighter Explore Cam, ideal conditions are calmer waters or slower trolling speeds, where water movement won’t overpower the camera’s smaller frame. While both models are up to the task, choosing the right tool for your specific conditions can elevate your results significantly.

Lighting should also be part of your planning. Natural sunlight diminishes rapidly with depth, and even a slightly overcast sky can reduce visibility underwater. For the clearest footage, plan your trolling sessions around midday when the sun is at its peak. Fishing in clear water? That’s even better, but it still pays to troll during times of strong sunlight. Shallower runs will naturally capture more light, but even deep water footage benefits from those optimal windows of brightness.

Trolling speed. Most trolling setups run somewhere between 2 and 6 knots, depending on the species you’re targeting. Both Westin cameras are engineered to perform within this range, but for those looking to capture the most stable, detailed footage, staying toward the lower end—closer to 2 or 3 knots—yields the best visual results.

Higher speeds are still effective for recording strikes, but can introduce some motion blur or camera vibration that may obscure fine detail. Slower speeds not only stabilize the frame but also allow fish more time to engage with your presentation, giving you even better footage of the full encounter.

When all of these factors come together—precise placement, steady stabilization, bright lighting, and a speed dialed in for clarity—you’ll not only improve your video quality but also gain a deeper understanding of what’s happening below the surface.

Real-Time Lessons from Real Fish

The most valuable part of recording your trolling sessions isn’t just getting cool clips—it’s what those clips teach you.

Did you notice fish tailing your lure without biting? Maybe it’s time to switch colors or downsize. Is the lure action washing out or spinning too much? You’ll see it on camera—and can fix it in real time. Did you capture a double hookup but only saw one rod bend? The second fish may have struck and missed—the camera doesn’t miss a thing.

Whether you’re chasing lake trout, king mackerel, or mahi-mahi, reviewing footage helps dial in everything from lure style to spread configuration.

Turn Every Trolling Run into a Masterclass

Adding a Westin Cam to your trolling setup turns your boat into a floating classroom. It gives you insights you simply can’t get from sonar, rods, or instincts alone. And when you finally connect the dots between lure presentation, fish behavior, and the exact moment of the strike—you’ll wonder how you ever fished without it.

Ready to take your trolling to the next level? Pick up a Westin Explore or Escape Cam and start building your own underwater video library today. See The Cameras Here