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7 Best Drones for Fishing
Drone flying is a popular way to kill time, but drones have practical uses too – like helping you fish. Drones have become increasingly popular for anglers to scout areas and fish without wasting time trolling around. If you want to get on the fish fast – a drone will get you there.
If you’re ready to try a fishing drone for yourself, Riverfly Fishing has put together a buyers’ guide that detail which drones we like and why. Whether you’re a rookie or have been on the water for decades, these 7 best drones for fishing will step up your angling game.
River Fly Fishing Co’s 7 Best Drones for Fishing
1. DJI Mini 2 – Ultralight Capable Drone at an Affordable Price
The DJI Mini 2 checks many boxes for anglers. It’s lightweight, compact, has great battery and range, and is packed with fishing-related features. It’s also priced affordably for beginners. The combination of price, capability, and size make the Mini 2 our top pick for fishing drone.
Key Features
Max Flight Time – 31 mins
Max Range – 6.5 miles
Foldable – Yes
Payload – Optional / After market
Waterproof – No
Built in Camera – Yes. The 4K camera transmits a 12-megapixel image for surveying or snapping photos of hot spots. The camera offers several angling useful modes like 4X zoom and quick shot.
What to Like About the DJI Mini 2
Battery Life – A small but strong battery gives the Mini of plenty of flight time and range. You can transmit 4K video from almost 7 miles away.
Built in Editing – Load, edit, and send videos all from the Mini 2.
Ultralight – Weighs only 259 grams (0.5 lbs.)
2. Swellpro SplashDrone 4 – Best All-Around Waterproof Drone
Drones like the Phantom can be intimidating to newbies, but the Swellpro SplashDrone 4 is an excellent first drone for beginners. The Splash is much more forgiving than top-level drones with a tough body and 100% waterproofing. It has a great camera, smart routing, and features that cater to both beginners and more seasoned anglers.
Key Features
Max Flight Time – 30 mins
Max Range – 3.2 miles
Foldable – No
Payload – Optional / After market
Waterproof – No
Built in Camera – Yes. There are 3 unique camera types for the Splash including the 4K 3-axis gimbal camera, a night vision 2-access camera, or a simple 1-axis camera. The 4K is the best overall camera.
What to Like About the Swellpro SplashDrone
Fully Waterproof – Unlike some of our other top drones, the Swellpro is durable and fully waterproof. The ability to take a drink and keep working makes it great for fishing.
Choose Your Camera – You can order the Splash 4 in 3 different camera models depending on your shooting and viewing preferences.
3. DJI Phantom 4 Pro+ – A “Boat” load of Features
If you need more from your drone or better image quality, you can step up to the DJI Phantom 4 Pro+. The Phantom 4+ boasts several autonomous modes, intelligent technologies, and gives a great picture. If you’re ready to turn your fishing into a science – the Phantom 4 Pro+ will be your laboratory.
Key Features
Max Flight Time – 30 mins
Max Range – 4.3 miles
Foldable – No
Payload – Optional / After market
Waterproof – Can tolerate light rain
Built in Camera – Yes. The Phantom 4’s top of the line camera captures 4K and 60fps image and video with its 20-megapixel camera. Unlike the Phantom 3, the 4 Pro uses a mechanical shutter for high-quality images even when your drone or what you’re trying to capture is moving quickly. A powerful video chip processes all that information without slowing down.
What to Like About the DJI Phantom 4 Pro+
Incredible Camera – A strong onboard processor and mechanical shutter help make the Phantom 4’s camera one of the best on our list.
Flight Autonomy – High resolution sensors help the Phantom 4 navigate pre-planned paths and surprise obstacles with ease.
Fast – The Phantom 4 Pro+ can blaze to speeds of 45 mph in sport mode.
4. PowerEgg X Wizard – Affordable waterproof drone
SplashPro’s Drone 4 is an amazing waterproof drone but expensive if you’re only starting out. If you want a fully waterproof drone at a more reasonable price, PowerEgg’s X Wizard is your ideal fishing drone. The Wizard isn’t only waterproof, it’s built specifically for on-the-water use and can fly true in gusts up to 25 mph.
Key Features
Max Flight Time – 30 mins
Max Range – 3 miles
Foldable – Yes
Payload – After market
Waterproof – Yes
Built in Camera – Yes. A 12-megapixel camera captures 4K and 60 fps with ease.
What to Like About the PowerEgg X Wizard
Shell Waterproofing – The camera and brains of the X Wizard are encased in waterproof plastic. You can dunk the X Wizard completely without any loss of power.
All-Weather Toughness – If your fishing hole rains and storms frequently, you’ll need a drone like the Wizard to handle it.
Pontoons – You don’t have to be an ace pilot since the X Wizard’s pontoons can land directly on water.
5. Yuneec Typhoon H Plus – High-end professional drone at an amateur price.
With a big controller, full camera rotation, and several smart modes, Yuneec’s Typhoon H gives anglers a high-end drone without draining their wallets. You can set the Typhoon up to follow your boat, or have a buddy control the camera while you concentrate on positioning. With a 360 camera and dual operation you can always get the exact shot you want.
Key Features
Max Flight Time – 28 mins
Max Range – 1 miles
Foldable – No
Payload – Optional / After market
Waterproof – No
Built in Camera – Yes. A 20-megapixel camera anchors the Typhoon H Plus. The 4K camera captures stunning video and images and gives you a crystal-clear picture of where you’re flying. You have multiple camera modes to choose from with a large range of ISO, shutter speed, and resolution choices if you like finding the perfect shot.
What to Like About the Typhoon H Plus
Auto Flight Modes – Use one of three autonomous modes with the Typhoon H including orbit me, point of interest, and journey.
Big Display – A large 7” display anchors the Yuneec’s controller.
360 Gimbal – The gimbal model of the Typhoon H plus has a full 360 camera gimbal so you can rotate the camera instead of the entire drone.
6. DJI Phantom 3 Fishing Drone – Fantastic Combination of Features and Value
Not sure if you’ll like drone fishing? Start with the Ruko F11. At under $300, it’s our cheapest fishing drone that still offers features that make life easier on anglers. Relevant features include beginner settings, intelligent flight modes, and a surprisingly strong battery.
Key Features
Auto-Return – The F11 will return to its original takeoff point if signal is lost.
Max Flight Time – 30 mins
Max Range – 0.75 miles
Foldable – Yes
Payload – Optional / After market
Waterproof – No
Built in Camera – Yes. For such a cheap price the F11 packs a decent 4k Ultra HD camera. You can easily switch cameras if you already have one that’s more capable.
What to Like About the DJI Phantom 3
Smart Battery – The Phantom 3’s smart battery controls the flow of power depending on your speeds and preferences.
Features for Price – The Phantom 3 is technically an ‘older’ model making it available at a much lower price. The deals will be off the table soon.
7.Ruko F11 Drone – Best Starter Drone (Least Expensive)
The DJI Mini 2 checks many boxes for anglers. It’s lightweight, compact, has great battery and range, and is packed with fishing-related features. It’s also priced affordably for beginners. The combination of price, capability, and size make the Mini 2 our top pick for fishing drone.
Key Features
Max Flight Time – 31 mins
Max Range – 6.5 miles
Foldable – Yes
Payload – Optional / After market
Waterproof – No
Built in Camera – Yes. The 4K camera transmits a 12-megapixel image for surveying or snapping photos of hot spots. The camera offers several angling useful modes like 4X zoom and quick shot.
What to Like About the Ruko F11
Inexpensive – The F11 is inexpensive but packed with a surprising number of features including intelligent flight modes and a great camera.
Compact – You can fold up the F11 and toss it in the included carrying case.
Buyer’s Tip – If you don’t need the latest and greatest you can save money by looking at different brand options. For example if you like the Yuneec Typhoon H+ but don’t want to spend nearly $2000, you can try other Swellpro models like the Spry+ or Yuneec’s Mantis Q.
Put Technology on Your Side
Drones can help check unreachable spots, mark waypoints, record the action, and much more. If you’re ready to catch more fish, put technology on your side and try drone fishing.
