Some anglers are more attentive than others when it comes to monitoring their lines, but all feel the disappointment of an opportunity gone begging. Seattle-based startup FishSentry has developed a set of connected fishing rods designed to make reeling in the big one a more frequent event by nudging the user's mobile device when there's a nibble on the end.
FishSentry's range of rods are fitted with sensors both at the tip and the base, which take dozens of readings each second to pick up on sudden shakes that might indicate some hungry marine life down below. With a Bluetooth LE chip built-in, the rod then sends this information to a companion smartphone app to alert the user.
This seems a little excessive for the hobbyist wandering down to the jetty to drop a line in on the weekend, but for those trolling from a boat with multiple rods to keep an eye on it could serve a rather useful purpose. The team notes that it can also help avoid lost causes, as it would detect when the line hooks seaweed or other debris that renders the bait useless, allowing them to reel in and cast again.
The FishSentry app (iOS and Android) also logs details like time, date, location, tides, moon phase and weather, so anglers can get an idea of when and where they have the most success, or share their secrets with fellow fishermen if they're in the mood to divulge.
The team is aiming to launch with three different rods ranging in length from 8.5 ft (2.6 m) to 9.5 ft (2.9 m), made from combinations of graphite, e-glass and fiberglass each designed for specific fishing conditions. It does have some ways to go, however, with the products currently the subject of an Indiegogo campaign aimed at raising US$250,000 for commercial production. Early pledges of $499 are currently available, with shipping slated for August 2016 if all goes to plan.
You can check out the pitch video below.
Source: FishSentry
