Idling Over Points

[cjam93]

Hey guys so this year it seems like the thermocline is sitting about 15ft deep on my local lakes. I have been watching some  videos lately on how people idle over points, find a school of bass and mark them, then turn around and fish them. I have also noticed though more often these guys are fishing close to 20ft deep or deeper. Should I be concerned with spooking fish if I am idling 2-4mph in that 10-15ft range? Thanks!

[Catt]

Nope!

[gardnerjigman]

I've never had an issue with it in the past. Seems most of the times I'm fishing 15-25 FOW on points. One particular time on LOZ our trolling motor batteries were zapped but we were on good fish on a point. My buddy kept the gas motor running and kept us in place. Didn't affect the fish in the slightest bit. Was catching them 15-18 FOW then. 

[Bankbeater]

I've never spooked a fish unless I was right up on top of them. In 10-15 feet of water you should be ok.

[WRB]

The bass are conditioned to boats passing over them, trolling motors and sonar pings they heard or felt all their lives. Does it alarm or alert them to be aware of anglers over head? Yes and no, a few bass will spook easily, most don't. The few that spook easily are usually the wary big bass that stop feeding and leave moving to deeper water. If you stay near the area quietly, the bass return to feeding if the prey is still there.

Tom

[cjam93]

Thanks guys for all the replies! So to take the question a bit further. About how shallow would you have to be to start worrying about spooking the fish?

[WRB]

Bass located in cover, under docks, etc are not likely to leave that location unless totally surprised by the angler. Flip anglers catch bass within a few feet of the boat. The classic video of boats running at speed right over the shallow spot with the wake white water still on the surface when Jay Yelas cast where the boat passed and catches the winning 6 lb bass should prove without a doubt boats don't shut off most bass.

Clear deep structured lakes with sparse cover, the bass can become spooked by boats during the day time. At night on the same lakes the bass are less wary and often are caught a few feet from the boat.

Tom

[gardnerjigman]

Id say 10 ft

[bigbill]

I'm fishing from shore. My favorite Rocky point goes off the corner of a low bridge into 9' of water. It goes about 15/20 yards. On one side is the moving current, the channel under the bridge.

My point is I find bass on both sides of the Rocky point and on top of the Rocky point but more bass on the calm side of the point. The point goes from the shoreline to 9' of water.

My question is how deep does the point have to be before you idle over it? Would drifting over it be better?

Stealth matters.

I'm so quiet I don't know I'm there.