Noise

[slonezp]

I don't think it is as detrimental to the bite as many think. We are after a predatory species, not huntin' wabbits. 

 

Thoughts?

 

[SPEEDBEAD.]

My jon boat makes plenty of racket with two guys in it. We try to be as quiet as possible but we don't go nuts if one of us drops something in the boat or kicks a rod.

 

We still do ok.

[Montanaro]

Some days it matters some day it doesnt.

Music has never affected my bites

[scaleface]

I try to be quiet as possible . Weve all caught bass after dropping pliers on the floor but that doesnt prove that noise doesnt make a difference  . It proves noise didnt make a difference that time   . 

[Dwight Hottle]

Sometimes noise attracts them. I heard of a smallie charter boat captain that used to drop a metal anchor chain on the reefs to attract smallmouth bass by rattling it. 

[Paul Roberts]

Lotsa anecdotes/evidence on both sides. Sure you can startle fish, and some things are more apt to do this than others. Fish can also be attracted by disturbances. Both are influenced by context. Here's a quick anecdote: My very young son was with me on a pond and he started tapping a light wand of a stick onto the surface at pond edge, just watching the ripples he could make. Soon the bluegills got interested too. It wasn't long after that that some large eyes and striped sides appeared. Pretty cool.

 

One thing seems to be consistent: Once you've spooked em, you can't attract them. Worth avoiding the former before trying the latter.

[slonezp]

I guess the only people who are worried about noise are the crowd that doesn't like Terrova trolling motors, which is what triggered me to post this topic. I believe that most predatory species are not scared of noise but inquisitive. A little banging around in the boat or a radio or a TM turning or the splash of a jig are all things that warrant investigation. It's not like we are throwing cinder blocks into the lake.

[Big C]

As long as you talk to the fish, and not at them you're fine. 

[corn-on-the-rob]

Like others have mentioned it depends on the situation. Even then, sometimes it matters, sometimes it doesn't.

 

Say you moonshot a jig right on top of a bass near the shore. Some days he reacts instantly and crushes it, other days he might think its a bird trying swoop down and eat him so he flees in terror.

 

I try to be as quiet as possible with out making it a chore to do so. If I accidentally slam a rod-locker I'm not gonna assume the fish in the area are spooked and leave.

[Jrob78]

I think fish get accustomed to boat traffic pretty quickly, especially on busier lakes.  I don't think it makes much difference on public waters.

[BassnChris]

I think fish get accustomed to boat traffic pretty quickly, especially on busier lakes.  I don't think it makes much difference on public waters.

X2.......I think it would be the 'sharp' type sounds that startle the fish.....like when you say boo to scare someone and it makes the jump out of their skin.

[MFBAB]

I think the clearer the water, the clearer the skies, the calmer the wind, the more stealth matters (and often making longer casts).

Classic finesse conditions. 

 

Water with a little stain, cloud cover or low light, a little breeze disturbing the surface, the odds start tipping in our favor and stealth matters less. 

Classic power fishing conditions. 

[lo n slo]

The mere click of the thumb bar on my reel has been known to give bass lock-jaw. Some kinda medical condition I suppose.

[Bluebasser86]

I think there's times it makes a difference. I try to be quiet but I know the pinging of my depthfinders and whirring of the trolling motor are way louder than I'd like to think. 

[clh121787]

I've had some great days while listening to music. And I've also gotten skunked.

[Slade House]

It all depends on where ya fish.  if you're fishing the Potomac River , probably doesn't matter as much.  

 

Now if you're fishing Lake Casitas ,  the bass are a florida northern hybrid, the water is clear and deep, yeah sound is going to matter way more than the sound is going to carry alot further than say a river or lake that is 8 feet deep and super muddy and weedy. 

 

"bass certaintly associate certain sounds with danger.  Most noises above water bounce off the surface, so ordinary coversation doesn't spook vass.  but scuba divers report bass spooked when electric trolling motors are turned on and off.  (which is why i prefer the XI5 over the Terrova in terms of spot lock).  Divers also observed that standing to cast , which causes the boat to twist in the water , sends waves that spook bass.  bass are spooked by close , erratci and unfamiliar sounds especially when they're in open areas (clear deep reservoirs) bass in cover seem more secure."  Quoted from the in-fisherman largemouth bass book (best bass book written).  

 

I also use a hydrowave to mask any sounds i do make, and yes the d**n thing really does work flawlessly. Sight is really what bass rely on, hearing along their lateral lines is 2nd.  

What i notice on the weekends is when bass get spooked they will suspend around 20 feet deep in 60+ foot of water.  They will be away from the ledge or wall suspended over open water.  another thing bass hate in California, is stupid jet skis. thank god my lake don't allow jet skis, body contact , wake boarders or tubing.  

[Oregon Native]

Different days different scenarios.  I try to be quiet if I can as I don't know how they're going to be on this day.  I do know when a bait gets close to the boat and I'm hitting the trolling motor and a fish is close to the bait...he' s gone.  So I make it a habit of not stepping on the peddle when bait is close.. 

[Bankbeater]

I think that the fish get spooked more by the boat moving close to them than by noise.  I bank fish about 1/3 of the time, and when I run off a bass in the shallow water I know it didn't hear me walking in the grass.

[livin2fish]

Don't know if bass are spooked by my Terrova, but have seen Carp in shallow water spooked numerous times when the Terrova is turned.  Guess Bass bed fishermen who have Terrovas could say whether the turning noise spooks bass, or not. 

[scaleface]

Whats the deal with Terrova's ? Are they noisier than others  ?

[Dogmatic]

I'd prefer that they not know I was there.

[Sam]

I recall reading an article about an individual in scuba gear who was pounding a metal pole while underwater as a part of a dock project.

He said he felt a "funny" feeling, like someone was watching him.

He turned around to see at least 20 largemouth bass looking at him.

The noise and pounding vibrations attracted the bass.

 

As I have posted previously, in one of the Bigmouth productions Uncle Homer Circle said he and Glen Lau noticed that a large female bass would move into structure when she heard the trolling motor.

That bass was condition to hearing (or feeling) trolling motors and connecting them with getting caught so she backed off and hid.

 

Hank Parker says to walk at least 50-feet away from the bank when changing places while pond fishing.

I have seen bass react to my walking to the bank as they darted away.

I would have thought they saw me approaching but they ran away before I got 10-feet from the bank.

They must have felt my walking vibrations.

 

We all know that sound travels much faster and farther in water than in air.

So a radio or TV may not penetrate the water's surface, especially if there is wind or "chop" on the water.

However, if we transmit any sound from the bank or boat into the water via any means, all animals within a "specific distance" in the water will either hear or feel the vibrations.

Some of these animals will ignore the sound and vibrations while others will move away or towards the source.

 

As with your favorite baits and tactics, if you believe noise and vibrations entering the water system will have a negative impact on the animals then try to be as silent as you can.

If as with your favorite baits and tactics, if you do not believe noise and vibrations entering the water system will have a negative impact on the animals then don't worry about it.

 

Bass boats have carpeted floors. Not for looks but to mute any sound emanating from the boat.

I would think bass fishermen would be very upset to fish out of a bass boat without any carpeting.

Some of us do fish out of metal and plastic boats and do very well catching fish.

However, I believe bass fishermen like the carpeting to mute any sounds they make while moving around in the boat.

 

Stealth is your friend. You don't want to do anything to spook that "personal best" that is waiting for you right around the bend.

So I am taking the position that noise matters. Not all the time; but noise from you and your boat can have a negative impact on your prey.

[tander]

What Sam said, I think it matter more in ponds than is large lakes

[OkobojiEagle]

Noise bothers me

 

 

oe

[scaleface]

Sometimes noise is like ringing the dinner bell. Like the scuba divers banging on   a pole and the fish move in to see . I use to catfish on a small river under a railroad bridge and the fishing would usually pick up after a train crossed .

 

 On the other hand did any of you pick up on what Casey Ashley said in the classic . He flat out stated that  his sonar was spooking the bass making them tougher to catch ..