Thread: Are you a fanatic about noise like I am?

I believe that overall conditions are relative to their sensitivity to foreign sound. On a calm day, especially in shallow water, sound affects them more than on a windy busy day. Sharp sounds like dropped lids or a sudden smack on the side of the boat will turn em off. Trolling motor noise on a windy, busy day won't have as much effect as on a glassy day. I've spent a lot of time at the candy store in the past and the lessons learned there, relating to noise, have been many. I could be hittin em hard and have the boat bump the wall and all of a sudden, no fish for 30 minutes or so. Or have someone get frustrated that I was in the sweet spot and crank the outboard while still real close and they left for good. I can stay outside and cast and catch fish for a while, then someone comes in and parks right on top of the fish and doesn't get a bite. The noise factor has long been a topic and I believe that avoiding all the extra noise you can when in close with the fish, the better you will be. I will also carry a bucket in my boat for a few fish at a time instead of running back and forth to my rear live well so much. I'm sure I make lot's of noise just movin around that I don't realize. My boat seats have a spring that has gone dry underneath them, and they squeek now and then. Definitely a foreign noise.

Originally Posted by Tenntodd

I agree with TT. The ping from the depth finders have been discussed among touring pros in BASS. Kevin Van Dam addresses it in his book also. I am careful with deck lids, livewell, ect also. More so at night; with the regular boat traffic during the day I don't think the fish are as suspicious but at night when things calm down there attention is more keen. At least thats what I have read.

I'm a firm believer in the depth finder noise! I upgraged my sonar to a HB 747 last year, 4000 watts. I couldn't find or catch fish in less than 25 fow!

I just recently reinstalled my old 2400 watt HB and guess what? Yup! Started catching fish again in shallow water!

It may not be that importand for casting and longline trolling, but for drop shotting I think it is!

I think fish get used to the sound of outboards, trolling motors, and livewell pumps running to a certain extent... but making big splashes in the water and loud banging on the boat will probably spook them.

As far as loud talk on the water, I dunno if that spooks the fish... but it isn't needed, sound really carries on open water.

Just a little story about noise.My EXwife was fishin with me in an alum. boat on a 30 acre pond and we had dug worms and put them in coffee cans. We were catching some of the biggest Gills and when the worms went to the bottom of her can did she take the time to dig the worms from the bottom of the can?No she turned the can on its side and started banging it on the side of the boat like a hammer to shake the worms off the bottom.You could have heard that rackett for a mile.I was in the front of the boat trying to be as quite as possible and here comes the BAM BAM BAM of the can so I turn around and ask what in the @#$%^& are you doing and she knew she messed up she just looked with a smirk and said "ringing the dinner bell" We moved about 150 feet and started catching again.