Question – How much does Outboard Motor Noise affect fishing?

[fishinwrench]

Here it is 2019 and we still don't really know.   Yet we claim to know all kinds of other things that are way more complicated to figure out.  

My experience watching fish tells me that they are more easily disturbed by sounds that start and stop or that change in volume than they are by sounds that are constant and stable.   

[Devan S.]

I'm certain the sound can pass from air to water. I don't have any clue how it translates but I'm certain it does and someone probably knows. Off the top of my head I think water allows higher frequency more readily.

I've never been really close to a running boat scuba diving but you can hear them underwater among the ambient noise that's present. I do know you bang a knocker on an aluminum tank or bang rocks together and often bluegill and smaller fish come running to you.

Additionally wave action is energy passing too and that also makes an ambient noise underwater. 

[liphunter]

This is as big of mystery as to the infamous inquiry about "Who is on first?"⚾  

[176champion]

I know the boat being up shallow on them don't scare them, had to change the trailer on my spinnerbait and boat had drifted up to about a foot off the shore and I thru my spinnerbait over the side of boat to get on the trolling motor and a 14 inch bass grabbed the spinnerbait and I didn't even make it to trolling motor yet.

[Jerry Rapp]

39 minutes ago, liphunter said:

This is as big of mystery as to the infamous inquiry about "Who is on first?"⚾  

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

34 minutes ago, 176champion said:

I know the boat being up shallow on them don't scare them, had to change the trailer on my spinnerbait and boat had drifted up to about a foot off the shore and I thru my spinnerbait over the side of boat to get on the trolling motor and a 14 inch bass grabbed the spinnerbait and I didn't even make it to trolling motor yet.

Man I need one of those trips!!!

[176champion]

2 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Man I need one of those trips!!!

Pure luck and it will probably never happen again...lol

[Champ188]

4 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

My experience watching fish tells me that they are more easily disturbed by sounds that start and stop or that change in volume than they are by sounds that are constant and stable.   

Well, that's a good thing for a fishing partner or two I've had over the years coz their voice could be heard "constant and stable" ALL DARNED DAY LONG! 

[Alex Heitman]

Another thing I do fishing shallow is never turn off the electronics. For me it has made a difference. May not be the case but I make sure they are off

[Champ188]

I've given thought to that but haven't tried it. This would be a good year to give it a try.