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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | I asked this question last year and never got a good answer to my question. So here it is again. What is louder under the water: a electric trolling motor or a gas 4 stroke kicker motor? Now I will let you in on a few facts. The electric trolling motors sound is submerged and we can't hear it because its under water. The 4 stroke sound is above water and only the prop is under the water. Now to the fish what is louder to them. They both have prop noise but I think the 4 stroke is better than the electric when it comes to windy conditions. I also think the electric is better than the gas when the conditions are very quiet and calm.
I am interested in the views of others on this subject and welcome all to comment on this question. |
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Posts: 5874
| Don't forget that the exhaust from the outboard is routed through the prop! Personally, I think that the bowmount spooks more fish, because alot of times, you are off and on with it. |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Mike I dont' have a good answer for you but a few things to consider.
How often does a fish spook from the bowmout..? It has happened to me enough that I started fishing from the back of of my boat on may lakes, even when fishing alone.
Propwash or short line trolling..? While I am not all that experienced at these methods those who are know it is very effective...
I guess I didn't provide an answer but it is thought provoking none the less.
Are you suggesting trolling more than casting..?
Mark
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Posts: 259
Location: Alexandria, MN | Not sure about the "which one is louder?" question, we don't have a lateral line to test this against. I would offer a side question; Is it possible that the Muskies have become conditioned to the sound of an electric trolling motor, and associate the sound with danger? Kind of like a deer will stay in it's bed if you walk past fast enough, but if you slow down or stop -- they are gone! I think the fish are spooked by the electric, because the sound usually is followed by a big chunk of wood, with hooks, invading their area.
So many little things, but they all make a big difference.
What do you guys think? |
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Posts: 1290
Location: Stevens Point, Wi. | I remember reading many ??? years ago, an underwater sound test article that showed trolling motors to be much louder than outboards. I'm sure this was done with 2 strokes because 4 strokes weren't popular back then. I don't recall who did this testing( a result of age??) but do know the results showed outboards were the quieter to the test equipment used. How this compares to what a fish "hears" is something to ask the fish. On some of the lakes, they should be swimming around with perpetual headaches, with all the boat traffic. It's possible they become desensitized as the season progresses? |
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Posts: 69
| Hiya,
Ever want to know what fish think of electrics, try this sometime: When you're releasing a fish, move it up by the trolling motor, then have someone step on the pedal for the troller. Have a towel handy...
Back in the day when I had a small tiller outboard, I caught far more fish figure-8ing next to a running outboard than I did a running trolling motor. I've had others tell me the same thing. I think part of the problem with electrics is the stop/start. When I am thinking clearly, and when conditions allow I try to take my foot off the pedal when I'm 1/2 to 3/4 of the way in on a cast. If it's on when the fish is at boatside, I leave it on, and if it's off, I stay off it unless I'm headed for the rocks...
Cheers,
RK
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Posts: 938
Location: NeverNever Lake | Back in the day, certain dinosaurs used very low frequency sounds to communicate with each other. The source of low frequency is much harder to locate and predators couldn't find them using sound alone. A good example is a home subwoofer. You can put them virtually anywhere in a room, even behind a sofa, and the sound remains the same ( nondirectional).
Don't touch that........................................................ |
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Posts: 2691
Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin | RK you mentioned a great tip, I use the trolling motor from the time I cast up to the time my bait gets 1/2 way to the boat. I worked on this the last year or two and found that I increased my figure 8 fish and decreased my spooked fish.
As for reading that the outboard is not as loud as the electric, I watched a show years ago and I remember that I was surprised that the electric was louder under the water. I think it was a Infishermen show that I watched it on.
Mark I'm not thinking trolling just wondering outloud what people think about this motor issue. I do want to try more short line trolling over weeds this year. I know the weed choked end of Pewaukee hold fish all year long and they are underfished all summer when the trollfest is going on.
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Location: Woodstock, IL | Until this season, I only had a transom mount electric trolling motor. On two occassions on two different bodies of water, a musky had come to within three feet of my running electric. Both seemed to be checking it out.
I had mixed feelings about this phenomenon.
1. I was amazed to see two mid-30's musky lazily approach the prop for whatever reason. These fish never cease to amaze me. I stood in awe at this marvel of nature.
2. I was extremely upset with the fact that these two stupid fish were more interested in my damn trolling motor than the various offerings I'd been presenting during that trip. I immediately began to figure eight my bucktail in front of them, cursing aloud when the stupid things showed no interest.
After seeing enough of the trolling motor, they lazily sank back into the depths. To this day I swear that one of them gave me the finger....
Who knows what they think, feel or see? I don't. |
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| I know the sound of certain salt
Edited by Sponge 6/26/2007 6:18 AM
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Posts: 32950
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I have always felt that the electric on/off has more to do with spooking fish than the amount of noise it makes. I agree with RK on this one. I know several anglers who troll with the V-6, very successfully in the prop wash. I promise you, a V-6 outboard makes alot more noise than a Minn Kota at 1/2 speed. Conditioned to the electric, and avoidance as a result? No, that isn't a concern. |
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Location: Illinois-Indiana | I use a Minn Kota Auto Pilot and leave it on so there is no on off, just constant on.
I think the fish are used to the outboard noise that is why they are not spooked by it anymore, especially on you busy lakes with lots of jet ski's etc.
I will say that the two have two different sounds and vibrations, maybe they just aren't used to the electric just yet. Also think that it has a LOT to do with the on off issue. |
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| Being I purposely try to target bigger muskies each year, fully knowing my numbers count will decline as a result, I will not use my trolling motor when I cast and can drift naturally.
If I want to camp on a spot having good waves and current effects, I will drop the anchor and let out rope to silently make my adjustments. I do have my transom trolling motor down to pendulum swing if I have to or give me power if I hook a musky and have to move the boat.
I have a small float on the end of the anchor rope if in case I have to release the anchor from the boat when fighting a musky, which I usually do soon after hooking one.
I really cannot say if the trolling motor noise or engine motor noise has an effect when casting.
All that I know is that since I switched to stealth procedures, I have encounted more bigger muskies.
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