I have heard some people say that playing a stereo in your boat will scare fish away. I have heard people say that if it is quiet it won't matter. I have also heard people say that it does not matter at all, it won't bother the fish.

Thoughts?

I think the radio bothers other fishermen a lot more than it bothers the fish.

There are days that the commotion created on the surface by the landing of a polen grain is enough to send them away with a severe case of shutmouthitis and there are days that the landing of an elephant falling from 10,000 ft is going to attract them to see what the fuzz is all about.

Never had a problem.  In fact, I recall a fish came out from under a dock to check out the tunes we were playing.  He stayed under the boat for about 10 mins!  LOL!

i go fish alone a lot and its kind of quite when i am all by my self so i am getting a iphone speaker on my boat so i can listen to some music. but i will have to turn down so maybe it wont scare the fish away

My buddy has a radio in his boat and had it blasting one day a couple years ago that we hammered them all day long with it going. 

Radio will scare me away.

I go fishing to enjoy the great outdoors and it's quiet and beauty.  Love hearing fish jump, birds sing...etc.  Have no desire to "bring home" in the boat wether it scares fish or not.  Don't get enough time on water as it is.  But to each his own for sure.

I guess to each his/her own, but respect is the key. I get on the water and leave "the world" behind, so to speak. But my iPhone is with me because sometimes I have to check in, deal with matters, etc.

Music is not on my list. I like to hear nature when I'm in my yak. Sound carries quite well over water, so I would prefer not to hear a radio blasting on the water. That said, it also depends on the water. A vacation lake with skiers in $80k boats is one thing. They come and go. Fishermen are more likely to stay at a spot for a bit, so that's more disturbing, IMO, if they are cranking tunes.

But in all honesty, I haven't encountered any such fisherfolk blaring music yet! Most seem to be out to enjoy nature and hopefully land some fish, just like me.

Don't know if it scares them away, but i was fishing a small lake in my kayak a while back when a car pulls up at the boat ramp, opens all the doors, and played don't stop believing on repeat as loud as possible. I lasted through 2 times and left.

I sometimes bring a small radio out with me to listen to the ball game while fishing. I have never noticed any difference in the bite.

I wondered the same during this weekend. I was striper and bass fishing and my uncle insisted on a radio. We caught them like crazy when it was off. When we turned it on they stopped. I do believe it was because of the bite shut off. I'm interested to know too.

if they are biting well i doubt it matters much, but if they are neutral to negative mood i think it will definitely not help your chances... 

 

Mitch

Just won my club tourny listening to a mix of George Jones, Snoop Dogg, jamie Johnson and Guns and Roses.  I don't think it hurts the bite at all.  Gives me a pep in the step too.

When it's quiet in the mornings, I leave the radio off.  I like to enjoy the nature/solitude.  But, when the lake wakes up and water skiers/jet skiers, etc. are pounding around the lake, I can't imagine that some music is going to scare off the fish so I enjoy some tunes. 

I need to concentrate on what my lure is doing, and music/chatter is too distracting for me. Each to his own, though.

Tunes? Not so much.  A ball game works for me.  STL Cardinals or Sooners please!

If you play the bass (not to be confused with "bass") so loud that your boat vibrates around the lake like a player on an electric football or hockey game (remember those?), then yes, it will probably frighten off the fish. But otherwise, i doubt they can even sense it.

I know the bass on my lakes like listening to the race on sunday!

I just go to Pickwick and you don't have to have a radio in your boat........ there are enough pleasure boats circling so you get to hear an eclectic mix of music!

Just won my club tourny listening to a mix of George Jones, Snoop Dogg, jamie Johnson and Guns and Roses.  I don't think it hurts the bite at all.  Gives me a pep in the step too.

 

 

So that was it!  I heard you did well and figured you were throwing jerkbaits at Barren, but it must have been Snoop.  Now I know your secrets.

I like to play something relaxing like Bob Marley, but suuuuuuuuuuuuper quietly-  Like a whisper.  I do find it helps me relax though to have just a little rhythm and lyrics to jam to though.  Sometimes I don't want it crazy quiet, sometimes I do.       

Don't know if it scares them away, but i was fishing a small lake in my kayak a while back when a car pulls up at the boat ramp, opens all the doors, and played don't stop believing on repeat as loud as possible. I lasted through 2 times and left.

I would have taken this as a sign lol. 

 

I'd rather not hear music, a race, or a ball game when I'm out in the boat. My phone is annoying enough during those times. If you are one of those who insist on it, they make these great inventions called head phones! Let the rest of us enjoy the peace and quiet. 

There is always the option of putting a phone on vibrate.

In my research Bass are partial to Lynyrd Skynyrd. They go nuts for FreeBird!