Just wondering,

I know its not good to keep turning your trolling motor on and off, you want to keep it at a slow steady speed. But what if you are flipping or pitching cover and you only need to move your boat a little from time to time and dont want your trolling motor on. In this case would it be a good idea to use a paddle for those small adjustments, or would that spook the fish as much as turning on your trolling motor???

paddle will spook a fish a whole lot quicker than the TM.  

paddle will spook a fish a whole lot quicker than the TM.  

May I ask why?

id just use the trolling motor. that being said, if you are flipping and pitching that typically puts you in shallow water, so why not push pole it? if its stealthy enough for bonefish its stealthy enough for largemouth.

Being that I am not a bass I can't say for sure.  But I don't see why a silent paddle would be more disturbing than a trolling motor. Of course the variables are what trolling motor and who is paddling silently.  

If you have canoed much you learn how to paddle silently and efficiently which actually go hand in hand when speed is not a factor.  

If you can hear any water sounds when paddling than the fish probably can too.  But which water sounds spook fish?

My 55# transom TM is the ONLY motor I have, so I DEFINITELY use the paddle for positioning sometimes.  I'm just very quiet and gentle about it.  Does not seem to have any impact on my fishing.

I just have to save my battery b/c I need that TM to get me home after a day of fishing.

I've never heard the bit about turning your TM on and off isn't good.  Isn't that what it's designed to do for the most part?  I have a 15 year old TM that's been seriously abused according to that standard and it still works fine

I've never heard the bit about turning your TM on and off isn't good. Isn't that what it's designed to do for the most part? I have a 15 year old TM that's been seriously abused according to that standard and it still works fine

The theory is that the abrupt change in noise under water is more likely to spook a fish than the constant drone of the motor.

Sculling is a technique of positioning a boat with a short paddle and if done correctly it will not spook fish; problem is its very tiring. I use a hand controlled trolling motor with a Big Foot® switch mounted on both sides of the deck; never have I seen where turning the trolling motor on & off effected my fishing.