My girlfriend belongs to some other forum and there was something on there about fish finders.

It said the sonar sends out waves that pick up on the air bladders in fish thus marking fish on your screen. I can believe that. Then it says the fish can actually feel those waves...Is this true?? Wouldn't that spook the fish? This is the first time I have heard anything like that so I thought I would come to the best forum to get the right answer.

Tight lines,

Snag

Im going to post on this topic but you might not want to follow this to the T. This is what i think....... No, fish cannot feel sonar waves. When ever you get an X-ray on your broken arm, can you feel it? When ever you are warming up some left over pizza in the microwave, can you feel it? How about when you are in the middle of the lake in the summer time.... can you feel the actual "rays" from the sun? Thats just what I think though, I could be wrong. Hope this helps.

to add to what you just said Zara, Can you feel what a cell phone does to " Areas" on you? Cell phones on the hip are really bad for a guy..... And you cant feel that can you?

But at the same time do humans have a sensitive lateral line running the length of our bodies?? Just a question. I've heard that bass can feel it but I don't remember where I heard that.  

If they can feel it how in the heck would we know? I hate when people make accusations about things like this without proof. I am not saying that they can or can not feel it, what I am saying is show me some scientific proof that leaves NO SHADOW OF A DOUBT that they can or can not feel it. If it is ever proven that they can feel it and it is doing them harm I will throw mine in the trash. This post is not intended to upset anyone it is just my thought on the topic.  

I'm not upset in any way shape or form I agree with you on that Jignpig!

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Maybe alittle embarressed to have posted that reply, I guess I shoulda kept my mouth shut. :-[

As a new member I really don't want to upset anyone, I'm truly sorry if I've upset anyone.

I have heard Don Iovino and Mike Auten address sonar at two different Bassmaster Universities and neither mentioned any affect the sonar had on any type of fish or acquatic animals.  Don and Mike are the leading experts in the field of sonar so I would expect either or both to address this issue.

jagrrich,

         You did not upset me at all and you should not be embarressed about your post. What you said is a valid point and is part of what I was talking about. We as humans are completely different then fish (bass or any other) and that is why I can not understand why we assume something is in pain or not in pain. That is why I would like to see the scientific proof on the subject. I do a ton of fishing and I am FAIRLY sure a fish doesn't like a hook in its lip but it is not going to kill them (usually). But if we are making the fish sick or putting them in pain by using the electronics then I would not use mine. I catch plenty of bass without my the electronics on.

Here is an article on smallies from Bassmaster. You will need to go all the down to the "stealth" section of the article to find the info on sonar and it's effect on smallies.

http://espn.go.com/outdoors/tips/s/b_fea_bm_0406_dogdays.html

I had a huge very informational post on this but when i tried to bold the letters i erased it all.

But here it is in a nutshell.

Compressional waves: can be heard, felt but not seen, they compress the media they travel through in distinct patterns where some waves are compressed and some are spread out. Humans hear this through the constantly vibrating eardrum and other vibrating instruments in the ear.

Transverse waves: can only be seen, They are one wave with the same pattern all the way through,

They are either reflected or absorbed. The sonar wave is a transverse wave which is invisible and it gets reflected. But it does not displace any media or material in which it travels through which means it it can not be felt by a bass's lateral line and also cannot be heard or felt by any living being. This states with simple science that a bass cannot hear or feel a sonar wave which in return means that it cannot spook the fish. thank you

It shouldn't matter but I do hear a bunch of pors talk about shutting their LCD's down when they stop to fish

Nick-Barr,

Makes sense to me! ;D 8) How ever I still might add this as an other reason that I aint catching too many fish! LOL

earthworm77:  Whats a por?lol : ;D

Here is my feeling right or wrong I have no idea. I feel that in water 8 ft. or greater I don't think the sound waves from your depth finder, trolling motor, or livewell pump makes much of a difference to the fish in clear water. In dirty water I would move the bar to 5 ft or greater in some cases 3ft or more. If the fish are spooky, noise will put the fish on alert. The fish might not spook or run away but move closer to cover and become less active. They feel something in their enviroment is different and it takes them awhile to calm down and become active. Thats why they say in clear water long casts work.

Gentlemen,

   First of all I think the fish know that we are there.  I think the sonar click,click,click,click alerts them to that fact.  Turn on your depth finder in the garage and put your hand on the transducer puck.  Feel anything?  Hear anything?  I think the fish do also.