How important do you think it is to be completely quiet? based on past experience,

is it possible to catch big bass when you have your girlfriend with you who literly wont shut up....lol

Im looking for people to say "I was with my 3 friend drinking and being loud when my buddy caught a 4 pounder"

im talking shore fishing mostly, but general is fine....

what do yuo people think about it, is this why i never catch big bass unless im by myself?

also, i heard someone post earlier not to go near the waters edge, stand back 25 ft. think its worth it>?

Reason i ask is, when i go by myself i always pull at least 1 or 2 bass, even when its slow....

but i find when i bring my girl, or a friend, i sit their empty all day? just happebned yesterday even

Can anyone confirm that talking while fishing is a seriouse no no, or is it just better to be silent, but not 100% neccessary?

THANKS

I think jumping up and down in a boat or the shore would make a difference.  However I look at talking like lighting(just realized I don't know how to spell lightning :-[).  When lightning strikes water electricity is spread throughout surface.  Thus, not harming the fish.  I think.  Sound does the same thing disperses throughout the surface.  However obviously in a boat your sitting below the surface.  Most likely you don't catch as many fish with your gf b/c your not concentrating as much.

I think its because now there is a witness. :

talking is natural kinda like bird singing it wont spook them like the vibrations out out by beating and banging. i shore fish within 3 feet of the shore and im never affectedas long as you dont stomp around to much,which i do often but to a degree ti wont matter

My 2 biggest fish this year came while my brother and I were laughing at the little gators trying to eat our lizards. The radio was pretty loud too (my brother turns it up to drown out my singing... LOL) I really think fish are easily spooked by loud, abrupt noises (dropping something heavy in the boat) not by normal conversation.

I know what you mean.

I was fishing near this georgeous girl who was wearing a string bikini.

I couldn't catch a thing.

kept grabbing the wrong rod.

LMAO!

Cliff

The only noises you have to fear are those made by banging something around in the boat.  Noises made above water, i.e. talking, singing, or whatever, will have little if any effect on the fish.

In-Fisherman has done studies (I know.... I always point to IF studies, but hey, they know more than I do :-)) that show that sounds above water, like talking, are very hard for fish to hear underwater. But bumps and bangs against the bottom of the boat are actually amplified, and very easy for fish to hear from long distances.

So, talking, laughing, music (as long as you don't have big bass... no.. not the fish 'bass'... but, deep musical notes of 'bass') thumping the floor of the boat, the fish will probably not be very affected. But it's always best to move very cautiously, and avoid bumping and banging the floor of the boat....... Then, if one of your fishing buddies bumps or bangs the boat, it's probably okay to yell at them :-) LOL

All this said, it makes no difference to me that talking doesn't bother the bass, as it bothers the heck out of me !

I'll chat for hours online, on the phone, or at the dock, but once I get on the water with a pole in my hand, please leave me by myself, so I can get into my tunnel vision mode :-)

Peace,

Fish

I agree with whats been said about the loud abrupt banging.  As far as the closeness to the shore I'd say thats a farce.  Caught my personal best a 10.7 in pretty clear water not 8-10 feet away from me when he hit.  And he was probably closer to me when he saw the bait cuz I saw him go out from a bush and kill my bait.  You can kinda camouflage yourself by wearing shirts that will blend in with the sky.  That is my best advice on fishing close to the water.

thanks

makes me feel better, guess i can bring the woman after all

i love the guy that said, "no witnesses" lol

the pole line was pretty funny too

I think most of the concept of "be quite, you'll scare the fish" comes from parents who take their kids fishing, and would just like a little peace and quiet. I don't know how many I got told to shut up when I was a big mouthed kid.

Talk all you want. But if you drop your pliers in the bottom of your aluminum john boat, you'd best move to another spot.

Cheers,

GK

When i am out with friends fishing, we always talk and i catch as many fish as when i am fishing alone.

When I was little and I heard that talking scared the fish, I decided to test it. I went to both bluegill and bass beds and screamed and hollered at them, with no reactions from the fish. I have also caught plenty of bass while chatting with my friends, even one today while goofing off  on a dock.

I know what you mean.

I was fishing near this georgeous girl who was wearing a string bikini.

I couldn't catch a thing.

kept grabbing the wrong rod.

That is great, LMAO

keep up the good work

I know what you mean.

I was fishing near this georgeous girl who was wearing a string bikini.

I couldn't catch a thing.

kept grabbing the wrong rod.

LMFAO! OH MAN THATS HALARIOUS! That made my morning, hell, it might carry the whole day! Thanks!!

I know what you mean.

I was fishing near this georgeous girl who was wearing a string bikini.

I couldn't catch a thing.

kept grabbing the wrong rod.

Only Avid...  10 mook points for that one...

I may just be bad at mutitasking but I find I miss a lot more strikes when im having a conversation.  I dont think it scares the fish off though b/c they are still biting.  

As far as your proximity to the shore I think that depends on the situation.  On a sunny day your shadow is going to spook every fish it comes close to.  If the water is very clear the fish can probably see you better.  I generally just try to keep my shadow away from the spot im trying to fish and to avoid sudden movements.  Also I find the deeper the water is, the less I have to worry about any of that.  25 ft. may be a good rule of thumb from the spot you are casting to but not from the shore.  People catch lots of fish much closer than that to boats a lot bigger and noisier than a fisherman.