Radios in the boat

[dieguy]

I was thinking about installing a radio in the boat and wondering if anyone has an opinion either for or against? I have recently been looking at buying a boat and was surprised how many fishing boats had them installed. I can't ever remember a time while out fishin that I heard someone listening to the radio while fishing. How many of you listen to a radio while fishing?

[Bobby Bass]

I listen to Twins games if I am out fishing and if there is a chance of thunderstorms, The AM channel makes a great early warning device as you will get static with lightning strikes.

[PerchJerker]

My opinion - not a must have but a nice to have. I like listening to the Twins when I can, and my current boat has a CD player which is nice too. I don't listen to it all that often but at times I really like having it.

[Captain B.R.K]

I typically don't have a radio in the boat because I've always figured sound travels faster in water. So why give the fish a fin up on me when I'm trying to chase em'?

My one buddy has a small hand held radio that he brings when the Twin's are on, otherwise I never have a radio on.

Another plus is just chat with whoever is in the boat that day with me.

[BobT]

Anyone have any experience to backup or dispell the notion that the radio can affect fishing?

Bob

[MntkaFishin]

For me they're a must for the Twins and early season Viking games. Just don't turn it up so loud you can hear it over the engine.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I don't use a radio when fishing, but it's nice to have if you use your boat for anything else (cruising, skiing, fishing).

[MNice]

I use a walkman, works nice.

[Fishin4Life]

I did hear somewhere that making noise above water would not affect the fishing. Actually I think it was at Jon's Muskie seminar a while back. They went back to when "Grandpa" would tell you to be quiet in the boat or you would scare the fish. The sounds that can spook fish would be more like a rod hittin the gunnel or the bottom of a aluminum fishing boat.

Please someone jump in and correct me if I am wrong, but this all came from a pro. So I say play that radio mr. I need music to fish man. We solute you! hehe

[Deitz Dittrich]

ALL noise made in a boat will transfer to the water. Try it some time.. jump in, put your head underwater and tell your buddie to walk around, drop a pair of pliers, ect. However, the fish hear that all the time, expecially if you are on a metro or heavily used lake.

I do my best to walk around quietly, try not to do any crazy hard movements with my t-moter, try not to drop pliers on the bottom of the boat, expecially if I am in shallow water.

But seriously, I am out there to enjoy myself. And I have to admit, I enjoy myself more listening to some music some days. I dont play it loud, but I hate to listen to jetski's, lawn mowers, weed wips, and most important. Wind chimes.. .hate them things!!!!

[Kidd]

Earlier this year I rigged up my boat with a portable XM Radio. Love it.

[Fishin4Life]

Hey deitz, I know that dropping things really makes a lot of noise down under, but would the radio make a lot of racket under the water? Just curious...

[Deitz Dittrich]

my opinion.. it would have to... but like I stated, do I play my radio.. yep!

But it would have to trasmit through the hull, expecially if the speakers were mounted in the hull of the boat. My speakers I lay on the seat of the boat and I feel the seats absorb some or most of the vibration.

[Fishin4Life]

that makes sense. thanks deitz

[Gus]

Dietz's arch enemy... the wind chime! LOL!

I have a radio in the boat with XM. I don't use it all the time but when the mood calls for it, it is nice to have. Like for the twins series this weekend!

[SteveWilson]

Quote:

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I did hear somewhere that making noise above water would not affect the fishing. Actually I think it was at Jon's Muskie seminar a while back. The sounds that can spook fish would be more like a rod hittin the gunnel or the bottom of a aluminum fishing boat.

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Sound has problems transmitting through the air/water interface. However, anything that is in the water will make noise. For example, If you and your buddy are talking that sound will be highly attenuated at the air/water interface - you won't be heard (or heard much) underwater. On the otherhand if you bang your rod on the side of the boat, the vibration will travel along the side of your boat until it goes underwater at which point the vibrations will travel through the water. So the sound of you stomping your feet, banging rods, droping lures, the areator in your live well, bilge pump, etc. will be transmitted into the water well. The only time your stereo will be heard underwater is if you crank it up and have the speakers vibrations transmit through the hull via the speakers mounting location. Playing a radio fairly quietly won't be heard in the water as very little vibration is being transmited to the hull through the speakers mounting location. That's why it's ok to talk with your buddy while fly fishing but be carefull how you walk in the water.

[Fishin4Life]

Great information, thanks steve

And I guess we all know what to get Deitz for Christmas, a big ol wind chime. hehe

[Eastwind]

I have a CD player in my boat and listen to music all day while I jig for eyes as long as I am not in super shallow water like 5'or less. I just put it up loud enough to hear but not to create vibration in the boat. I makes for a more enjoyable day and I am there first and foremost to enjoy the day.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Dude- I can find out where you live!!!!! I hate wind chimes!!!

[Scoot]

DD, maybe we were seperated at birth- I hate wind chimes too! I really hate the stupid things!!! It's the one thing on earth I hate more than someone who is rude enough to crank up their radio on the water. I have no problem with a little music or a ball game on the radio, but I really get frustrated by people who feel it's their job to broadcast their entertainment to the whole lake.

Other than that, I just hate wind chimes!!!

[Eastwind]

And those that feel that they need to share their music, loudly, on the ice.

[SpecialK]

My fishing buddy out in Colorado uses his radio all time when trolling for Kokanee Salmon and Rainbow trout. Not extremely loud but loud enough to hear over a 40HP idling in Gear. Has not affected his fishing at all draging 30 yards of lead core, if anything we found that certain music tended to produce more fish. Grateful dead actually outproduced all others.

[buddha]

You won't regret having one in your boat. I caught the largest eye of my life this year trolling with the cd player going, not at a real low level either. I does help pass the time when things are slow.

[cold one sd]

Years ago when the Walleye bite would slow down, the wife would put a Patsy Kline tape in the player and they would start biting again. I don't know why, but it worked time after time. Yes I like her music or I would have had to swim.

[PerchJerker]

I have found they prefer Alan Jackson over Randy Travis