Music in the Shack

[Seeker of Clayface]

A friend of mine insists that playing music in the shack is detrimental to fishing success. Something about vibrations scaring them off. I say that's nonsense. Obviously you're not gonna want to crank Slayers "Reign in Blood" as loud as your boombox will go but there's nothing wrong with playing music at a reasonable volume. Actually, I've found that playing a little Johnny Cash or Hank Sr. will draw the fish in. Anyone else with an opinion on this matter?

[Mr_Sniffles333]

You know, I've wondered the same thing myself. Anybody have any real experience with this?

[smartguy]

There have been times when I haven't caught anything, but my friend would switch the radio to a country station. The bite always seemed to pick up afterwards.

Unfortunately, I hate country music, so I have to be REALLY desperate to switch stations!

[slacker]

I think slayer would bring them in. just dont head bang to hard.

[feverpetal]

The vibrations from the music, especially the bass, don't really "scare" them, but they do become alert to something different. It could help or hinder, depending on the fish and the habitat. Fish more used to people might not be as spooked. That's why I think a stereo IN a boat might not be such a good idea, versus a boombox on a foam pad.

fp

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"Cast riiiiight....there."

[Gissert]

When we are up on LOW, we usually listen to KY58 Oldies out of Winnepeg. We change the words of the songs to include the words "gloves" and/or "choppers" wherever possible, LOL.

When I used to darkhouse spear, I found the pike did not seem to care, as long as the radio was not real loud. The were a bit spooky on new ice, but they acted the same way when the radio was off.

[Guest]

I don't really know either. But I have had times were the radio was on for most of the morn and then it got turned of and the bite started to pick up. But that was the time of year too when someone showed up with the 4-wheeler or drilled a hole and it scared the fish off for 15 min too. But if the fish are spooky I normally turn the radio way down and try to play quiet. I normally can't go without some good music.

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Fish ON!

[Guest]

My only experience with music while ice fishing was last year. We were up to Devils Lake ND trying for Walleyes in an area that had been a hot evening bite when a load of Drunks from Wis. Came and setup 10ft away then began playing rap as loud as their booom boxes would go! needless to say no one there caught any thing.

[iffwalleyes]

I have always listened to the radio and music when out in the shack. I haven't noticed a big difference. As a matter of fact one of my buddies (aka Marine_Man)caught a 9.5 lb walleye last year when we were listening to Shania Twain. It doesn't seem to affect fishing until Marine_Man starts singing along then everything goes to heck.

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Grip it and Rip it

IFFWalleyes
I Fish For Walleyes
[email protected]

[icemac33]

Drunks from Wis. are bad enough.I should know, I'm friends with a few.But when you turn on the rap music.....Well..me thinks its time to drill a hole big enough for a couple guys and their radio.I see the cold coming in a day earlier on the forecast.Yeeeha.Think Cold.-Icemac

[EBass]

I've pondered on this to. I'll have to do some research this winter and come to a conclusion.

[Seabass77]

As with open water fishing, I don’t think the problem lies in talking, listening to music, etc. I think the problem lies in dropping your tackle box on the floor, banging around in your shanty, any type of noise that moves through the water and ice. Voices and music will mostly bounce off the water/Ice. As with anything, I’m sure there is a level where this would seize to be true, but for the most part, I think this is a good rule of thumb.

[Guest]

i always have music,sports or even the tv on
while fishing and it doesnt seem to matter,
but of course its not at rock concert level

[cubbies11]

I would say the same that music doesn't affect the fish however it does affect your concentration and you can miss bites this way. Just my $.02.

Cubbies

[cashcrews]

Simply put, "Fish bite to country". Especially if you're listening to the classics like Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty...those tunes always cause a bite to occur. Also, Shania Twain seems to have a positive effect on the bite. And whenever we hear Johnny Horton's "Sink the Bismarck", success is often seconds away.

Aside from my country music theory, I will just add that I don't think listening to music is detrimental (hopefully it's not so loud as to cause detriment to others!). The fun of ice fishing has to include more than just staring at a bobber or jigging--if you weren't able to kick back and enjoy yourselves out there, then I see the fun factor dropping off considerably.

[Guest]

Every year on our trip to LOW in the sleeper house I've been bringing a small CD player and speakers hooked up to a deep cycle battery.

Believe it or not, when the tunes aren't playing the fish won't bite. The fish really get active with Zepplin and a keg flowing

[captjon]

In Duluth, there's nothing like Country Music Saturday morning where classic country is king to get the fish biting!

[willowcat]

If music works on fish then maybee nextyear I'll bring a radio into my treestand and play Da Tirdy point buck.

[Dark Cloud]

I doubt the fish care one bit. But think about fellow fishermen also. I for one dont want dont want to hear any "noise", ie - music...

[Guest]

Go with a CD of Gregorian monks chanting, and play it really loud, especially at night!

It may not help the fishing much at first. Once the crazy ice Monk rumors get started it should get pretty lonely on your side of the lake. Fishing might pick up then?

[This message has been edited by Backwater Eddy (edited 11-20-2003).]

[Guest]

Ballgames seem to attract the most fish. Typically the fish bite best at the end of a close ballgame or hockey game. Music choices for attracting fish would be Jethro Tull, Mettalica (Garage Incorporated in particular)and Wide Spread Panic. The Sid Hartman show is also good. This summer it's been tough to get a bite when listening to Soucheray and Ruesse.

[This message has been edited by wgmsa (edited 11-19-2003).]

[Seeker of Clayface]

Or maybe turn up "Dueling Banjos". Nearby anglers will remember the movie Deliverance and start running for their lives.

[Pig_sticka]

I have been in a ice shack often with the music on and it hasn't slowed the bite from what i have noticed. last year i was getting crappies right under the hole with 93x playing pretty loud. i guess whatever floats ur ice shack.

[SLAYERFISH]

I've noticed that the shallower the water then the more it matters.I fish for slimers a lot in 10-12 ft of water and they are real spooky. Listened to an Avalanche game one time and the fishin was great-then switched to classical stuff and couldnt get a bite!

[Jarrod32]

Selecting the right music for fishing is very important. The music needs to augment the kind of fishing you're doing. For example:

For Walleyes, something more cerebral, like Pink Floyd or Alan Parsons.
For Northerns, they hit hard and hit anything. Ted Nugent would be good.
For Bluegills, go with Credence Clearwater Revival or Bob Seger.
For Crappies, Smashmouth is particularly good.
For Catfish, some blues…something like Buddy Guy or John Lee Hooker.
For Perch, most anything will do…even country music is acceptable here.
For Carp, well, if you're on enough drugs to intentionally fish for carp, go with Parliament of Funk.

Hope this helps.