Something I would like to know?

[Shack]

I started to fish with a guy late season last year. He fish’s the Croix for channels and flats. He does have a couple monsters (pictures) I have seen from his spots.

One trip out last fall, I noticed something when we pulled up to a “hot spot”. The first thing he did was shut off everything electric in the boat. I ask him why? He told me he does this because the electronics (most of all the fishing graph/locator) send off signals that could effect what the cats want to do, most of all "eat". He also stated all the info about cats being sensitive to elector signals. At the time, I was in his boat and just went with the flow. I will also add, we only caught 1 small flat and a couple of channels.

I figure I would ask some of the best “cat” guys I know of, this question.

Does anyone else practice this of even thought of this. I hate to site blind on a spot and it could just be a wives tail.

Thanks

[Ralph Wiggum]

Interesting theory but it'd be tough (if not impossible) to prove. Just too many variables.

I'd say if it give a guy more confidence, it's worth it. I like my gadgets, though (plus, being boatless,I'm pretty much stuck with doing whatever the owner of the boat says!)

[hanson]

I don't know... I usually shut my electronics off because its dark out and I don't want that screen from the Lowrance putting out a big glow in the boat.

With that said... I don't think "shutting it off" has helped my fishing odds at all. I wish I could say it has but I don't really think it has an affect.

What a guy should do is to not "motor through" the spot you are looking to fish. I know am guilty of this from time to time as I love to see whats "down there" but the best route is to learn the area ahead of time and then come and anchor up from it and drift back.

[Shack]

Ya, I hear ya Ralph on the variables.

We where in about 12’ of water, with in yards of a 25 to 35’ break, then to the main channel was like 40’. The other thing was, he used electronics to locate his spot and that was it.

He also was pretty stout about being quiet and not moving around in the boat. I will add he did keep the running lights on, before things are said.

[Shack]

Hanson,

Good info and I am guilty of that also.

[UncleKes]

I have heard that theory for years. It has something to do with the fish being sensitive to the electro magnetic radiation that all electrical devices put out. I am not sure if it is true or just some scientific nonsense put out by someone with more time in the library than on the water.

Personally, I don't put a lot of store by it. Think of all the catfish and other fish that have been taken by boats with radios, and depth finders, and GPS and other electrical devices?

But then again, who knows?? The people in the lab coats come up with new stuff every day.

I say leave the electronics alone and fish! To heck with weather they are giving the fish headaches!

[DTro]

yeah, I know some guys who think plunking a flat bottom stick down into the water attracts them, so whatever gives you confidence, I say go with it.

[Flaco651]

Clonkers.

[Shack]

Flaco,

What the heck is Clonkers?????

I will assume it is someone who does what Dtro posted?

[aanderud]

Here's a clonker in action:

[hanson]

Guess I could have just went on living my life just fine without seeing that video.

[crazyice]

 Originally Posted By: hanson

Guess I could have just went on living my life just fine without seeing that video.

Hmmm... I agree.

[harvey lee]

More like Bonkers. Maybe one should come up with a catfish call and market that as the next new gimmick.

[DTro]

 Originally Posted By: harvey lee

More like Bonkers. Maybe one should come up with a catfish call and market that as the next new gimmick.

That's what this is Tom. Matter of fact I think they market it as a "catfish call".

There are few guys in the catfish circle that have them.

Don't bother bringing them in my boat though

[harvey lee]

Dont worry about me bringing any calls as you know that I usually talk them into biting, no need for a call.

[Flaco651]

You won't see me with a clonk...well, perhaps maybe. Only if the unthinkable curse of the monkey was upon me, and I needed something to knock him off my back!

[slipperybob]

The electromagnetic radiation to be considered is usually generated from your antennas --> radio waves. I haven't heard any theory on how that affects fish. That's nothing compared to high pitched hum caused by electrical components. In theory, that might caused some irritating signals. Who knows how well tuned fish sensors are. If they hear or feel something they don't like, they might vacate the area.

The clonker gimmick or not, has more coincidental fish biting than proof. I've never used one, but even before I such a device was conceived, there is an unknown art of sound wave fish calling. Let's just say the sound of a stick plunging into the water and hitting bottom does a couple of things.

1. scares fishes

2. attracts fishes

3. nothing

(1. scares fishes.) What happens when you scare little fishes. They flinch, get jittery, or maybe get all big eyed and start to chatter their teeth - LOL's. In that instance those little fishes reveal themselves to the predators, who then home in on them. (2. attracts fishes.) Is this the coincidental fish attraction? Maybe, but it works. The following five to ten minutes, the predators come and makes a sweep in the area and they feed on the preys. So if they stumble upon your bait, they might take that as easy meal ticket. (3. nothing.) This method doesn't work all the time and is less likely to work subsequently after the first time. The simplest of coincidence is like tapping on a glass fish tank. First time the fish really jump. The second time not so much, following that they begin to ignore the finger tapping on the tank.

Like I said, it's an art. You could accomplish the same with a motor rev and it's all becomes coincidental.

[Larry FlatCaster]

 Originally Posted By: dtro

Don't bother bringing them in my boat though

I just smuggle the hand Clonk.... You don't seem to mind when it turns a slow night around and the action starts picking up........... Well maybe not actual bites...... but it makes me feel better.

[harvey lee]

Maybe I need to be clonked LFC.

[Flaco651]

I know there is some more supporters of the clonk around here.

[The J-Man!]

That clonking video was the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. So the fish just come jump into your boat? Why have we all wasted so much time and money all these years buying rods, reels, line, lures, hooks, sinkers, etc. when all this time we just needed a curved stick.

[slipperybob]

About the noise thing and keeping quiet at night fishing. All I can say is that noise just magnifies in the quiet of night. It seems that during those twilight moments of calmness, is when the predators are about to ambush their prey. LOL's I think that some fish may behave just like that. That sometimes that feeding window that you're timing for your own senses are heightened. Being stealthy coincidentally pays off. Often these are times when the fish aren't aggressively feeding to the point where just anyone can catch them if they simply wet their line.

There have been times when fishing silly and being loud and obnoxious and rocking the boat and all gets us into some of the most fish action. So do this when it's just too plain quiet. You're not going to catch anything anyway in deadwater so you may as well look alive. LOL's

[Shack]

Mind you, I keep a very open mind to all idea's and theories I come accross over the years.

I just ordered my first Clonker!

Ha, ha, ha!

No, I think these guys need a clonk on the head.

Good info so far guys. I am leaning twords a "busted" result on this wives tail.

[fishinJohn]

Wish I saw Hanson's reply before watching the video. On a side note: I froze a few of the egg sacks from some perch this winter to hopefully use for catfish bait but I ran out of time on the ice to try them. Do you think they would work or not smelly enough?