Locator ping

[hitthebricks]

Was wondering about the pulse that comes from a transducer. Does that scare fish or affect them at all?

HTB

[PerchJerker]

My opinion - fish live their whole lives getting pinged by transducers, I don't think it has much affect on them. Maybe it does in shallow water, but then you've got the boat, motors, shadows, and other noise on top of them too.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

The only time that I know that the locator ping scares fish is when I see them on my screen and they end up in my livewell!

Cliff

[fishgutz77]

I know some guys that fish the pond a lot and swear that once they get a bouy on the structure it's time to turn off the sonar and just fish, because they claim the ping can drive away the skidish fish.

I haven't givin it much of a shot yet so I can't say for sure one way or the other.

[Borch]

I don't know about that.

But I do know what a marker bouy on the pond attracts. j/k

I'd be more likely to use my GPS with countour mapping chip installed. I rarely use a marker anymore.

I'll be leaving mine on. I have had simuliar experience as Cliff has.

[ice-man/vexilar-king]

After talking to some of the pro's that come into the store I would say that it deffinetly can. Walleyes have been known to spook from it on some clear lakes like Gull. Just what I heard from pro's I haven't seen a differnce myself.

[Borch]

There have actually been a number of studies done. Most relating to the commercial fishing industry and there is more of an issue attributed to propellor and other vessel noise than to the locator itself. I haven't seen anything on ice fishing and locator ping.

[hhguide]

I know that when I fish tournaments and a few other guys and were in shallow water we shut it all off. we just have the gps on. I know that a few other guys that have done very well in tournaments shut them off or a few guys have flashers they say they have less power just to see what depth their at still. so does it affect fish I'd say it does.

[Vexipro]

I would also say that it does have an effect on the fish. ive had times jigging in the winter in shallower water where fish would come in and keep coming around but wouldnt bite. Shut off the vexi and BAM... fish on.

[TonkaBass]

remember a tournament where Rick Clunn turned off his locator so he wouldn't sppok the fish. The announcers said he was crazy, then he won the tournament.