Does a trolling motor spook crappie?

A steady low hum bothers them far less than on-off spikes — fish habituate to constant sound but startle at sudden changes. Run the motor low and continuous rather than punching it, and approach the school from downwind so you can drift the last stretch. Shallow spawners in under 2 m (6–7 ft) are the touchiest, because hull shadow, pressure waves, and noise all arrive together; deep basin schools under 8 m (26 ft) of water are far more forgiving.

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