Size of your hole matter?

[Jigawhat]

Do fish get turned off by a large opening? Last night my buddy and I cut out a large rectangle 'hole' with a chainsaw for our shanty. We got skunked but were able to see down to the bottom with a flashlight. We are in 10-12 FOW. We saw some (interested) fish in the area, but no hits. 2 nights ago we fished the same spot threw 8" augered holes and had success. (landed 3 crappie, had 4 or so throw the hook).

Do we need to be extra quiet? less walking around? less talking?? Any advice would be appreciated.

Oh... lastly, when we were packing up, I brought up my line and took the minnow off, threw the minnow back in the hole and grabbed the flashlight to see it swim away. There was a large fish practically in the cut-out. Scared me at first sight (as I was not expecting to see it!) and with the low light was not able to make out what species. looked like a larger crappie or small mouth chased my bait up. Hence wondering if hole size turns fish off or not?!?!?

-My first post: this site rules! Thanks in advance!
-Greg

[GVSUKUSH]

Do fish get turned off by a large opening?

I don't know about the fish, but I do :tdo12:

[wally-eye]

Size of the hole? Wow, na I won't go there, that would be too easy.

I think what happened was the noise and oil/gas fumes in the water from a chainsaw.. Mostly noise. Cutting that big a hole scares the bejesus out of anything swimming in the area. HOWEVER there are always exceptions, as the fish you seen in the hole. Shining a light in the hole will also scare fish at times.
With a shanty over that size of hole cutting out the light there should be no effect on the fish. They would be more turned OFF or ON on baits and there respective sizes. It is fun to see their reactions to bait. Sat many many long hours in a spearing shanty humoring myself by watching the different species and actions of the fish under me.
My 02. worth.....

[William H Bonney]

DARNIT KUSH!!!!!!!!!! I looked at this thread twice,, trying to come up with something,, I just couldn't!! I'm gonna blame it on me trying to quit smoking,, I just couldn't get the creative juices flowin'.

[Jigawhat]

ha ha.. i knew those inuendos (sp?) would spawn some comments. :lol: Nah.. I apreciate the helpful advice. This is our first year cutting a large opening. And I was just wondering if we need to be more quiet, less walking around, shining light in, etc?

so size doesn't matter... huh.:p

[twohats]

Ask Dr. Ruth!!!!:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Never had a problem with a spearing hole. I also use a chain saw. Its important to have a dark shanty inside. You dont want any sunlight shineing into the hole.

[Frozenfish]

Are you sure you really saw a fish down that hole???? Maybe it was a piece of seaweed that your minnow got all tangled up around:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Oakley]

I've had the same thoughts about cutting a rectangular hole as you have but have not had the chance to try it yet. My guess would be that shining the flashlight down the hole might have spooked the fish. I think that after you cut the hole, set your shanty, and let things settle down, that the fish should come around. Fish don't like light being shined in their eyes anymore than we do. Just a thought.

[shadow7663]

I just couldn't get the creative juices flowin'.
That sentence and all this talk about big holes is just to much for one thread...................................abstenanc e:dizzy: :dizzy: :dizzy: :dizzy: :dizzy: :dizzy: :dizzy: :dizzy: :dizzy:

[severus]

Oh man, when I saw the title the first thing I thought of was that "Perch-Milking" thread that Seaweed launched last year. :evil:

[NP3]

Depends on the size of your rod.

[PITBULL]

It Dosent Matter The Size Of The Hole, What Matters Is What Kind Of Jigging Motion You Do In The Hole!

[scottyhoover]

fish are absolutely spooked by a huge hole, that is...if they see you, or something else move in the shanty. think about it, if you can see them, they can see you. avoid motion over the hole at all costs when in shallow water. go to iceteam and find the article called 'sight fishing without being spotted' .... pays to get tricky on shallow water gills.

[ih772]

I did an experiment a couple nights ago while crappie fishing and rigged my camera so it would look straight up when sitting on the bottom. I wanted to see how much light from my lantern was penetrating the ice. I was surprised by how much I could actually see and what really caught my attention was how much movement from me was noticable. Whenever I reached across the hole for minnows or to adjust the heater it really showed up on the camera and I'm thinking it would have spooked any shy fish as well.