INSIDE my home I heard hammering and thought someone was building a dock across the lake. When I walked down to the water I realized the sound was coming from a boat, apparently deadsticking. How loud should you pound on the boat to summon the fish?

In my opinion the louder the better.

loud enough to sink it...in my opinion...obviously kidding, but i have never tried it - i can see how it could be annoying... at least the trend is not to play justin bieber music...or is it...

Loud enough that the fish show up on your graph. You will know when it is right. As far as the cadence I use the Indian war drum cadence but that is just the Indian in me.

I use my dip net and Pour Some Sugar On Me for the cadence. The wife was dancing to that song the first time I laid eyes on her so it kinda comes to mind. I'm not sure how much noise makes it past the two layers of fiberglass and insulation from the boat floor, so I usually vary the thump volume. I don't do much thumping, and have had mixed results with it.

It all depends on how deep the fish are running. If they are shallow, most people thump a little softer. If they are 20 ft. or deeper, loud is good. lol
This video will tell hw loud I thump normally.

http://s1301.photobucket.com/user/jbobo1/media/thumper%20vids%20011_zpsbjhyz9ii.mp4.html?o=1

I don't find it to be annoying, I just expected something a bit more subtle. I've not tried it.

Maybe some of the guys can post a video of their fish finder starting before the thumping and continue to show how the fish will actually school up under the boat that is thumping. If I get time to go fish, after I get all these thumpers shipped out, I will try to make a video and post it on here.

Soft if you are by yourself or louder then the guy thumping 20 yards from ya. Lol . I have used the plastic ends of pliers and screw driver and seen it worked. Lol. Good etiquette to thump at least 100 yds apart.

This was 10 days ago on hubbard. Fish liked my beats

JOKING: i personally enjoy using my casting skills to catch a feisty fish as opposed to getting a deadstick and end up whacking the boat... some will get it, and some wont...

I usually take my two sons (3 & 5 years old) out so the "make noise on the boat" thing usually just works itself out, whether I want it to or not!

^^^This lol!
I like to have my own small area to thump and fish. Prefer a minimum of 1/4 mile. Only happens when the air temps are below freezing though. Or during the Super Bowl

Nice screen shot, too. When I see that, I know everyone best hold on tight to the rods!

Todd, while I've not tried it, soft taps like you recommend is more what I envisioned as the correct technique. That is why I asked the question. Thanks to all!

I am heading out to Hubbard Friday afternoon for 2 hrs quick trip. Will try and video the graph and hopefully show it blank before thumping and full of fish when the thumping starts. And I'll post the videos here if I get out and find some fish.....