I just recently added the new LSS2 transducer and a new ultrex. I noticed the "ticking" sound (which I think is normal) but didn't really hear it with my old Fortrex and LSS1 transducer.

Is the "ticking" normal, and will the fish hear it to where if affects them?

Do you have an aluminum boat? I can hear a ticking on my aluminum but not on my fiberglass.

Was transducer out of the water when you heard the ticking?

Fiberglass boat.

Yes, TM was out of water when I hear the ticking. I'm sure same ticking noise is happening underwater. We put the graph in "standby" mode when not in use or moving from spot to spot (I was told that extends life of the sonar/transducer). I didn't hear this strong of a ticking noise w/the old fortrex.

Hearing it out of the water is normal.

Ticking is normal on all sonar. That is the pulse signal sent out to "bounce" of & it reads the return. Thats how it works.
Yes, it is audible to human ears underwater also. Years ago we (Firefighters scuba club) dove a lot at Lake Travis. We could get back in under our floating dock (Christmas trees hanging 10' down on ropes. Bass & crappie loved them)) at the end of a bluff wall. 75' depth under our dock. We watched many a boat fish by & heard every ping. Watched MANY bass swim behind, engulf a crankbait/jig/worm/ etc & spit it without fisherman ever detecting it. Yes some were caught, but we actually observed only anout 50% that bit were even known by the fisherman. Amazing.
Affecting fish: most times no effects, but some days yes, they would actually go down & away as a boat approached & come back after boat was past about 100'. Whether it was graph impulses or not, causing it, ??? Who knows? I believe it was at least part of the time. I think water clarity plays a HUGE role in whether fish react to it or not.
My conclusion: Normal, Yes, Sometimes. Just an opinion & you KNOW what they say about those.

I have an aluminum boat and do notice the ticking quite a bit. If I'm going to be up front a lot I put the console graph in standby as I feel it doesn't hurt.

Curtbass- I don't even WANT to know how many fish I miss... :-( Would prob make me quit knowing what all I was missing!

I hear mine when fishing really shallow too.

It's normal. The fish like it. ........