How much water column needs to be present when vertical fishing a brush pile to keep from disturbing the fish? Example would be midlake on toledo bend. Clear to stained water using an ultrex in relatively calm water. Thanks!

If you are 10'-12' over the fish it should not be a problem most of the time.

A couple feet. We took a guide once and it taught me one thing, those fish dont care. We caught everything parked right on top of the piles. Maybe some days later in the year after theyve been pressured a lot it would matter

good question-I've often wondered this. I'd be interested to see what folks say.
I can see fish in the pile on the fishfinder, they maynot be responsive and have wondered if the TM and water depth were a contributing factor. As the sun gets higher, I've often wondered if the shadow of the boat lingering over the pile freaks them out too.

Those fish could care less about your trolling motor.

I've smashed into trees and then yanked fish off them before. I used to not think they cared much. Now, with livescope i can actually watch them scatter if we get noisy. The same goes for is someone slams a compartment shut on the deck of the boat. they are more skittish than we used to think... im not saying they are always like that but from my recent experience I'm learning that they are actually sensitive to disturbances to a certain degree.

I have also noticed that at times they will move off the brush to get in the boats shade. Go figure.

I pulled up on a pile in four feet of water that came up to the surface. Wasn�t paying attention and had to throw the trolling motor in hard reverse to not run it over. Clipped a few branches with the motor and blew a bunch of water and debris all through the brush. I figured that I screwed up that pile but dropped jig down anyway. Boy was I wrong!! They knocked the tar out of my jig. I think I caught 5-6 of the angriest crappie in about 15 minutes.

They don�t want to get scale cancer?

Don't try that on my lakes.....
Sometimes just catchn a fish off a pile pushes the rest off.....
Go in to hot with your tm and you won't be catchn any fish....
Boat control and tm operations had helped my catch more and bigger fish without a doubt.....
It depends on how deep you're fishn without a doubt.....

I wouldn't know. Never owned a boat, nor a trolling motor. Yep...

My best advice is to get a Garmin Livescope and see for yourself! Totally changed my perception of what actually goes on below the surface and how fish react to a boat and boat motors. It's making me a legend in my mind.

Ive noticed if the fish are up higher in the water column they seem to spook more but not so much when their down say 15ft or more.

Thanks for everyones reply!

agree