Generally clear water, calm winds, and sparse cover require you to keep your boat further away from the fish to prevent spooking them. The lure you are using also makes a difference. When throwing a crankbait you want to keep a distance where the bait you are throwing reaches the depth of the cover. This requires an intimate knowledge of the dive of your crankbait. Watch your shadow Try not to cast a shadow on the cover you are fishing.
All fish are scared when shadows pass overhead.
Predatory birds cast shadows when flying over fish, and thus fish have learned to avoid them. Keep your trolling motor quiet I have always had an Evinrude Trolling Motor on the front of my Ranger Boat, and it has always been as quiet as a mouse. Keeping all of the joints and connections lubricated also helps keep noise to a minimum. Proper boat control is essential to taking full advantage of a fishing area. You may catch a few fish by crashing through an area, but you will maximize the area s potential if you properly control your boat.