Interesting topic!

In smaller, confined areas like you mention it seems like a reasonable possibility that FF's can disrupt a bite. I have no experience with FF's in a river situation but I do in the ocean and estuaries such as Buoy 10, Grays Harbor and Willapa Bay. Based on my experience in these larger bodies of water I think their effects are minimal to non-existent. In all of these fisheries, we have the fishfinder/depth finder on contiuously. More often than not, we are hooking fish directly under or very close to the boat. What seems to influence the bite here (more than anything) is the time of tide and strength of tide. We've also had some very hot bites in water 10-15 deep at times in these areas so I don't know that a FF has been a detriment us.

I would be curious to know if there is any science other than the magazine article to back up the topic. Intersting stuff.