I have run the motor also. Sometimes it works right away, sometimes not at all. I also have thrown in cups full of rice, same thing it starts working right away... the bite goes away..throw more rice and bam, Sometimes never no matter how much rice I throw. Are these two things the reason I can sometimes catch perch? I don't know but I try em' Desperate tactics for desperate times. LOL I'm just waiting for and up and down day of jumbos. Had one in my life and that was on my first ever perch seeking trip and that was 30 years ago. Limits were end less.