To Scent Or Not To Scent

[Ric670]

I am curious.....is there a marked difference if you scent your plastic?? If so...and this is mostly for my black bass fishing brothers out there...what is your preference...I dont know of any tests out there with different scents that work better than others; and who makes the preferred plastic scent?

Rick

[nova]

Everyone has their own ideas on scent.

Me personally. I put the scent on after I bag the baits. The baits; especially with salt in them; will soak up the scent.

As far as what flavor or kind; I don't think that matters too much( although some will swear by certain kinds) as long as it covers your scent that you deposit while you are handling the bait.

Some guys even use WD-40.

www.novalures.com

[gonfishn]

Novalures is right on, other than Berkley who purport to have scientific evidence as to the effectiveness of their scented products, I think that scent adds a masking filter to cover human and non-aquatic "smells". I think most of us may choose a scent based on our own pre-conceived notions and therefore since we use scent a lot we tend to think it's the scent that's doing it, forgetting, of course, that in the case of pitchin we touch the bait every time we pitch it (or most of us) while in the case of wormin, we're always repositioning the worm so it hangs straight as well.

[blanx]

Novalures is right on, other than Berkley who purport to have scientific evidence as to the effectiveness of their scented products, I think that scent adds a masking filter to cover human and non-aquatic "smells". I think most of us may choose a scent based on our own pre-conceived notions and therefore since we use scent a lot we tend to think it's the scent that's doing it, forgetting, of course, that in the case of pitchin we touch the bait every time we pitch it (or most of us) while in the case of wormin, we're always repositioning the worm so it hangs straight as well.

i did have a buddy that used wd40 i always thought he was a little off.

i perfer to use garlic sent for the following reason.

i have had saltwater aquariums for years and whenever you add new fish you use garlic. garlic is known to boost the fishes appietate and their immune system. i have fed chopped up garlic and brine shrimp. the shrimp was the last thing to be eaten. the fish ate the chopped garlic first. the aquatic world sells garlic just to flavor the foods for the fish.

[earthworm77]

i did have a buddy that used wd40 i always thought he was a little off.

i perfer to use garlic sent for the following reason.

i have had saltwater aquariums for years and whenever you add new fish you use garlic. garlic is known to boost the fishes appietate and their immune system. i have fed chopped up garlic and brine shrimp. the shrimp was the last thing to be eaten. the fish ate the chopped garlic first. the aquatic world sells garlic just to flavor the foods for the fish.

scent can't hurt

[patrick reif]

I cook in Craw Cane, heavy garlic oil, and add a touch of Smelly Jelly craw And more Craw Cane to the finished product.

I can't tell that it's hurt anything other than my sense of smell.

If you really believe that something is gonna help, and that boost's your confidence, then it really has helped.

Fish with confidence

[GB GONE]

I use it for all the baits I sell but never use it for baits I make for myself. I use anise or craw a lot because the overpowering scent of garlic is nasty to me.

Most of my fishing is flipping and that is a pure reaction bite. The fish doesn't have time to "smell" anything. They just bite cause something goes by.

I personally fish 3-4 days a week and don't see any difference in scented vs unscented baits and catch ratios. I am sure there may be times when it might make a difference but then you may have to have anise instaed of garlic or shad instead of craw. We probably are giving the fish way to much credit.

As a side, how many scent their crankbaits? They catch great without scent and have big metal hooks hanging off of them....

Jim

PS I cook my scent in as there is nothing worse to me than a bag of baits swimming in slimmy scent. Makes your baits hard to hang on to to rig, gets all over your hands and boat. Seems excessive to me. A little sprayed on BANG every now and then helps the bait slide through the slop though...

Edited September 30, 2010 by ghostbaits

[toadfrog]

I use it for all the baits I sell but never use it for baits I make for myself. I use anise or craw a lot because the overpowering scent of garlic is nasty to me.

Most of my fishing is flipping and that is a pure reaction bite. The fish doesn't have time to "smell" anything. They just bite cause something goes by.

I personally fish 3-4 days a week and don't see any difference in scented vs unscented baits and catch ratios. I am sure there may be times when it might make a difference but then you may have to have anise instaed of garlic or shad instead of craw. We probably are giving the fish way to much credit.

As a side, how many scent their crankbaits? They catch great without scent and have big metal hooks hanging off of them....

Jim

PS I cook my scent in as there is nothing worse to me than a bag of baits swimming in slimmy scent. Makes your baits hard to hang on to to rig, gets all over your hands and boat. Seems excessive to me. A little sprayed on BANG every now and then helps the bait slide through the slop though...

I just use WD 40 or Anise It has stood the test of time but in truth it only helps a little when the fish aren't bitting much of anything. All you really need is a shape representing an edible critter and movement that resembles something tasty. Fresh water fish are just little sharks with no teeth.

[Bfish]

I can't tell that it's hurt anything other than my sense of smell.

It hurts mine too. Potent stuff you got there Patrick.

Blake