Fish-catching Scents

[Fishhawk]

I just received an email from BD in Kingston and he asked whether I thought all the fish catching scents that we see used liberally on TV fishing shows really work.

Before saying whether or not I use them, I wanted to ask you people. Do ya use them, and do you believe they make a difference?

[Rideaufish]

I dont use them but am going to start even if they only work a little or to mask my scent cant hurt.

[Fishhawk]

I dont use them but am going to start even if they only work a little or to mask my scent cant hurt.

And believe me... after spending a week-end in the boat with you at Caigers we'll all be grateful if you choose to mask your scent. Whew!

Couldn't resist that one.

[Rideaufish]

That was the air chum.

[Snag]

Some people may find them gimicky, but i believe they work. Especially when you use a tube, and soak a sponge inside the tube with scent.

[SALMON]

i use them all the time when fishing salmon/trout off the riggers. I have been known to put anchovie paste on the spoons as well..sticks good and smells fishy..

[fishforfun]

Firm believer in scent, before the days of commercial products I would use vanilla extract or anise these were more for masking. The commercial varieties both mask and attract. There have been some studies done on it, I'll have to search them out.

[Seaweed]

I noticed the other day as I was walking into the new Bass Pro Shop in TO that there was a spray emitted every time you opened the door... it smelt like my money burning.

No.... I have actually just started using scents over the past two years and I can't say wether it has improved my catch rate or not...

One thing I will say is that you better watch not to get it on the carpet of your boat.... stuff stains real nice and stinks forever there....

I use it ice fishing too... especially for walleye.

[Rigger]

I have used them(commercial) but Im not convinced, I spent all last seaon without a thought of them and did well. I think that alot of them are water/ soluable based and come off very quickly, especially when washing them behind a cannonball.

On the otherhand I fish a KwiKfish with a piece of hearing wrapped on it , very effective, and some of my largest fish last year came off a piece of cut bait behind a small mooching flasher, but I dont consider that as scent. I am referring to the commercial versions not the real scent from a piece of bait. Meat will usually outfish artificial baits, atleast thats my opinion. (that otta provoke some comments)

[GamblerSteve]

The reason I use scent on my baits is not just to put scent on it but to remove my scent and also to lubricate the bait. (plastics texas rig. worms, tubes, sluggos) that kind of stuff. The reason for the lubrication is when the fish picks the bait up and you set the hook the last thing you want to happen is the plastic not slide on the hook to get a good hook set. This is the reason why many companies put scent, salt on their baits so when fish pick up your baits you can have a couple of extra seconds to set the hook before they can spit it out. There are many scents out there not all work so before you try a scent try and find out what scent most fishermen and women are using. I don't put them on hard baits because 99.9% of the time their a reaction strike you don't need scent. If they come up behind your hard bait and look at at and swim away most likely it's the colour of the bait they didn't want.

Hope this helps ya

Steve

[Wall-I-Guy]

I'm a believer for trout too!

[wolfe]

I've never actually purchased the scents you apply yourself, but I use a lot of Powerbaits that are "flavor enhanced" and they STINK (literally) when you open the bag. If I can smell them with my mere human olfactory system, then I imagine the finned creatures certainly can. I have lots of luck with these baits, over say a regular, no-frills rubber bait. So my assumption would be that scented baits would benefit the angler, at least in some scenarios. Just my 2 cents...

W.

[dwc67]

i use scent on my lures salmon fishing and i find i get more strikes with it. i am tring MIkes Herring Gel this year, i am hoping it lasts on the lure longer.

the best scent i ever had was 100% baitfish oil, it stunk to high heaven but it caught anything that swims. we tried unscented cheap plastics at this small lake and had a couple of nibbles then put the baitfish oil on the plastic . the pan fish started ripping the tails off right away , this was when i was sold on scent.

[iankrzyzanowski]

I am a big believer that they work!!!!

I remember when i first started fishing plastics, with no luck.. then scents such as berkley came out and is tarted catching more!

Plus when i use most plastics now they come with their own scent like molopo, black licorice smell etc.... and i often add garlic spray when fishing for bass!

I think they work personally!!

[Caseys Dream]

Use scent all the time, especially on the finicky ice bite. I goop it on minnows and lures.

CD