Pros and guides (You guys that do it for a living)

[Greg_Cornish]

1. How often (how many casts) do you apply scent to your baits?

2. Do you apply different scents to different baits? i.e. Craw to Jigs? Something else to swim baits?

3. Do you think a fish would think twice about hitting a minnow with a craw smell?

[Tin Can]

I had this very discussion with my buddy last sunday. He claimed to only use fish scents on his senkos because it did not resemble a craw, and craw scents only on jigs.

I won't tell you my opinion since I am not a pro.

[wccjanel]

I have a long analogy about scents.
Here's the short version: Use Them.

Fish have brains the size of your pinky tip. They live by reacting, not studying. Make your bait look, smell, and taste like something (anything) that they would eat.

I will be putting longer versions of this and many other topics on The Fish Icon. Not all of them are written by me, nor just my perspective, but will be researched by others in the industry, and by marine biologists. Check it out; the more I'm off the water, the more time I will have to put these together. The more I'm on the water, the more researched they will be. It's a win-win.

Hope this helps,
James

-Fish Inspired-
http://www.thefishicon.com/

[wccjanel]

1. How often (how many casts) do you apply scent to your baits?

2. Do you apply different scents to different baits? i.e. Craw to Jigs? Something else to swim baits?

3. Do you think a fish would think twice about hitting a minnow with a craw smell?

1. I only re-apply if it looks dry again.
2. I generally stick to fin-fish smells for fin-fish baits, and crawfish (or shrimp) smells to crustacean type of baits.
3. No, I don't think they care, but we have to have our minds in sync with the idea first.

Also, when it comes to pre-fish, I don't use scent. And when guiding, I'm using bait a lot more than artificials.

[BILLY]

I have a long analogy about scents.


Check it out; the more I'm off the water, the more time I will have to put these together. The more I'm on the water, the more researched they will be. It's a win-win.

Hope this helps,
James

-Fish Inspired-
http://www.thefishicon.com/

That's funny, I like that.

[Rippin Toad]

I am not a pro first and foremost, nor a guide. I did listen to what Skeet Reese said at this years ISE show in Sacramento about this very topic however.

He was a firm beliver that scents made no diffrence in bass fishing, until he went to the Berkley labs last year and saw all the research that was put into this very topic. The conclusion of the scientists at Berkley is that an attractent does not make a fish eat a bait, it does however make them hold on to it for a longer period of time than they would have if the bait has no scent.

That is good enough for me to make sure I scent up quite often on all my bottom baits and swim baits. Espically jigs, as fish tend to drop these baits quicker than soft plastics with salt etc.

[David Rogers]

Hey Greg,

Sorry I did not see you up at Clear Lake but I never made that far up north when I was there, I did not want to deal with all the boats.

I am not a pro or guide either but I did read the same article by Berkley labs, the reason why scent does not attract a fish is becuase the water has to much movement and the scent disburst all over and the fish does not know which way to go but will rely on sight and movement until he gets it in its mouth and once he taste it he hangs on longer with scented baits, this is what I read in Field and stream.

I think its good to apply once on reaction baits to get rid of your sent or the plastic smell of some baits and often with slow bottom baits like jigs, worms, drop shot and creature baits.

Have a good one, when you going out again?

David 371V Rogers

[Greg_Cornish]

Yes David, I went out Tuesday and just jig fished with a red head Red/Purple skirted, Red/Purple sweet beaver jig. Used Craw Procure and fished the north end.

Had two guys with me. I had 5 or 6 bites, 3 fish, They had no bites. Got em all before 11 o'clock.

Putting that stinky stuff on is a PITA but I do it. I just need to figure out a more efficient way. I'd like a dip method. Just drop your lure in a dip occasionally. Okay I just made someone a hundred grand huh?

COOCHES CRAW DIP?

[Tin Can]

Greg, just take a ziplock bag with you and squirt some scent into it and then tie your bait on and drop it in the bag. You never touch it and it doesn't get all over the boat.

[David Rogers]

Hey Greg,
The most convenient way I have found is Bang in the spray can but the reason I do not use it is because it gets all over your boat when the winds blows it back at you. I am a Smelly Jelly man, it only goes where you put it and it last alot longer than most scents out there and I just keep a rag hanging from under my 2 seats on my Ranger to wipe my hands off on and not my pants. My friend got me started on Bang but when I went with Larry Hemfield he got me started on smelly Jelly and I got my first 5 lb at Clear Lake with it so I was hooked after that.

[Greg_Cornish]

I use bang on finesse worms. I put about 10 in a plastic bag then spray them all inside the bag so it doesn't go anywhere except where I spray. Gives the leftover worms a chance to soak.

[Rod Martin]

you put scent in and sat on the deck of the boat. I have'nt seen it around in years guess it did'nt work

[Greg_Cornish]

you put scent in and sat on the deck of the boat. I have'nt seen it around in years guess it did'nt work

Need an interpreter here. Help.

[Brian]

you put scent in and sat on the deck of the boat. I have'nt seen it around in years guess it did'nt work

Need an interpreter here. Help.

Read the title of his post. That should help you out.

[Phil]

Greg I used to all the time back in the early and mid 90's. Then I opened Jigs Bait & Tackle and discovered Berkley Power baits etc.......................now very seldom do I use scents.

this may or may not help. Just a old guys two cents

(notice all no caps)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jigs

[Greg_Cornish]

You fix the caps lock key?

[DanO]

I start the morning by washing my hands in no scent sportsman's soap then rub some scent on my hands before touching any lures.

I use Smelly Jelly Bass Feast mainly on jigs and tubes, I use Pro Cure rainbow trout on swimbaits, and shad on light colored plastics. They only exception being Berkley Power Bait, I don't put anything on it.

I don't think it really makes too much of a difference what flavor it is, but it should have something to make them hold it longer.

By the way, when you wash your hands in your favorite scent, make sure to bathe before hugging your significant others or children, the smell usually has an adverse effect on them

DanO

[Phil]

You fix the caps lock key?

just got tired of all the little boys think accuse me of yelling. Heck, call me on the phone , at least then I can show ya what yelling sounds like for real. Who ever dreamed up this caps yelling stuff just floors me, Had to a forigneer (again) or college grad. Now I can get customers starting to yell at me because I forget to type their part numbers wrong and they don't get their parts in the morning like they are used to. Wooooh is me ! ??

Thanks for asking.........

Jigs

[bass smacker]

I start the morning by washing my hands in no scent sportsman's soap then rub some scent on my hands before touching any lures.

I use Smelly Jelly Bass Feast mainly on jigs and tubes, I use Pro Cure rainbow trout on swimbaits, and shad on light colored plastics. They only exception being Berkley Power Bait, I don't put anything on it.

I don't think it really makes too much of a difference what flavor it is, but it should have something to make them hold it longer.

By the way, when you wash your hands in your favorite scent, make sure to bathe before hugging your significant others or children, the smell usually has an adverse effect on them

DanO

And what ever you do don't come home after a long day fishing and just plop into bed and take a nap...... (Dear why dose my pillow smell like the crawdad festivel and galic ) hehe

[JRock]

I personally add scent on my baits 30% of the time, just about every bait we buy now is impregnated with some sort of scent or flavor. Here's a link to an article about the use of scents:

http://bassresource.com/fishing_lures/t ... scent.html