Scents

[topher7694]

What are your thoughts about using attractant scents on your lures while fishing?

[minnowdrowner]

Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. I don't think I've ever caught fish using attractants that I wouldn't have caught otherwise though. I know some people who swear by them, I have one bottle in my tackle box that I've had for probably 5 years and it is over 50% full still.

[jacksmelt71]

i use it in my tubes all the time. to me it makes a difference. if i dont have my scent i rub a smelt fillet on my tube every so often. works good too.

[Dull Hooks]

Going to give it an honest shot this winter. Not the Berkley Gulp stuff , going to try the Smelly Jelly in panfish formula to see if it makes a difference.

[Bellybuster]

I've often thought about using scents but have never been able to find an honest comparison by anyone other than the scent makers.
   To date, I've never really had any problems catching fish. Knowledge and smarts are better than any scent as far as I'm concerned

[Van_Cleaver]

I use crappie/pan fish attractant frequently. It seems to work the best when the fish are in a negative mood. I also like it for low light into dark fishing. Sometimes the fish are on a good bite anyway, but it can't hurt to pad the odds. A problem I had was the large bottle would freeze if I left it out, but was cumbersome to put in the inside pocket of my jacket. Dumped out a small travel bottle of shampoo, and replaced it with the scent. Now it fits easily in the inside pocket, and is handier to use. Oh, and the Pert isn't all that bad for cleaning the hair, either.

[walkonwater1]

I am not a believer in artificial  attractants..Though some are effective on bottom feeders and similar; I have found that even natural attractants that are not natural (indigenous) to the water being fished that fish tend to be suspicious.
I have used fresh water herring from one lake with no to limited succes whearas on the lake they come from there is no better bait.
Countless times I have collected regurgitated herring from caught fish and used the partially digested mess to scent my jig and IMHO there is no better situation to be in. On the other hand, that same reguritated mess used on another lake (even a near by lake) is not as effective...Something is different and the fish know it.

[eh]

I am 100% in favor of the scents I have been using them since the late 80's and always have them with me. Back then it was Dr.Juice for bass and Berkly Walleye scent for the eyes. I would still catch fish with out them but the bites are greater with the juice for the eyes I would cast twister tails (yes back then it was just twister tails no gulp) three times maybe 4 then add some more scent to them if I had not got a bite. You can tell the fish seem a bit more mean with the bite when using the scent.

Last winter I was shown the gulp line of product and gave it a shot in the summer and boy did it out fish all live bait I would not leave the dock with out it when fishing for eyes bass or pan fish I knew that at some time throught the day the others fishing with me would want some and every one did. This stuff works and works great each time out I out fished anyone on the boat until they would start to use the gulp Turtle back worms.

I dont know about the alive minnows or leeches I tried them for a hour or so in the spring when fishing up north of North Bay and caught two eyes on them but that was it. I did keep in mind that it was very cold and not many fish were being caught on minnows but for some reason I switched back to chubs anyway I kick my self now for not trying the turtle back worms I had them but did not was to try to much new stuff in the freezing rain/snow that is not like me as I always like to change things up when the going get tough you never know.

I did just buy the gulp Waxies pink and chart for this winter I can not wait to try them out I know they will do good for me as I always like the power bait bites for crappie and otehr pan fish.


So I guess I am one for scents no questions about it.

[sperrin]

I've used some sents in the past. Im not sure if it has helped or not really its hard to tell. But I know last summer we were jiggin' for Walleye and I was putting some Berkley Walleye scent attractant on my jigs and nightcrawlers and I out fished everyone in the boat 3-1. So everyone started using it, that day it seemed to make a difference.

If the scents do anything I think they mask some of the "bad" smells guys might have on their hands while ice fishing like gas from filling the auger...etc.  

Stevo  

[brokenline]

i like to squish a minnow between my fingers to mask the auger stink and stuff like that..

[Ice Shark]

Find more fish that I go for are attracted by the movement and not the smell but do find that they may hang on longer if there is some taste for them on the lure.  I use the Gulp and Food Source products but that's only to keep the wife happy (no creepy crawlies in the fridge).

[Buck762]

Going to give it an honest shot this winter. Not the Berkley Gulp stuff , going to try the Smelly Jelly in panfish formula to see if it makes a difference.

My friend has that smelly jelly stuff but he never uses it. I never use scent and do fine.

[troutaddict33]

i have had luck using the smelly jelly in smelt scent. this is a big bonus when fishing lakes that don't allow you to use smelt as bait. im 100% sure it won't hurt and i know guides who swear by it, so i use it when its there

[blackhawks]

I use Anise Oil for my panfish plastics.....don't know if it improves the chance of a bite; however, it does keep the plastic more nimble and less likely to crack.