angler1 Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 I was talking to an older fisherman and he was asking about the smelly jelly I was using. He then told me that he use to spray WD-40 on his lures for attractant and the bass loved it. I think this guy is pullin my leg, but I guess anything is possible. Any of you guys heard of this? Quote
Super User fishfordollars Posted January 13, 2010 Super User Posted January 13, 2010 Yes, I've heard of it. Never tried it and don't plan on it. 1 Quote
Super User Grey Wolf Posted January 13, 2010 Super User Posted January 13, 2010 Just the dumb ones did this. Quote
KSRonH Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 It'd surprise me if WD40 helps to attract fish but I'll bet you wouldn't have any rusty hooks. Quote
Super User Catt Posted January 13, 2010 Super User Posted January 13, 2010 I've fished with guys who do with great success but personally I prefer some thing with Anise Quote
sal669 Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 If I remember corectly one of the components of WD40 if fish oil, so it is possible that any predatory fish species would be attracted to it. I never tryed it ,though. It is possible that the other components (chemicals) in WD40 could damage your lure/bait. I would try to soak an old/dammaged lure for a while in it to see if any damage will occure before spraying any of the new/expensive ones. Quote
OIFBasser Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 If I remember corectly one of the components of WD40 if fish oil, so it is possible that any predatory fish species would be attracted to it. I never tryed it ,though. It is possible that the other components (chemicals) in WD40 could damage your lure/bait. I would try to soak an old/dammaged lure for a while in it to see if any damage will occure before spraying any of the new/expensive ones. What he said. Quote
Super User SPEEDBEAD. Posted January 13, 2010 Super User Posted January 13, 2010 I would be more than happy to throw someone in the lake if I saw them doing this... I have heard of it happening, but never seen it. Why would you purposely pollute the lake you fish? I just don't get it... 1 Quote
angler1 Posted January 13, 2010 Author Posted January 13, 2010 I've fished with guys who do with great success but personally I prefer some thing with Anise I would think that it would kill the bass b/c it is "harmful or fatal if swallowed". And that's if you human. I don't understand the logic and would not try it. Quote
BIG M Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 Old timers did this because it was cheap. Most guys had wd-40 on hand and it worked. These guys did not give a crap about C&R unless they released the fish to a bucket. Anise is another old timer trick that was used with great success. Quote
Mac1 Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 I have also heard the wd-40 stories. Even stranger, I had a co-worker tell me his grandpa used preparation H as an attractant for the shark oil content. One way to multi-task your fishing supplies. Quote
Bass_Fanatic Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 My dad went Salmon fishing last year and was not catching anything. He pulled up next to a boat that was tearing into em and noticed WD40. They were spraying their bait with it, not saying it made the difference, but they caught fish while my dad didn't. Quote
rowyourboat Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 i have saw a few old guys at the local catfish pond spraying in on worms. The absolutely slay them..... With that being said, i dont do it do to pollution reasons. But it does seems to work for catfish; not sure about bass Quote
JigMe Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 WD-40 is an aliphatic compound; it is 50% hydrocarbon (alkenes), which is from petroleum and coal tar. Then the physical properties are 25% petroleum based oil, that is a broad range of natural hydrocarbon based substance, and it is very hazardous to marine and human life. Then 18% is made with LVP aliphatic hydrocarbon, and 3% carbon dioxide. So the non-hazardous ingredients are < 10%. It has nothing to do with Fish Oil! No one should be using that, it is harmful to you lake. 1 1 Quote
moby bass Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 It is an apparent rumor that the main ingredient in WD-40 is fish oil. According to Snopes and a review of the Material Data Safety Sheet for WD40, it is primarily a petroleum based product. It does work very well for many applications, i don't think catching fish is one of them. 2 Quote
Super User Wayne P. Posted January 13, 2010 Super User Posted January 13, 2010 According to the fish attractant companies (Bobby???), a fish cannot smell petroleum products because their scent receptors are not large enough for the petroleum molecules to fit in them. So by that "theory" it would make no difference to the fish if you used it or not. Quote
Blue Streak Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 There are so many other things to use that would not polute the waters. Why take a chance with that stuff? It really isn't that cheap. 1 Quote
Super User Catt Posted January 13, 2010 Super User Posted January 13, 2010 As per the WD-40 web site under Myths & Legends Myth: WD-40 contains fish oil. Fact: Consumers have told us over the years that they have caught some of the biggest fish ever after protecting their fish hooks and lures with WD-40. We believe this legend came from folks assuming that the product must contain fish oil since it appears to attract fish. Sorry Charlie®, it just ain't so. WD-40 Company has taken steps to respect and conserve the environment, and encourages its users to do the same. While WD-40 can be used to help protect fishing equipment from rust and corrosion, WD-40 Company does not recommend using WD-40 to attract fish. 1 1 Quote
BIG M Posted January 13, 2010 Posted January 13, 2010 Even stranger, I have patients that swear by this stuff for joint pain. I can give them all kinds of recommendations for safe topical creams but they stand by the old wd40. Go figure. I don't use it on my lures and sure as hell I'm not going to rub into my skin. Anybody spitting bacca juice on their new LC cranks yet ;D Quote
Crow Horse Posted October 8, 2024 Posted October 8, 2024 On 1/13/2010 at 12:03 PM, Wayne P. said: According to the fish attractant companies (Bobby???), a fish cannot smell petroleum products because their scent receptors are not large enough for the petroleum molecules to fit in them. So by that "theory" it would make no difference to the fish if you used it or not. ....Except that the rest of the organisms in the water ecosystem might not tolerate those chemicals. Disrupt the food chain and it all collapses. Quote
Super User MN Fisher Posted October 8, 2024 Super User Posted October 8, 2024 @Crow Horse - you win the resurrection award of the day - almost 15 years in slumber and you poked it...congrats. Quote
Super User DogBone_384 Posted October 8, 2024 Super User Posted October 8, 2024 I don't know what's in it, but WD-40 fixes EVERYTHING! Quote
GetFishorDieTryin Posted October 8, 2024 Posted October 8, 2024 Ive run into more than a few guys in the wal mart fishing section that SWEAR by wd40 as an attractant. Personally I'm very skeptical and not only that its something that should be purposely be put into the water. Quote
Pat Brown Posted October 9, 2024 Posted October 9, 2024 Never really felt the need for scent but I'd use pure anise oil or fish oil. Quote
Super User Bird Posted October 9, 2024 Super User Posted October 9, 2024 I actually brought up a thread about WD-40 few years back. Knew an ole timer that sweared by it.....and tobacco juice. 😂 Idk, coffee, anise all make the same claims. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.