Experimenting With Different Scents

[Texfisherman]

I'm just wondering if any of you ever get creative with putting different scents on lures/soft plastics and seeing the results.

 

For example, I've been thinking about getting a bunch of earthworm dirt/potting soil and placing it in a baggy with some soft plastic worms overnight and seeing if it improves the number of strikes.

I know they sell JJ's Magic and Spike It! and both can be very effective, but I'm talking about taking things from around the home and experimenting.

 

Any thoughts?

[Felix77]

Lol ... I got creative this winter with Fish Oils, Anise Oils, old coffee grounds and Garlic scents.  All mixed in petroleum jelly or on their own.  

 

I made a mess in my kitchen and stunk up my house in the process.  I'm finally getting around to test them out and so far I found they don't hold up well on soft plastics at all.  The oils just come right off in one cast.  The jelly based scents hold on longer but not long enough.  Using my sense of smell the scent is gone rather quickly.

 

IMHO -  I don't think it's worth it.  There are too many good products out there which hold up much better than mine.  JJ's and Megastrike come to mind.

 

I will keep testing but so far I am not impressed with my Fish scent making abilities.  

[Sam]

Tex, great thread.

 

I contacted Dr. Keith Jones in Berkley's research department after reading his book and asked him what he thought was the best scent we could use to catch bass.

 

Dr. Jones reconfirmed what he wrote in his book and gave me the formula.

 

I am still a little shy about trying it but I have a tournament on One Fish Anna on the 21st of this month and since I will be throwing shaky heads, lizards, creature baits, tubes and Texas rigged plastics I may use his formula.

 

Here is the formula. It is very simple. I have added some of my own info for clarification.

 

1.  Get a dozen or so Nightcrawlers.

2.  Wash them off.

3.  Put them in a blender

4.  Use a dedicated blender and not the one in the kitchen.

5.  Blend them up into a gooey mess.

6.  Take a spatula and place the goo in a plastic quart freezer bag. Use your own spatula and not one from the kitchen.

7.  Add the plastics you are going use on your next fishing adventure.

8.  Place bag in a dry place.

9.  Take bag along with you and pull out a plastic to use.

10.Take some hand wipes in case you want to eat lunch or a snack and don't want to eat any worms.

 

Dr. Jones did not say how long the worm goo would last so I plan to make it up on Friday and let the plastics sit in it Friday evening, all day Saturday and then use them on Sunday.

 

Dr. Jones, in his book, rates different scents and how the bass react in a controlled setting. What surprised me were his results since the products he tested are the ones we purchase and use and those scents did not do that well.

 

I also asked Kim Stricker of Look and Hook to do some experiments with scents but he is tied in to his sponsors so he can't be fair and honest on his show about various baits, scents, tackle, etc. unless he is sponsored by those manufacturers. I understand his position. You don't bite the hand that feeds you.

 

Please go forward with your experimements and let us know what you find out.

[BradH]

4.  Use a dedicated blender and not the one in the kitchen.

6.  Take a spatula and place the goo in a plastic quart freezer bag. Use your own spatula and not one from the kitchen.

10.Take some hand wipes in case you want to eat lunch or a snack and don't want to eat any worms.

 

I think those rules are just for the married guys .  Anyone want to come over for margaritas later?

[Felix77]

I think those rules are just for the married guys .  Anyone want to come over for margaritas later?

Very funny!

[Texfisherman]

LOL! Great replies!!!!

 

I'll take notebook and pen with me when I have the chance to do this and post any notable findings here. 

I definitely want to try out the nightcrawler formula.

 

Anyone have a blender I can borrow for a day?........

[J Francho]

I am still a little shy about trying it but I have a tournament on One Fish Anna on the 21st of this month and since I will be throwing shaky heads, lizards, creature baits, tubes and Texas rigged plastics I may use his formula.

 

I would clear this with the tournament director, as it may fall under the category of "live bait."

[mjseverson24]

The best sent in my opinion is a sent that is mixed in with hand poored plastics(great project for the winter). I spray the yum F2 but only as a confidence booster it only lasts a few casts but anyhting that makes me thing I have increased my chances is worth it(within reason). 

 

Mitch

[BuckMaxx]

Well I was sitting here reading this post with my morning Fruit smoothie... I think I'll just have coffee.

[roadwarrior]

Mattlures posted this recipe for swimbaits:

 

Scale a bluegill with as much slime as you can save.

Mix this with Vasoline for a consistency that will stick

to the bait. Reapply as needed.

 

For me, it's MegaStrike. Effective and VERY user friendly!