Why All The Salt?

[CPBassFishing]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in most cases salt means less action because the bait sinks and less durability because the salt literally shreds the plastic when it is moved quickly. I have also heard some people saying that it attracts more bites which is complete crap because fish don't taste until they bite the thing.

Aside from casting weight and wanting a sinking bait, why do bait manufacturers like GY, Keitech, and SK all put tons of salt in their baits? It just seems pointless to me when you can have an unsalted bait with scent that lasts 5X as long, floats (which can attract more bites), and the fish still hold on to?

[eyedabassman]

They use salt for the weight and as a taste factor!

[MarkH024]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in most cases salt means less action because the bait sinks and less durability because the salt literally shreds the plastic when it is moved quickly. I have also heard some people saying that it attracts more bites which is complete crap because fish don't taste until they bite the thing.

Aside from casting weight and wanting a sinking bait, why do bait manufacturers like GY, Keitech, and SK all put tons of salt in their baits? It just seems pointless to me when you can have an unsalted bait with scent that lasts 5X as long, floats (which can attract more bites), and the fish still hold on to?

The salt they use to pour in with the soft plastic is close to a powder form.  More or less its for the weight.  Salt will slowly release the longer you fish the lure, however after 5-10 fish most soft plastics will need replacing or some Mend-It to function. The salt on the exterior is just added salt. And the whole taste thing, is so that they HOLD the bait longer vs spitting it out.  Has nothing to do with attracting bass.

 

The guys who pour their own probably will chime in and give a more technical answer. But all these "million" dollar companies do it for a reason. There is a point to it, whether you feel that way or not.

[airborne_angler]

Now what I've been told...and believe is pure crap, is that the salt a fish tastes on a bait upon striking it, is supposed to be the same salty flavor given off by prey when they bleed.

Horsesh*t... a Bass is not a Shark. It doesn't have sharp teeth to puncture its prey and make it bleed. The teeth a Bass has are meant for holding prey.A lot of times a Bass will just engulf/inhale its prey.I believe a Bass doesn't feed on prey because it tastes good,but because its hungry or sees an easy meal/opportunity

[smalljaw67]

Weight and sink rate are the most important reasons while taste is probably the last reason. I believe bass hold on longer to baits with salt than they do without but in addition the salt you see on the outside has to do with keeping the bait from sticking while also providing a taste for the fish to hold on longer. There are advatages when used in small baits, in the cold water when you need a small profile bait yet have to get down around 10' or deeper, a floating bait isn't going to get it done unless you have a 3/16oz weight or larger but the small salt worm with a 1/16oz weight make it possible to fish a small profile bait with only a small external weight keeping the profile small. These are all tools, sinking, salt filled worms are still around for a reason, they catch fish.

[kickerfish1]

Smalljaw is on the money with his post!

Casting distance when using weightless soft baits as well as a faster fall rate. When a fish takes the bait the salt may help the fish hold on longer but it is not meant as an attractant.

[CPBassFishing]

Weight and sink rate are the most important reasons while taste is probably the last reason. I believe bass hold on longer to baits with salt than they do without but in addition the salt you see on the outside has to do with keeping the bait from sticking while also providing a taste for the fish to hold on longer. There are advatages when used in small baits, in the cold water when you need a small profile bait yet have to get down around 10' or deeper, a floating bait isn't going to get it done unless you have a 3/16oz weight or larger but the small salt worm with a 1/16oz weight make it possible to fish a small profile bait with only a small external weight keeping the profile small. These are all tools, sinking, salt filled worms are still around for a reason, they catch fish.

gotcha thanks fo rthe explanation.

[powerduster]

I like the smell of salted plastics much more then some of the unsalted ones. I caught a bass for the first time on a senko wacky rigged yesterday and it was so small. It grabbed it and swam off and I reeled it in no problem and it wasn't even hooked. Another bigger one tore off my beat up senko and swallowed it. So now I have more faith in using salted.

[wnybassman]

$$    By volume, salt is cheaper than plastisol.

[Comfortably Numb]

Airborne and wny are both correct. Heavy salt in a Senko is used as weight so it can be fished weightless. I feel that sticks are the only baits that should have salt in them. And now there is a liquid additive that replaces the salt as balast and actually adds softness and durability to sticks. Big companies will never use it though.

 

salt in craws, worms, etc are used as a filler as it is cheaper than plastic. But the main reason is it makes baits much less durable so you buy more.

 

They also advertise it as a bonus that fish hold on longer. I personally feel this is an old wives tale. As a hobby bait pourer I found it makes no difference. I can add scent or you can add an external scent like JJ's or Megastrike if you think they help.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

What they said..