Scent - Yes Or No????

[Nice_Bass]

I only use powerbait for the most part- no need to buy extra scents.

 

As far as human scent goes I am not sure I buy into that at all that it needs masking but would love to see if anyone has a study on it.

My reasoning, bass don't know what a human smells or taste like, nor a mouse, or bird, or anything else they may opportunistically eat.  We have oils and whatnot on our hands that may taste great for all I know- shrink us down to their size and we are dinner with no second thoughts. 

Now if you have gas or whatever else on your hands...well that could be different. 

Moving baits, I have not seen a difference, seeing how quickly a bass can spit however makes me curious. 

[AK-Jax86]

I've never used scents on any of my lures and I do pretty well. I mean I don't see using it as being a negative I may try it out. I'm a top water fishermen though so I am not sure how well it would work on my frogs.

[kingkong85]

I've been fishing all my life but started bass fishing about 5-6 years ago. I heard about scent for the 1st time a few months ago. I didn't believe it and didn't think to do research on it. Now that I stumbled upon this thread and reading all these great opinions I want to try it.

What scent should I get?

[Jay Ell Gee]

I've been fishing all my life but started bass fishing about 5-6 years ago. I heard about scent for the 1st time a few months ago. I didn't believe it and didn't think to do research on it. Now that I stumbled upon this thread and reading all these great opinions I want to try it.

What scent should I get?

Megastrike Original.

[Jay Ell Gee]

I've never used scents on any of my lures and I do pretty well. I mean I don't see using it as being a negative I may try it out. I'm a top water fishermen though so I am not sure how well it would work on my frogs.

It works very well. I have definitely noticed an increase in hookups. I honestly believe that they hold onto the frogs better, especially when using toad style lures.

[bigbill]

I been talking about using scents for eons ever since this site first opened. But I'm just a shore fisherman what do I know....just kidding but something's we just have to learn on our own. With some fishermen it's an ego thing. I run into these thick heads all the time.

I was catching 2 1/2 to 3lb bass constantly one night at my favorite hot spot. There were crowds of fisherman all over the place But no one really knows how to bass fish. I was throwing a bomber crank with baitmate bass scent on it. A local barber who was fishing walks up to me and asks do those lures work? Before I could answer him I landed a bass. Without me saying a word he says I guess that answers that. Then he asks me if that scent really works? Again before I could answer him I landed another bass the same size. Again he says that answers that. Then I hear hey buddy give me a shot of that scent on my spinner bait will ya?

The first baitmate bottles would squirt a long stream of scent. Fishing off a low bridge before the evening hit I would squirt scent in the channel one good shot. The water current was going away from me so I'm attracting every bass from down stream. Trust me it worked. Plus on my very first cast I would sent out a spook soaked with scent. Then it's come to pa pa after that. I caught bass in numbers "but" I couldn't break the PB of 6lbs. I was fishing from 5pm till 9pm till darkness. When I switched to fishing in the darkness 4:00am till first light this is when the bass got bigger. I'm thinking the crowds in the evenings all casting up to 1oz sinkers God only knows why we're driving the bigger smarter fish away. After it quieted down the bigger shy gals would move into the shallows to feed till first light. This tells me that scents can be used as a long distance attractant in a "current" situation too. I have heard of some guys with boats dropping a scent bottle hanging on a rope with small holes in it to attract bass. But in fishing from shore in the same spot everyday eventing the water with one shot of scent does work is you have the current in front or under you. But like I said before once I attracted the bass everyone caught bass if they tossed the right lure.

Now the guys who witnessed me catching bass one night would show up the very next night with new lures, new rods/reels and new tackle boxes too, plus a bottle of scent. They would catch bass like I did. It's funny how I influenced fishing tackle sales in my area. I was a field salesman for fishing equipment. I was a mentor to some of these people who wanted to catch fish too and that's awesome because I'd like to see everyone catch fish too. I happy to see them catch fish because I was just like them before I learned how to catch bass.

I do stop fishing to help out kids to teach them how to catch fish too. I think we need to invest our time for the younger boys and girls because there the future fishermen.It's like buying stock in America. Where all different but when we talk fishing were really the same people think about it. Fishing helps us bond together and interreact with each other. It gets us talking to each other on common ground.

Take a kid fishing and mentor a kid today they do need our help.

God bless, bigbill

Btw, Using scents from shore location does matter. You need to know where the points, dropoffs, flats and deep holes are so you know how to fish it. Using a portable hummingbird fish finder the one we cast out can tell us this. Now on your first cast soak up a spook and cast it as far as you can cast to get the scent out there. Then put very little scent on each lure after that. Now if your not getting any action with your lure change colors, change lures till the action starts. The bass will tell you when your on the correct pattern. To me the colors of our lures matter as much as using scents.

[AK-Jax86]

It works very well. I have definitely noticed an increase in hookups. I honestly believe that they hold onto the frogs better, especially when using toad style lures.

 

What type of scent do you use on your frogs? I will check them out and the toad style is all I use. If it makes them hold onto it longer is exactly what I need I miss a good amount of hook sets

[Southernjig]

Hard to beat jj magic!

[bigbill]

I purchased my frog scent from bogbait they offer frogs too in real life sizes.

Baitmate did offer a worm/crawler scent but I don't see it anymore.

If your misses uses that chopped garlic that comes in a jar don't throw that garlic juice away when the chopped garlic is gone. It's free scent use it or send it to me....

[Jay Ell Gee]

What type of scent do you use on your frogs? I will check them out and the toad style is all I use. If it makes them hold onto it longer is exactly what I need I miss a good amount of hook sets

I personally use MegaStrike because it can be applied to the lure as a paste and will stay on for a decent amount of time. I used to use Ribbits but I have switched completely to the 42 Tackle Co. "42 Toad." By far the best hookup on any frog that I have ever used.

Don't get me wrong, topwater toad style lures have their days where you just can't seem to hook up to save your life. All depends on how the fish want it that day. However, a good pause before the hookset is crucial. I believe that the scent helps these fish hold onto the frog during that stall.

[bigbill]

Using scents on my second cast with senko type worms does give me a longer time to set the hook. I usually let the senko do its thing first with no scent just the salt if it has it. But it's on my Carolina rig with the ticker. Using scents, with a rattle/ticker the only thing left is the lure action, our presentation and lure color.

[Hyrule Bass]

ive never used scents, but am not against those that do.

 

but there is one thing i see that i think is kind of ironic. it goes back to the artificial vs live bait debate. many say live bait is easier and they feel more gratified by catching fish on artificials. well, im sure many of those that say that use scents as well, and my question is for that crowd mainly. but wouldnt using a scent that makes your artificials taste like live bait also cancel out the thought of "feeling more accomplished" when you catch a fish?

[Jay Ell Gee]

Not for me, no.

I am probably in with the crowd that doesn't get to fish as often as I would like. When I do get to fish, I make sure to use the tools at my disposal to increase my chances of catching fish while I am out there. Its just another tool in the toolbox.

I could purposely fish unproductive water all day and scent would never make a difference. However, I choose to use my time wisely and fish productive water. The same concept follows with scent. If I think it will help me boat a few more fish effectively, I'll gladly try it. I don't see it as a game changer, but the concept behind it is sound.

I will admit that there were days that I have had to use live bait for saltwater fishing, but am happy to say that I have always bass fished with artificials.

In regards to it seeming more like bait... I have never encountered a type of live bait that smelled of garlic or coffee.

[kingkong85]

Thanks for the response jay.

For those that have use scent. Does it matter what brand? This morning I stopped by a local fishing shop and they carry 5 or more brands. Find it odd that they didn't have megastrike.

[SudburyBasser]

I rarely use scents and I can't say that when I do that I've noticed any particular difference. Frankly without a sound scientific test I'm not convinced either way that scents do or do not land more fish.

 

I do know that during a tournament this past weekend that the guy I was fishing with -- the boater -- was using scents and I out fished him. Is that proof? No, but an observation. 

[bigbill]

I did purchase all the brands of scents I could find. I started using the baitmate brand and found out that scents do work. The yum, riverside, BANG, snake oil, all worked for me. The megastrike down didnt but maybe it was old?

But I get up, get dressed the exact same way, put my shoes on the same way, wash my hands with big orange then go fishing. I do not get gas I don't want oil on my hands.

[hookset on 3]

I rarely use scents and I can't say that when I do that I've noticed any particular difference. Frankly without a sound scientific test I'm not convinced either way that scents do or do not land more fish.

 

I do know that during a tournament this past weekend that the guy I was fishing with -- the boater -- was using scents and I out fished him. Is that proof? No, but an observation.

Here is a test about scents.

http://bassbuzz.outdoorsfanmedia.com/features_article.asp?id=1

[powerduster]

Nah I'm fine. I do well enough without it. The thing is,  I carry a small bag with me stuffed with lures, bug spray, scale, etc. and rather not deal with more stuff.

[SudburyBasser]

Here is a test about scents.

http://bassbuzz.outdoorsfanmedia.com/features_article.asp?id=1

 

I'm afraid a press release by Berkley about the efficacy of Power Bait doesn't really qualify as a rigorous scientific study.

[richienyc]

Here is a very credible study about scents, several biologists are cited in this article.

http://aaronlesieur.com/bass-fishing-articles/do-bass-really-smell/

[Catt]

Here is a very credible study about scents, several biologists are cited in this article.

http://aaronlesieur.com/bass-fishing-articles/do-bass-really-smell/

Sorry flunked peer review

[SudburyBasser]

Here is a very credible study about scents, several biologists are cited in this article.

http://aaronlesieur.com/bass-fishing-articles/do-bass-really-smell/

 

I remember that article and I'm afraid it doesn't meet the standard of a double-blind study with carefully controlled variables. In fact, its not a study or even a meta-analysis of other studies.

 

I know I sound argumentative on this and I apologize if I'm coming across that way but I was trained in experimentation and data analysis so I'm a little picky on the matter.

[bigbill]

I'm going to be honest here. I started out using live bait for bass fishing at the cost of $50+ a week. I started purchasing lures a few at a time. Once I figured out how to use lures I fished with both live bait and lures at the sametime. It was live bait vs lures soon after. Then the lures started catching more fish using scents. I only use lures now. I was maxed out using scents but seeing how many bass it will attract I use less scent now. Using scents doesn't mean you will catch fish. We still have the lure and color selection plus matching the presentation to the situation as to what mood the fish are in. There are a lot of variables to contend with. If fishing was easy it wouldn't be called fishing. Bill

[Catt]

One must keep in mind scents do not ATTRACT fish...one can not simply spray a scent on the water and have bass appear.

Scents will not override negative clues given of by lures or the anglers presents.

[das028]

I've never used megastrike, but I do keep a small bottle of berkley power scent.