Can A Bait Scent Have An Opposite Effect?

[ABit]

I know this has probably been talked about more than most want to admit, but I had a question that I want to see if any of you have experienced.  As superstitious as I am, I am extremely attentive to every minor detail on my trips.  A few weeks ago, the family and I went out to a local reservoir and I tried scents for the first time.  I couldn't get a single bite after application and I really spun myself out thinking it was the scents.  I tried a craw spray and another red gel type that I can't recall the brand of at the moment.  Has anyone else ever experienced anything similar?  Maybe I am over thinking the scent but I really feel it had an adverse effect.  

 

There are so many factors involved with catching fish that I think it is hard to blame one variable but I'd like some reassurance from you all that it isn't the scent....

[bigbill]

I use baitmate bass, baitmate garlic, yum shad, yum craw.

There's new yum too. Snake bite craw.

I switched from baitmate bass on no bites to a garlic scent and the bite took off.

[Scott F]

Several years ago when I first started using Senkos, we were having a good day. Fish were hitting on every cast. As it happens with Senkos, they were getting pretty tore up and I did not have a lot of them and I was running out., down to bits and pieces. We did have some Gulp worms that were very similar in size, shape and color. No hits on those at all. We could see fish nose up to them, then turn away. We put Senkos back on and the action resumed instantly. It obviously doesn't happen like that all the time, but it sure did that day.

[zeth]

Pro-Cure

[bassguytom]

I kind of think scent doesn't really help me much. Whenever I use it I don't seem to do that well. So I don't really use it. I do put a dab of megastore on my hands and rub them together when Im In the boat before I start fishing. I think I do that to out of habit more then anything else. I use Gulp sometimes but don't swear by it or anything.

[bigbill]

Using a scent that attracts bass really works I don't leave home without it. A bass scent covers all foul oders from your tackle box, hands. Plus they attract fish.

Prior to going fishing.

I wash my hands with big orange. I do not touch gasoline or oil. I go fishing with my hands free of foul oders. My first long cast with my to p water popper is loaded with scent.

My next lures get one small shot of scent. I know the fish are there it's figuring out what the bait of the hour is.

The fish are there it's up to us what bait will they strike.

I throw a variety of different baits till I get action. Change colors, bass don't see all the colors all the time like we do. Hint, on a tough bite firetiger is your friend. I've seen the water conditions change as we go deeper.

When the bite is off it can be a color problem.

Example, red senkos worked yesterday today they dont. I put on electric blue and the bite is on.

[WIGuide]

Not sure what kind of scent you're using so it's hard to say for sure. All I know is that I use Kick'n Bass and it works. I can say I've ever had a time where I didn't get bit because of it. When it gets tough, all it can do is help. 

[Montanaro]

Scents don't work for bass like they do a rutting buck.

Scents are basically flavoring that keeps the bass munching on your bait while you stare at your smart phone.

[Turtle135]

My opinion is that a scent like Megastrike (which is what I use) can make a bass hold onto your jig, worm or soft plastic longer (which gives me more time to detect the bite and set the hook). I do not feel that scent gets me more "bites" from bass.

[Fisher-O-men]

We are doing good to figure out why fish bite.  It is really hard to surmise why they don't.  Such ponderings are likely in vain.

[Jaderose]

Scents don't work for bass like they do a rutting buck.

Scents are basically flavoring that keeps the bass munching on your bait while you stare at your smart phone.

 

^^This^^  I do not have a lightning fast hook set so Megastrike (original formula is what I use) gives me a little extra time to set the hook.

[Bobby Uhrig]

You can eat a sammich and hes still there

[bigbill]

Scents do get old. Keep your scents fresh Don buy too much ahead.

I wish baitmate made all the flavors again to match the baits.

Baitmate original bass

Baitmate garlic

Baitmate crawfish

Baitmate worm crawler.

Baitmate live

I was matching the right flavor of scent to the bait.

I use senkos with no scent on a weedless hook wacky rigged if I get a hit n miss the weedless spring comes up open. One shot of scent is a definite hook up on the next cast.

[bigbill]

You can eat a sammich and hes still there

Who's making sandwiches?? Make mine pepperoni and provolone toasted with peppers, tomato, olives, oil. Now I'm hungry.

Lol

[WRB]

As a general rule don't add a different scent to pre scented soft plastics. If you are using Berkley Power worms don't add another brand of scent. One reason is a chemical mix can damage the soft plastic, multiple scents demenish the positive affect of the scent.

Keep in mind mind bass are not olfactory predators, they sight predators first and have very small odor or smell sensory organs and must be very close to detect odors. None the less a positive scent is better than a negative scent.

Tom

[bigbill]

Tom, I don't use scents on salted or prescented baits on the first cast.

[dam0007]

I've fished with guys who swear by smelly jelly yet I'll out fish them after handling baits, cinching knots after throwing a dip in lol so who knows.

[PourMyOwn]

I've fished with guys who swear by smelly jelly yet I'll out fish them after handling baits, cinching knots after throwing a dip in lol so who knows.

Just imagine how bad you'd kick their butts if they didn't use smelly jelly.