When to add scent to Soft plastics?

[Captain Obvious]

So I poured my first baits last night. They turned out pretty well though it's clear I've got to get some more practice.

I want my baits to have a coffee scent so I was wondering if I can add a small amount of liquid coffee to the plastic? I add coffee grounds last night  but the bait still has that melted plastic smell.I'm hoping that some actual coffee will eliminate that.

So when should I add it, how much should I add, and will it hurt the  bait if I add it?

Capt.O

[Siebert Outdoors]

No!  DO NOT add water or water based products to hot plastic.  Use oil based scents only.

Sounds to me like your overheating your plastic to get that smell.  Anyway  I always add the scent when the plastic is ready to pour.

[Steven Ladner]

GMAN is right, oil based only. Scent is extremely cheap for a bottle, check out a few Plastic Pouring Store Sites.

Before you begin to pour, put your scent in, then mix it. Also, some people like to add a few drops to the bag as well, then you shouldn't have to add worm oil.

[davehu]

i add it to the cooked plastic then the finished baits.

[WCCT]

Add right before you pour.  Upper Hand Scents makes a killer scent called Coffee/Shad.  This is one great scent!  Doug is a great guy to deal with too, and his scents are second to none.  Give his Hawg Sauce a try too!

[zach t]

I have been sprinkling in some garlick powder when I am ready to pour. It distorts the color, as the grains are relativly course.

However, the scent is atrocious and it catches fish.

[Sam]

Captain,

Good post and great question as Berkley's Power Bait claims to have good scent built in and I have the same results with Power Bait as I do with Zoom.

In his book, Knowing Bass, The Scientific Approach to Catching More Fish (Lyons Press, Guliford, Connecticut, 2002) by Dr. Keith Jones of Berkley Research Department there is a chapter devoted to Chemoreception.

On page 57 there is a chart regarding "Bass Response to Common Flavors" and here are the results from best to worse:

Worm Extract - 100%

Prey Salt - 60%

Salt -20%

Garlic - 18%

Sugar - 2%

Anise - 1%

Does this mean that Anise is not worth anything? Of course not. Anise was used in many of the early fish scents and a dear friend who just passed away would soak his plastics in Anise for two days before going bass fishing.

I asked Dr. Jones how to prepare the Worm Extract and he told me but I have not done so to date. I will get up the nerve to do it one day but I don't drink so it will be me and the worms all alone in the garage. Gross process but I will try it sooner or later.

I suggest purchasing a copy of Dr. Jones' book. It is not cheap but it is a wonderful educational read during the winter months and you will learn a lot of scientific information to use to your advantage.

And yes, there are guys on this forum that do not believe everything Dr. Jones' studies have shown but that's bass fishing. 

[Captain Obvious]

Thanks Guys, Sorry I haven't posted I've been busy and paying way to much attention to my "Vendetta vs.Cumulus" which is getting way out of control.

Sam that was a great post and I'll take a look at Dr.Jones book if I can.

Right now I'm trying to see if I can find a way to make an oil base coffee scent at home. I will report back on how it works

Capt.O

[Mike Z]

Thanks Guys, Sorry I haven't posted I've been busy and paying way to much attention to my "Vendetta vs.Cumulus" which is getting way out of control.

Sam that was a great post and I'll take a look at Dr.Jones book if I can.

Right now I'm trying to see if I can find a way to make an oil base coffee scent at home. I will report back on how it works

Capt.O

When you look at how cheap scent is and how much you get vs how strong it is, there is no reason to try and make your own.

[Captain Obvious]

there is no reason to try and make your own.

You probably right, but I get such a kick out of making things that I think I will anyways.

Capt.O