Anise baits not getting bit

[Avalonjohn44]

I'm noticing something this year and last, I am not getting nearly the bites I used to out of licorice/anise scented baits anymore.  Side by side Big Bite Baits Trick Sticks vs BPS Stickos in the same color, I am catching around 3 to 1 in favor of the BPS baits.  Other baits have the same thing going on. Don't get bit anymore on a lot of my old pre-F2 Yum baits, and some Gander MT soft baits. Only thing in common is the licorice/anise scent... For a while I was certain that the same thing was going on with Berkley Power Bait scent, but that seems to have stopped and my power bait is working for me again...

We have all read that bass can become conditioned to shapes of certain baits, but has anyone heard of them being conditioned against specific scents? Anyone notice the same thing?

There's every possibility that it's all in my head, put there by those danged voices...

[Mike L]

John, I've been making my own anise scent's for years. (2/3 baby oil and 1/3 anise) I put it in a small spray bottle and keep it in my bag (co angler) I haven't seen a decrease at all but I make mine fairly strong. I keep all the plastics in vertically divided 3600 plano boxes and spay them all the night before even if none were used on the last outing. After each catch or useing the same bait for a while I'll spray it again before making another cast.

I believe they can get acustomed to one particular thing if they constantly see, hear or smell the same thing over and over. There has been a debate for as long as I can remember if a bass' sense of smell is strong enough to be a catalyst for biting. Some say no, some say yes, some say a scent will only attract and keep them clapped on.

I don't realy think many folks use anise that much..Garlic and commercially made scent's yes. IMHO thier sence of smell is way down on the list as being one of the main reasons that will make a bass hit. But it can't hurt Anyway to answer your question no..so far so good. 

 

Mike 

 

Mike 

[Tracker22]

I'm not making a plug here but I found a product called slab slobber. It's made for crappie but since I started using it on my lures I have caught more 3-4lb bass than ever before. Maybe I'm just getting better at fishing or there's something in that stuff.

[Catt]

I mix 1/2 oz pure anise oil with Baitmate, before that it was Fish Formula.

I've this for 40+ years & it still works

[bigbill]

I'm fishing from shore and noticed in fishing the same spots on small ponds and man made dammed rivers that were used once for water power in using the same scent the over and over the bass learn out scents. I figured this out when I switched from a bait mate bass scent and didn't catch anything and then I switched to the bait mate garlic. Then the action was on again. I carry my scents in a mini carpenters wooden box. I carry a variety of different scents.

If you're in a boat moving around it may or may not matter. But for me changing scent flavors helps.

Another thing I notice fishing from shore at the same spots is the bass learn our baits too. What was a very hot bait last year may not be next year. Change baits, change colors, change your presentations. Be flexible don't tied up to using one bait.

[Ratherbfishing]

All I know is that if I were a bass, I wouldn't touch the stuff.  I DETEST black licorice and black jelly beans.  It is the ONEand only candy I will  spit out.