Lure Scent

[MN Basser]

What is a good type of scent or dip for unscented baits?

[David P]

I use the Powerbait lube stuff. Doesn't smell bad, cheap, and works for me.

[Nick_Barr]

I LOVE!!!!   Atlas Mike's BASS Scent, its a goo type that stays on for a LONG TIME and dissapates with great force. It helps as I believe the fish hold on longer and dont detect human scent as quick.

[Jeff H]

I like BANG Crawfish or Crawfish/Shad combo.

[Sam]

We put scent on our baits for two reasons.  First, to hide our human scent and second, to give us confidence.

Scents that are in an oil base that is not water soluable means that the fish cannot smell or taste it since it cannot disolve into molecules for the bass to smell.

On the other hand, water based scents spread fast (liquids) and disperse fast and far and can reach bass, alert them to the presence of food and make them more agressive.

Scent only lasts several minutes so you will have to rescent your lures.

With that said, I use Carolina Lunker Sauce, Mega Strike and Jack's Juice.

For dips, its JJ's Magic and Spike-It with JJs being much stronger. JJs also has a clear mixture that is very good.

As for flavors, the bass do not care for garlic, sugar, anise, salt or prey salt mix.  But I like garlic just the same.  I also use shad flavors.

A bass will use its sense of taste after it has taken the bait in its mouth and if it does not like the taste it will spit it out.

Remember, it is almost impossible for the scent to leave a trail in the water.  Too much water and not enough scent that is water soluable.

Now, with all that said, the studies at Pure Fishing have shown that bass will strike more times at lures with scent and will hold on longer.

Seems to be some conficting information.

For general purposes I put scent on everything. Even buzzbaits and topwaters.

I know what the bass can smell and will be working on my formula in the near future to soak my plastics.  It should be interesting to see if it works better than the commercial scents.

The only problem I have with scents is that I wipe my hands on my shirt and shorts and smell really bad when I get home so I have to wash my clothes every day.

Otherwise, no matter what the scientists say, I will still use scent and hope my own formula works.