Do you use fish attractant?

[FrankN209]

Just wondering if any of you use fish attractant and if so, which one? I've always used Yum, but started using fishsticks, in shad and craw.

[Hammer 4]

Doing a search here on BR, I found all of these threads, they may answer your question..

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/search/?q=fish attractant&quick=1

[Fishes in trees]

I use the Gambler BANG spray from time to time, on baits that I'm pitching, when I think that I've been handling the bait too much.   Normally I try to grab it by the slip sinker or the bend of the hook.   I use chartruese dye sometimes to dye the tips of a chigger craw, or the end of a stickball, stuff like that.  The brand that I use (Spike It ) comes in a garlic stench that I guess helps attract fish.

 

The Chompers brand of soft plastics have a very distinct garlic stench straight out of the package and my thought is that if the folks who make the stuff didn't think it works, they wouldn't do it.

[Russ E]

I have tried several different attractants.

I honestly did not see a difference when I did or did not use it. it usually washes off pretty quick.

it seems to catch more fishermen than fish.

Unlike catfish,bass feed from sight or vibration. 

in my opinion a salt impregnated bait works better than any attractant. 

[NittyGrittyBoy]

I do with crappie. Richard Gene made me a believer 

[Cgolf]

I have used Liquid mayhem gel scent for a few years now and atlas mikes gel before that. It works very well, especially during a slow bite. 
 

Best example, in an hour of fishing boated like 5 fish and the father in law had no bites. Finally got him to add scent to his bait and had first hit in 5 casts and a fish shortly after that. 
 

I have given up trying to convince non believers, but all I can say is try it for yourself. 

[DitchPanda]

I've got a couple cans of Bang but haven't had much luck with it..I do like JJs magic though..it's a dual attractor a nice splash of color and scent

[A-Jay]

A-Jay

 

 

 

[JediAmoeba]

4 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

A-Jay

 

 

 

Same.

[ATA]

jj magic, not only smell, but color the soft plastics

[mc6524]

I use attractant and I believe that it certainly doesn’t hurt, and many times help, especially if the fish have been under heavy pressure.  I am concerned about it washing off so I usually use a gel preparation.  The one exception is when I fish a Paca craw, I have small pieces of dyed foam rubber that I soak in liquid scent, and then insert it inside the hollow front of the bait.  In this case it adds scent as well as makes the front of the bait float like a craw in the defensive position.

 

ihave my opinion on which scent I like, but I’m sure everyone here has their favorite and see no need to get adicussion on which scent is better.  I will share with you that an old fisherman who I had a lot of respect for and was an outstanding fisherman believed in using preparation H.  He shared with me that at that time it had shark oil in it.  Honestly, I never developed either the smarts or the guts to use it.  Didn’t want others to see it in my tackle box LOL.

 

Research has shown that the only smell/taste that turns off bass id Deet in insect repellant.  The oils on our hands has no effect so there should be no need to use a scent to mask the fisherman’s

[OkobojiEagle]

I use MegaStrike as a lubricant on the hook when weedless hooking.  When applied to the hook and worked into the bait, the bait slides up the hook shank and out of the way more easily.

 

oe

[Catt]

I use "worm juice" for two purposes first as a lubricant because I fish in grass a lot and the "worm juice" helps my plastic baits slide through easier.

 

I use Fish Formula II or Baitmate (clear) with a ½ oz of 100% pure anise oil added; this is to mast any odor my plastic may have pick up.

[scaleface]

I use to use Riverside Real Claw a lot . I was fishing about twenty  foot deep using  a texas rigged plastic of some sort with Real Claw applied . I felt a fish on but didnt set the hook . Just reeled it up slowly . It never let go . Once I got a look at it I set the hook and landed a 2 to 3 lber . My cousin did something similar at Table Rock . Using a jig with Real Claw  he felt something on and slowly reeled it up . There was a large brown and orange crawdad holding onto it .

[N Florida Mike]

I was given a garlic scent attractant. After a few fish picked up my bait and spit it out quickly  before I could set the hook- I quit using it.

Im open to trying another one, but it would have to be a gift ?

[jbrew73]

I’m not sure if it attracts bites but I do feel it will make them hold it long vs spitting it out.  Right or wrong i have confidence in it and that’s what matters most.

edit

just read the above post with opposite results than mine.  It really boils down to whether you think it helps or not. Trust your instincts.

[FrankN209]

12 hours ago, A-Jay said:

A-Jay

 

 

 

Which scent do you use? I might give this one a try. 

[A-Jay]

4 minutes ago, FrankN209 said:

Which scent do you use? I might give this one a try. 

I have been using the Original Megastrike for several years.

HUGE FAN.

Been using the "crayfish" past two years - 

IMO Equally effective. 

Replacing the cap can be convenient too. 

 

A-Jay

[FrankN209]

Thanks everyone. 

[schplurg]

5 hours ago, jbrew73 said:

I’m not sure if it attracts bites but I do feel it will make them hold it long vs spitting it out.  Right or wrong i have confidence in it and that’s what matters most.

edit

just read the above post with opposite results than mine.  It really boils down to whether you think it helps or not. Trust your instincts.

 

I don't have confidence until I see that something actually works. I'm a skeptic by nature and there's a lot of snake oil in fishing  

 

I read several other threads on this topic yesterday. Many anglers say they don't think it makes a difference but they use it anyways. The manufacturers are fine with that!

 

I thought I had the magic color crankbait at one lake last summer - was catching fish very well. Then I lost the bait and tied on a completely different color. Caught fish. Then I lost that bait and tried a chartreuse crank. Caught fish. So...? My magic color wasn't magic at all apparently.

 

I must admit that it is hard to know if something is working when fishing - it's difficult to do a controlled experiment with fish!

 

I haven't tried attractant yet, but I will. Seems like it could keep a fish from letting go as quickly. Then again if that fish doesn't like that particular flavor it may do the opposite!

 

Heck I don't know if anything works! Hmmmm 

 

[Log Catcher]

I tried Bang attractant years ago and never had any luck with it. I have never tried any others or any of the dyes for soft plastics.

[keagbassr]

i use bio edge wands (chapstick style) in craw and frog. Before that Carolina lunker sauce and before that riverside real craw. Ive also.got a can of bang kicking around but I find it to bulky for my tackle box.

[Cgolf]

1 hour ago, schplurg said:

 

I don't have confidence until I see that something actually works. I'm a skeptic by nature and there's a lot of snake oil in fishing  

 

I read several other threads on this topic yesterday. Many anglers say they don't think it makes a difference but they use it anyways. The manufacturers are fine with that!

 

I thought I had the magic color crankbait at one lake last summer - was catching fish very well. Then I lost the bait and tied on a completely different color. Caught fish. Then I lost that bait and tried a chartreuse crank. Caught fish. So...? My magic color wasn't magic at all apparently.

 

I must admit that it is hard to know if something is working when fishing - it's difficult to do a controlled experiment with fish!

 

I haven't tried attractant yet, but I will. Seems like it could keep a fish from letting go as quickly. Then again if that fish doesn't like that particular flavor it may do the opposite!

 

Heck I don't know if anything works! Hmmmm 

 

The best evidence I can give you is what I posted above about the trip with my father in law. To convince yourself take a buddy out on a tough day and one use it while the other doesn’t and see if it makes a difference. Even switch up who is using. I personally have seen it make a difference too many times to discount its effectiveness.
 

I do highly recommend a gel scent like Liquid Mayhem, Atlas Mikes, or megastrike.  I know 2 of them work great With LM being my got to and @A-Jay word is good enough for me on the third. One that was a fail for me was Pro Cure craw scent, never had a bite with it. 

[evo2s197]

Sometimes they make a difference sometimes not, I mostly use scent when the fishing is tough or if I'm on a buddies boat and not my own.

90% of the fish I've caught according to my logs on the first cast of the day has been with scent added.

 

Scent is effective in some cases, I've seen it work often enough to know it's not a placebo effect.

 

 

[Mr. Aquarium]

the strike king rage series has the best smell. It’s pleasant and the fish love it to.