When to use scent on your bait

[00bullitt]

I've been a staunch supporter of scent for the past 25 years of my fishing life, but I'm often too lazy to apply the stuff. I have Jack's Juice in gallon jugs; literally, as I knew the owner.

 

I keep saying I'm going to start a YouTube channel to document stuff like was happening yesterday. I was fishing Lake Hartwell (GA/SC line). The lake is up 2.5' and the water is stained badly, almost chocolate but not quite. Fish are up shallow and tight to cover/structure.  I was getting bit like crazy yesterday but they were swatting at stuff and nipping badly. All of my plastics would come back bitten in half, tails ripped off, etc. Everything! Even the trailers on my spinner bait and chatterbait. The bass are getting territorial due to pre-spawn transition. I would get 10 bites and catch 1 fish. The ratio was bad. And the bites were aggressive, they just were not eating it all or holding it. Given that the plastics were often bit in half told me they were more nipping and moving stuff away from them. So....I grabbed the little jar of Smelly Jelly I keep in the boat and wiped down my plastic (crawfish scent for those that will ask). Next cast was a sho nuf bite son! Landed a 4# fat female! Full of eggs. This time rod bent and line took off back under the tree I pitched to. She decided to eat it rather than nip at it. My bite to catch ratio pretty much went from 10/1 to 1/1. The rest of the day was that way. I went back to all the spots I got solid bites on and landed good fish as they were still on those pieces of isolated cover. Will I apply scent all the time now? No. Never really did, but situations like that of yesterday will dictate.

 

For those of you on the fence about scent, its another tool to have in the tool box. I always have a jar of Smelly Jelly or a tube of Megastrike handy. I love Jack's Juice....but man that stuff is messy. Smelly Jelly and MegaStrike are so convenient.

 

So.....needless to say, scent has its place and does appear to work. All brands are not created equal though, so I cannot speak to ALL of the various brands. Smelly Jelly, MegaStrike and Jack's Juice have all worked for me over the years.

 

[roadwarrior]

I NEVER fish plastics without an application of MegaStrike.

[Dens228]

I have a tube of Megastrike and a jar of JJ's.   

JJ's when I want to add chartreuse, Megastrike when I don't.

I always add it to my plastics too. 

[Team9nine]

If scent works for you or gives an angler confidence, then by all means use it. In this regard, and others, it’s always interesting to follow and observe professional anglers as compared to recreational anglers. As for me, scent does have its place...left on the store shelf ?

[Biglittle8]

I feel that scents work more as a way to make fish hold onto your lure longer giving you more reaction time to make a set. I use JJ's and lately, Edge Hot Sauce which simulates the slime coat of aquatic life according to the manufacturer. I feel there is a difference in the number of hits I get, so I use it. Even if it's just a confidence builder ... I'll take it!

[DitchPanda]

I've tried several scents over the years with inconclusive results. The only one I use regularly now is JJs magic but that's mostly for the color.

[Deleted account]

When there is money on the line or they are grabbing it and spitting it out in one motion.

[WRB]

All I every apply scent to on soft plastics is to the nose end where I handle the worm to rig it. Finger tips are easy to clean and no mess.

Don’t like spray scents or coating the entire surface. 

When started using big soft plastic swimbaits used Pro Cure Trout in a zip bag to apply the entire swimbait. Stopped doing that and only add a dab to the nose end catch stayed the same, some still choked it most don’t.

If it gives you confidence use it, I do.

Tom

 

[Mbirdsley]

I actually tried some bait mate game fish attracted the other day. I found at Walmart.  It was a colder day only caught 3 so I decided to try it.  Smells like licorice kinda.  How often should you apply attracted.  I only applied it   once.  I didn’t fish jigs or plastic a whole lot that day either. 

[FishTank]

I have used Megastrike, Bang, and Smelly Jelly.  Each has their place but I don't tend to use them unless the bite is slow and/or soft.  I think the idea of these things is get the fish to hold on longer and increase how hard they bite.  

[Hammer 4]

Anytime I'm fishing plastic's, which includes my swimbaits, I'll dab on some Megastrike.

[MGF]

I've never used any but so many people swear by it that I finally purchased some. All I saw in local stores was some Berkley gel and Yum spray so I guess I give it a try.