Maxscent warning...

[OkobojiEagle]

... just a quick personal warning to those of you who may be currently using or thinking about using Berkley's Maxscent soft bait.  I've been experiencing much deeper than usual hooking when using Maxscent.  This is comparing to other soft bait I use, such as, PowerBait, Rage Tail and other branded soft plastics.  I'm going to be filing the barbs off hooks and jigs that I'll be dressing with any Maxscent baits and suggest you consider this as well.  Feels pretty lousy to know the 3 pounder you just released will most likely die from being so deeply hooked...

 

oe

[ajschn06]

I don't ever feel bad after catching a 3 pounder.  Things happen, I'm not going to reduce my chances of hooking a beast because one might die....

[EWREX]

[schplurg]

I saw they updated the sign at my local creek. In addition to barbless and artificial bait requirements, they now do not allow scented baits. Interesting.

 

They are trying to save the Steelhead so that's why the restrictions are there, weather they make sense or not.

 

I remember a recent debate here about allowing scent in tournaments. This sign is the first I've ever heard of it being banned in any way. I've never used it.

 

I don't know if salt impregnated baits count as scented, I am assuming no and using them.

[E-rude dude]

If you thought it was going to die, why not just eat it.?

[schplurg]

Sounds like an ad for MaxScent. "So good it's killing the fish!" Filing off barbs won't keep it from swallowing the bait, it will make it easier to remove though, hopefully. Or don't use MaxScent.

 

I'm not sure why the taste would make a fish swallow it deeper or more aggressively. It already thinks its eating a real worm when it hits one, scent or not. If it doesn't like it the fish spits it out. Possible I suppose.

[GRiver]

Thanks for the heads up. 

[OkobojiEagle]

16 hours ago, schplurg said:

Sounds like an ad for MaxScent. "So good it's killing the fish!" Filing off barbs won't keep it from swallowing the bait, it will make it easier to remove though, hopefully. Or don't use MaxScent.

 

Considering the "April 1st" tom foolery orchestrated by Berkley, I can see why you might take this in that light.  I'm only, however, passing on my personal experience with this bait after having used it for awhile.  Bass fishing for recreation gives me a different perspective than if I was fishing to consume my catch as I would with walleye.  I'm certainly not advocating avoiding MaxScent, I find myself using it more often, but as I wrote above, I'm going to be more cognizant of protecting the bass from deep hook damage.  Best of fishing to all...

 

oe

[TnRiver46]

David Dudley said the same thing about ned rig and got lots of backlash but I’ve personally seen it first hand many times with the ned, my buddies deep hook smallies with ned all winter long. It wouldn’t surprise me with something maxed out with scent

[Deleted account]

17 hours ago, schplurg said:

Sounds like an ad for MaxScent. "So good it's killing the fish!"

Reminds me of those 70s after shave TV commercials where the guy would splash some on, then hot women would chase him around...

[moguy1973]

17 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

David Dudley said the same thing about ned rig and got lots of backlash but I’ve personally seen it first hand many times with the ned, my buddies deep hook smallies with ned all winter long. It wouldn’t surprise me with something maxed out with scent

That's strange.  I've caught hundreds of fish on the Ned rig and I don't think any have ever been deep hooked.  Most are in the top or corner of the mouth.  I really don't dead stick it much though and always keep contact of the rig when I fish it.

 

As for the max scent stuff, never used it, probably never will, but I'm not sure why they would be swallowing it over any other scented bait as long as you are paying attention and maintaining contact with the bait.

 

[TnRiver46]

6 minutes ago, moguy1973 said:

That's strange.  I've caught hundreds of fish on the Ned rig and I don't think any have ever been deep hooked.  Most are in the top or corner of the mouth.  I really don't dead stick it much though and always keep contact of the rig when I fish it.

 

As for the max scent stuff, never used it, probably never will, but I'm not sure why they would be swallowing it over any other scented bait as long as you are paying attention and maintaining contact with the bait.

 

That’s why the backlash, a bunch of people never experience it so they just pile on the messenger . I don’t use elaztech for other reasons (it melts and reacts with all kinds of stuff, don’t really want that in my boat or in the water) but I’ve seen many smallies come from super deep water with the ned rig down in the throat. Not in the gills, always swallowed in that soft part down the middle. I would imagine they swallow the max scent because it smells stronger than other scented baits 

[MGF]

What I've seen is that, all else being equal,  some people deep hook more than others.

 

 

 

[throttleplate]

well that does it, berkley is coming out with the new General, more scent impregnated into the worm so it leaves more of a trail.

 

 

[TOXIC]

Somebody’s going to have to prove to me that once a bass decides to bite a plastic, they do so with differing intentions like….I’m just gonna nibble this one……I’m gonna engulf this one……I think there may be something to getting them to strike but I highly doubt they are making a decision on how they are going to eat it.  

[TnRiver46]

42 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

Somebody’s going to have to prove to me that once a bass decides to bite a plastic, they do so with differing intentions like….I’m just gonna nibble this one……I’m gonna engulf this one……I think there may be something to getting them to strike but I highly doubt they are making a decision on how they are going to eat it.  

Proving wildlife intentions is an exercise in futility. People always ask me why the raccoon chose their attic to live in. My response is “there he is in that cage, just ask him and see what he allows”

 

the scientific experiment that the OP has conducted is literally just as solid as any research you will find, he hooks more fish deep with the newer lures that have more scent than anything before. You will not find any better research from any so called scientist 

[Scott804]

I've definitely found this to be the case with the dropshot soft plastics. That being said, I do not think they have swallowed it anymore than they have a GYBC Senko. Both Senkos and MaxScent Dropshot plastics of these have resulted in swallowed hooks for me if I was not quick enough on the draw, so I just try to minimize being late on the hookup as best I can specifically to try to avoid letting them swallow it deep. Interestingly, the Maxscent The General has not been swallowed deep for me even once so far, but maybe I will have to be careful with the newer The General. 

[MGF]

I can't say regarding maxscent but it seems easier to hook fish deep using presentations that may be worked on a slack or semi slack line...like a ned or wacky. Especially with current or wind sometimes a fish can have the bait for quit a while before the angler knows it.

[TnRiver46]

Ive seen Zaldain and fieder both hook fish deep with a spinning rod in this tournament, and there’s only 6 cameras so I’m guessing this happens a lot more than anyone would like to admit. They also both set the hook immediately upon feeling the bite and are of course highly skilled anglers 

 

on the other end of the spectrum combs hooked a 4 lb smallmouth with a huge lure of some sort and horsed it into the boat instantly and it was bleeding from the mouth. He said it kept missing the lure then got it good