Scent

[rboat]

I have several kinds of bait scent, but normally I kind of forget about using it. If it is slow, I will look for anything to help out and then get to using some scent. Not sure if it helps, seems to work sometimes. I like megastrike, baitfuel, and JJ's. Put JJ's on soft plastic and it will still smell like an Italian kitchen several days later. It doesn't wash off. Just don't spill it or let it boil out on a hot day, unless you truly love garlic.

[WRB]

Berkley Power Bait and Max Scent sell a lot product based on scent. You can debate the pro’s and con’s forever.

Scent is like color it matters when it does.

Tom

[ike8120]

I never seen a difference using scents. 

[Swamp Girl]

9 hours ago, WRB said:

Scent is like color it matters when it does.

Tom

 

[looking45]

I don’t use scent. I’ve fished with people who always used scent. There was no difference in the number of fish we caught. If you think scent works for you, use it. so far, no one who uses scent has done well enough for me to try it. YMMV

[Harold H]

People that know, know. Others just haven't figured it out yet. But with so many "attractants/coverscents," which one's actually work. One I really like is Pro Cure super gels. I learned about Pro Cure from an angler on Fishbrain called Slinglines that would always be posting pics of big 5 and 6 lb smallmouth. He said he was using Pro Cure, I think it was Crawfish gel. I have the shad gel, garlic plus gel, and Trophy bass gel. I also have the inshore salt water for surf fishing. They make pretty much any scent you can think of except insect. They're made from real bait then amino acids are added. I have oily skin and human skin oils are repulsive to fish, so I like a cover scent. I know these scents don't hurt so I use them

On 2/28/2025 at 6:08 PM, Catt said:

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.

 

 The only place y'all find 100% pure anise oil is at your local pharmacy, the rest will be 40-70% max

 

 

Pro Cure makes Pharmaceutical grade anise oil

[Catt]

13 minutes ago, Harold H said:

Pharmaceutical grade anise oil

 

Still ain't 100% pure anise oil 

[Harold H]

1 minute ago, Catt said:

 

Still ain't 100% pure anise oil 

https://www.pro-cure.com/products/pure-anise-oil

 

Says it is. What brand do you recommend??

[WRB]

*^^^this works^^*^
To

[Harold H]

It's certainly an interesting topic. The guy that invented Gulp! also said that gasoline did not affect fish. I've also seen where people get one drop on their fingers and dont get a bite after. As far as the water solible vs oil based, shad are an oily fish. Skipjack, which big blue cat chasers prefer, are oily. Lots of saltwater fish like menhaden are oily. Does that make them more appetizing to predator fish, I dont know, but they like them. But I'll say I caught my pb lm in January from the bank on a rapala shad rap with no scent added, it was around 8 lbs if i had to guess. But without a doubt a fish can inhale and spit a lure in the blink of an eye, so if it gives me an extra split second for a good strike I think it's worth it

[Swamp Girl]

Here's a pound of anise oil for $41:

 

https://wholesalebotanics.com/collections/essential-oils/products/anise-essential-oil?variant=37686377152677

[Catt]

14 hours ago, Harold H said:

https://www.pro-cure.com/products/pure-anise-oil

 

Says it is. What brand do you recommend??

 

You will not find pure anise oil over the counter, you will have to get from a pharmacy behind the counter. Everything else is essential oil,  cooking oils, extrate, or some other kind of flavoring. Don't know the name brand I have a friend of mine's daughter works for Albertsons & orders it for me.  It's about $25-30 an oz.

 

There was a time most plastics contained anise. 

[Swamp Girl]

2 hours ago, Catt said:

Everything else is essential oil

 

Ah, thank you for the clarification. I was wondering if "essential oil" is the same. Good to know that it's not.

[Harold H]

"For the guys who want the purest anise oil, this is the finest grade oil available anywhere! Don't get ripped off at the pharmacy paying for pharmaceutical grade oil. Our oil is 1/100 of a percent less pure. Except for the savings you'll never tell the difference. The perfect oil to add to make any scent into an anise scent. You don't have to use much, it is very potent."

[Harold H]

I don't use anise, I don't like the smell of licorice, but I know there's 2 kinds, there's star anise and anise seed. I think the anise seed oil is the best. Mr. Crappie strike king baits have it in them, but I highly doubt they use stuff from the pharmacy if it's $30+ an ounce

[Skunkmaster-k]

Spitting Levi Garrett on your lures will catch you more fish with one eye and a dorsal mullet. 

[F14A-B]

2 hours ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

Spitting Levi Garrett on your lures will catch you more fish with one eye and a dorsal mullet. 

I use to chew that stuff, I was always packing a plug or two 🤣🤣

[Bird]

Been chewing tobacco for 50 years and never spit on a bait.

HOWEVER !  I did spray baits down with WD-40 years ago when someone started that craze 😁

[1984isNOW]

Isn't powerbait banned in some tourneys? Wonder why?

[fishingram24]

When the bite is tough I'll use KNB and have been using it since the late 90's. On to many occasions to be an accident, I'll put some on and get bit within a few cast when I had not had a nibble in a while. My opinion is it doesn't hurt and probable helps so why not use it  

[JHoss]

30 minutes ago, 1984isNOW said:

Isn't powerbait banned in some tourneys? Wonder why?

Never heard of this. What trails have it banned?

[Skunkmaster-k]

3 hours ago, Bird said:

Been chewing tobacco for 50 years and never spit on a bait.

HOWEVER !  I did spray baits down with WD-40 years ago when someone started that craze 😁

WD40 catches more fish, but they kept slipping out of my hands at the boat. 

[Swamp Girl]

17 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

WD40 catches more fish, but they kept slipping out of my hands at the boat. 

 

When it comes to scent, NO ONE know more than Skunkmaster. 

[Skunkmaster-k]

24 minutes ago, Swamp Girl said:

 

When it comes to scent, NO ONE know more than Skunkmaster. 

Bazinga !

[OkobojiEagle]

sick bass and those with a belly full of plastic are most interested in anise laced baits...