Interesting Article on Bass Repellents

[Gangley]

An In-Fisherman Article recently published regarding bass repellents testing done by Pure Fishing had some pretty interesting information in it. It described what things can be identified as bass repellents and some of them that I thought would be considered repellents werent, while other that i thought wouldnt be repellents, were.

The most repulsive repellents were anything that contained deet (Bug Spray like OFF, Cutter, etc). It seemed to "repel about anything that swims, crawls, flies, or runs". "Touching a lure after applying DEET renders it repulsive for well over an hour".

"Detergents and soaps also are offensive to fish".

"The active ingredient in many sunscreens --PABA;p amino benzoiic acid-- also repels bass"

"On the other hand, some substances widely considered repulsive to fish are not. The amino acid L-serine, found in human skin, spooks salmon, but has no effect on bass. We've also offered bass food dipped in motor oil and gasoline, and watched them gobble it up."

After reading it, it sounds like the best thing to do is wash your hands in the waters that you are fishing prior top handling any lures that you might be using, that way you can ensure that you are not getting any unwanted scents on your lures. I just thought it was an interesting read and wanted to share it.

[brushhoggin]

does this mean i can start a company selling bass friendly sunscreens and bug repellent? givin i could come up with a formula?

[Bobby Uhrig]

The greatest bass repellent known to man  is Dozer-go fishing with him and see for yourself-he does keep the mosquitoes away though

[Hammer 4]

OUCH!!!!   ;D

The greatest bass repellent known to man is Dozer-go fishing with him and see for yourself-he does keep the mosquitoes away though

[Raul]

My friend Sergio is the best bass repellent I 've ever known, bass don 't get near him a mile away !

[Wayne P.]

That was discussed a couple of years ago and I put it to the real test.

My test with OFF DEET repellant while actually fishing for non-captive bass indicated it did not repel bass. I used it on a Super Fluke with a weighted swimbait hook and caught a bass on the first cast after spraying it on. The next 5 casts produced two more bass with a new Fluke used after the second bass and sprayed. They were in about 12' depth on a hump.

I did a sunscreen test the day before on another lake with another angler using finesse worms and we caught so many using SPF 50 Coppertone, it seemed like it was an attractant.

[Bobby Uhrig]

Whacky rig Dozer after being in the sun with sunscreen and mosquito repellant  and let me see whats happens -

He will look like Kramer in that one episode when he butters himself up and falls asleep in the sun LOL GIDDYUP!!!!!!

[Helluva_Engineer]

I've kind of always suspected this about deet, but have still been able to catch fish anyways, it just doesn't look right when anything you touch looks like an oil spill in water. As with everything though, its probably more of a confidence factor than anything else.

[cart7t]

I'm going to try an experiment this year and add a shot of JJ's into my coffee on the morning I'm fishing.

My thought process is that I'll being peeing garlic scent by the afternoon.

Thoughts?

[fishfordollars]

I'm going to try an experiment this year and add a shot of JJ's into my coffee on the morning I'm fishing.

My thought process is that I'll being peeing garlic scent by the afternoon.

Thoughts?

Very scary thought there cart7t.

[CWB]

I'm going to try an experiment this year and add a shot of JJ's into my coffee on the morning I'm fishing.

My thought process is that I'll being peeing garlic scent by the afternoon.

Thoughts?

Be careful if you take a wizz off the boat.

That is if you survive, of course.

Never know what might get a whiff and come up and take a bite! ;D

[Raul]

That's why Sergio and I ALWAYS use Megastrike!

Don 't know about you but my pal Sergio is away from any type of  redemption, the dude needs a real miracle really bad.  ;D

[RoLo]

DEET has been dubbed a fish repellent back when Tommy Mann was still molding Jelly Worms.

PABA (par amino benzoic acid) is just a B-vitamin like lecithin and folic acid.

PABA has been eliminated from sunscreen products decades ago, mainly because

it tended to stain clothing. Paradoxically, before we learned the scoop on UVA and skin cancer,

PABA was my favorite because in spite of liberal application it allowed a nice golden tan.

Gasoline was supposedly another offender, but throughout the era of 2-stroke engines

my hands always smelled of petroleum, but still I managed one bass a day ;D

Well, until bass grow barbels, I'll continue to disrespect their sense-of-smell

Roger

[D4u2s0t]

never knew this, and it makes a TON of fish!! I always do real good on my lake, but anytime my brother in law or father comes fishing we don't do too well... makes sense, since they always use sunscreen!  I never do.  I always feel like they think i'm lying about how well  I do on the lakes.

[Brine]

never knew this, and it makes a TON of fish!! I always do real good on my lake, but anytime my brother in law or father comes fishing we don't do too well... makes sense, since they always use sunscreen! I never do. I always feel like they think i'm lying about how well I do on the lakes.

2 suggestions..

1. Wear Sunscreen

2. Bring a camera

[D4u2s0t]

how about... Don't wear sunscreen, and catch more fish 8-)

[Brine]

how about... Don't wear sunscreen, and catch more fish 8-)

yah...melanoma...kewl  8-)

Lots better ways of learning how to catch more fish than avoiding sunscreen.  :

[D4u2s0t]

how about... Don't wear sunscreen, and catch more fish 8-)

yah...melanoma...kewl 8-)

Lots better ways of learning how to catch more fish than avoiding sunscreen. :

I have never had a sunburn in my life. I don't use sunscreen because I don't need to. You know what they say when you assume...

maybe you should do a little more research on melanoma, it's causes, and who's at risk.  I have a better chance of dying from the common flue than developing melanoma.  But thanks for your concern  8-)

[fishinfewl]

Interesting.  Thanks for the info.

[Brine]

I have never had a sunburn in my life.  I don't use sunscreen because I don't need to.  You know what they say when you assume...

maybe you should do a little more research on melanoma, it's causes, and who's at risk.  I have a better chance of dying from the common flue than developing melanoma.  But thanks for your concern  8-)

Outside of hijacking this thread from a bass repellant discussion into one of melanoma, I hope that some of you may realize the value it has to the younger readers on this forum instead of how not using it puts more fish in the boat.  :

My father in law (of 12 years) is a dermatalogical surgeon, and the subject has been repeatedly discussed over the years. He is the primary source of my research. Contrary to your ill-informed beliefs....All skin types are diagnosed with skin cancer, and whether or not you get sunburned is not a determining factor of being at risk. Yes, some skin types are more prone than others, but NONE are excluded. I "assumed" since your father used sunscreen, you would has a similar skin type (which apparently I'm wrong), but like I said...All skin types are prone to melanoma caused by over exposure to the sun.

FYI, my father had skin cancer removed from his nose 20 years ago at age 45 and he too has contributed to my "research" over the years.

In an effort to contribute to the original discussion, I used sunscreen at all 17 fishing tournaments last year, finished 4th in points in our club (out of 40+ teams), and won our classic. All with the help of sunscreen, and I didn't wash my hands after I applied it. Bull Frog seemed to be the secret attractant.   

[D4u2s0t]

does he live on the top of a mountain, where he doesn't get much sun?? 

Anyways, my statement was simply saying that when I'm fishing with those wearing sunscreen, we catch less fish.  I didn't decide to stop wearing it to catch more fish, because I don't use it anyways.  (applies to fishing) If i'm going to be sitting on the beach, different story. 

I thought it was cool to finally have some kind of explanation regarding why I don't catch fish with my father or brother in law.  If I go out before or after they come, I kill it.  They come, minimal fish.  Every time.  In my eye, that seems to make sense.

[Brine]

Fair enough D4.

I don't doubt you catch more fish while alone. My whole point was to say that it MIGHT not be attributed to who is wearing sunscreen in the boat.

MAYBE it could be the increase in noise that's created by having 3 people in the boat or 3 lures hitting the water that are spooking the fish that you don't while fishing alone. Maybe it's a better sense of concentration you have when fishing alone. We both know it could be a multitude of reasons. And yes, I recognize it could very well be the sunscreen.

Good luck and take advantage of any time you can fishing with your Dad in the boat.

 

[D4u2s0t]

I love getting out there with my dad!  Great time, regardless of what we catch (or don't) lol

I almost never fish alone though, so it doesn't seem like it has much to do with noise.

[Luke at Gouldsboro]

Cool article. It's something I never thought of. I don't wear sunscreen, but I do use bug spray. Next time I'm out, I'll see how the fishing goes after applying bug spray. What about if I stop applying it at my forearms? will that make a difference, if I don't get it on my hands?