Scents for bass

[Nitrofreak]

Has anyone tried shrimp as a scent for attracting bass?

[roadwarrior]

No.

I use JJ's Magic for jig trailers and MegaStrike

for all other soft plastics.

8-)

[Popeye]

Thanks for the tip!! Might just have to give that a try soon! Been using MegaStrike on my plastics with no difference in the amount of fish I catch - yet. Also have JJ's Magic and didn't really notice any difference either. Seems I catch my average 3 - 4 bass each trip with or without scents.

[eyedabassman]

I have used many sents over the years and now I have found two that I use! JJ's Magic and Megastrike! These are the only two that I will ever need!

[Nitrofreak]

I have tried that too and it works good but I have never had the fish hold on as long as these fish have while trying this scent.

Is this cheating the system? Not sure, But it was a one time wonder and I have not tried it in a number of different trips.

If this works on more than one wacky trip I will let you know

[Aluma-Bass]

i like to use papa johns garlic sauce 

[midnighthrasher]

I use yamamoto craw made by megastrike.

[Wayne P.]

Coppertone SPF 50 lotion works real well.

[InLikeFinz]

Thanks for the tip. I may give it a shot and let you know how it works.

J.

[aarogb]

Coppertone SPF 50 lotion works real well.

Are you bein' for real?

[stratos268v]

Try the Gulp Alive in Shrimp flavor. On sale at my walmart for $4.50.

[Nitrofreak]

Coppertone? Really? and why spf 50 to keep the bait from getting discolored?

[Five-Alive]

I also use JJ's Magic and  Megastrike and have a tube of the KVD fishsticks on the way. On the other hand,  I marshaled on the BASS elite at Smith Mountain Lake and noticed that none of the three pros I rode with used any scents. That is not saying that that had not pre applied scents but I did not see them applying any during the day. With JJ's I can smell it every time I get a bait out. Actually my wife has forbidden me to bring JJ's soaked baits into our house!! Bottom line, I feel that it helps and it gives me more confidence so I use scents.

[Crestliner2008]

Didn't your GrandPa ever tell ya....you have to spit on your worm!   

Seriously.....Megastrike!

[Nitrofreak]

I know the pros soak their baits thats one of their secerets but most have their own mix

[CookieMonst3r]

I like the idea about soaking the baits in shrimp. I've tried using YUM shrimp spray but it doesn't work all too well.

[Wayne P.]

Dock Master, Nitrofreak, more than a year ago there was a discussion about odors that repel bass from taking a lure. The thread was a question about how important it is to wash your hand after applying sun screen. I decided to test that "theory" under actual fishing conditions. I invited a guy to go with me for the test. After I established a pattern (took about 10 minutes), I put the sunscreen on a plastic worm rigged like I usually do and caught 3 bass on consecutive casts. After I had caught about 8 bass the guy wanted to try the "fish attractant" I was using. When we quit fishing, we had caught 60 bass (edited:correction it was 65 bass on 8/7/08) with most of them on a Coppertone SPF 50 Lotion coated plastic worm.

I had a tube of it along with SPF 30 spray that I have to use due to my sun sensitive skin.

I did a test with insect repellant the next day at a different lake using OFF with DEET (supposedly the worst chemical for repelling bass). Along with the Off, I used Megastrike, Kick'n Bass, Smelly Jelly, gasoline, Jack's Juice, a couple more "attractants" along with using no scent at all, and just a dirty old worm that was laying on the floor of my boat for several months. My catch rate wasn't negatively affected with or without anything. My conclusion was that the "scientific" tests used to sell scents and scented baits is BS. Those tests may indicate the advertized results in a laboratory, but for wild bass in public waters during actual fishing conditions, those results are meaningless.

Basically you can believe what you want about the effectiveness of "attractants" and scents, and what may repel bass, but I know for a fact, it makes no difference what substance or no substance is on a lure. A wild bass will eat whatever it can when it can.

[Nitrofreak]

True, Very true but what does the spf have to do with anything? I understand the coppertone due to its oil but the spf was specifically mentioned as if it had a role to play, that was my question, maybe I was misleading if so I apologise to those whom I have offended.

As far as attractants go if they do not work why do people sware by them and all I am saying is that this scent worked well for me and my way of fishing so it could possibly help others who have not mastered the art of fishing, hence the suggestion to try this and see if it works for you.

PS: You may want to clean your boat more often lol

[Wayne P.]

LOL, Nitofreak, just lazy I guess about cleaning up.

I have plastic worm parts in various places on my new boat. They get blown around when on the highway.

The SPF number was posted so the next question about using sunscreen as an attractant wouldn't be "which one did you use?" Thanks for asking.

[Nitrofreak]

seriously you tried gasoline and caught fish?

[Wayne P.]

Yes, gasoline. Supposedly (according to the "experts") fish cannot smell petroleum because the molecules won't fit in their scent receptors. I know a guide that has done that test several times to prove to his clients that they shouldn't be concerned about forgetting to bring their "attractants".

[Nitrofreak]

I dont know about that one.

But I do know that it is a proven fact that bass can taste their food long before they inhale it.

They can taste a scent that is 1/200th of an ounce in a 1000 gallon tank so if they are that sensitive to smell or taste then it only makes sense to use scents that are pleasing or familure to bass in their enviroment and that could be key to catching fish on a day that is unproductive.

So if what you are saying is true we are all waisting our money on JJs and mega strike and should be spending our money taking lessons from you lol.

Hey if thats what it takes when do we start?

[Sam]

I think what Wayne P. saidhas merit but also Dr. Kevin Jones from Berkley, who conducted the research, has some valid points.

In the lab, under controlled conditions, results were gathered and studied.

In the wild, I think the bass see the lure and then hit it, allowing us to set the hook before they decide to spit it out.

In addition, a "wild" bass will usually hit the plastic hard and fast while in a lab the bass may just pick it up and hold onto it as there is no competition from other fish.

Consequently, both Wayne P.'s results and Dr. Jones' results are valid within their own paramaraters.

I would think a better test would be the length of time a "wild" bass would hold onto the bait with different materials on them. 

[Catt]

I dont know about that one.

But I do know that it is a proven fact that bass can taste their food long before they inhale it.

They can taste a scent that is 1/200th of an ounce in a 1000 gallon tank so if they are that sensitive to smell or taste then it only makes sense to use scents that are pleasing or familiar to bass in their environment and that could be key to catching fish on a day that is unproductive.

So if what you are saying is true we are all waisting our money on JJs and mega strike and should be spending our money taking lessons from you lol.

Hey if thats what it takes when do we start?

How do "they" know what a bass can or can not smell or taste?

[Nitrofreak]

Sam I like that, And I agree that what he says has merit.

But thats exactly my point especially for soft baits.

If you can find a scent that gets the fish to hold on too it longer than your chances of catching more fish increase.

For example I was fishing Anna 2 or 3 weekends ago and I was having not much luck I could see the fish following the bait but they just wouldnt hit it no matter how long I left it in front of their face or if I were using soft baits they would pick it up and spit it right back out and I think if I had the baits scented then I would have had fish in the boat.

By the way congrads on your 4th place finish that weekend.