How To Thicken An Oil Based Scent

[philsoreel]

Josh- I posted a somewhat review on Yum F2 Crawfish the other day. You're right about one thing, F2 definitely gets left in the water but nowhere near your lure. I have about 7/8ths of a new bottle that I'll give you or anyone else that will pay the shipping.

Grimlin- You're right about the water being dispersed too quickly for that to be of any consequence. If I'm not mistaken it was an article I read by Dr. Jones that stated that there are too many micro currents for it to even be possible for a bass to follow the scent trail of a lure, that the amount of scent wouldn't be substantial enough for there to be a followable trail per say. Not 100% that it was him, but it was Berkley's chief scientist so I'm pretty sure.

[Catt]

Naturalistic observation is a research tool in which a subject is observed in their natural habitat without any manipulation by the observers. During Naturalistic observation researchers take great care to avoid interfering with the behavior they are observing by using unobtrusive methods. In the context of a naturalistic observation the environment is in no way being manipulated by the observer nor was it created by the observer.

[Sam]

Catt, we really need the Hook n' Look guys do some research and film the results.

I think it would be great to have them test various scents in the wild and film the results.

I will contact them and ask them to give this some thought.

But so far, Dr. Jones' book is the bible of scientific data on bass fishing. If you know of any other publications please let us know.

[Catt]

How can you call Dr. Jones' book “the bible of scientific data on bass fishing” knowing that his data is manipulated?

That does not bother you?

[Sam]

Catt, I have no proof that any results were manipulated.

The book illustrates the results of tests in a controled environment.

Dr. Jones published his findings and you can take them or leave them.

So far I have not found any other publications that dwell as deeply as Dr. Jones' writings.

Until one is published with other results, we have nothing to go on other than Dr. Jones' findings.

Therefore, it is the current bible of bass biology and behavior.

You can always watch the old Glen Lau videos but Dr. Jones' book is a fantastic read. It may not be 100% correct on every subject but it does give a great insight into the behavior of the bass.

Have you read it? If not, I suggest getting a copy and read what he says about the various bass senses.

Other scientists may not agree with his methodology or findings and they can set up their own experiments and publish their findings. To have one scientist go against another scientist in the same field is not unusual. Happens in all occupations and bass fishing, too.

At this time, you are the expert on Toledo Bend on this site and it will remain that way unitl someone else comes along and says you don't know what you are talking about and everyone should listen to him. We will then weigh what the new guy says against what you have written and make up our own minds.

When Hook n' Look have a series on bass scents and attractants in the wild I will watch it and make up my mind about Dr. Jones' findings.

And to think, the original question was How to Thicken An Oil Based Scent. I think we hijacked the post.

[philsoreel]

How can you call Dr. Jones' book “the bible of scientific data on bass fishing” knowing that his data is manipulated?

That does not bother you?

I think some rules have to bent as far as naturalistic observation is concerned anyway because introducing a plastic man-made worm or a piece of cotton or whatever to a fish, even in it's natural enviroment, in itself is a contradiction. Is it not?

Sam- Yeah, Dr. Jones' book and theories are very interesting and he obviously put alot of time and hard work into it, but he was getting paid to do it and had motive behind every aspect of it. I think that's what Catt is referring to as being manipulated.

[Sam]

Philsoreel, thanks for the feedback.

Yes, Dr. Jones is getting paid for his research and he published the findings.

All I am saying is that so far Dr. Jones' book is the only reference publication out there that addresses the various senses of a bass.

When something comes along that proves otherwise we have no option but to view Dr. Jones' findings as correct.

And I agree with you: why would a bass strike a plastic worm when they hardly ever see a live worm?

As a scientist one always tries to have controlled lab situations to conduct experiments and then you take that data into the wild to try to prove or disprove it. I have not read any pubications that disprove Dr. Jones' findings.

This has been fun. Now onto other subjects.

[Catt]

Sam one must first understand what Observational Science is!

Operational (Observational) Science: a systematic approach to understanding that uses observable, testable, repeatable, and falsifiable experimentation to understand how nature commonly behaves.

In the context of a naturalistic observation the environment is in no way being manipulated by the observer nor was it created by the observer.

By putting the bass in an aquarium Dr, Jones has not only manipulated the environment he has created the environment which is goes against the rules of naturalistic observation.

Dr. Jones' findings are not a reference publication, he wrote it in “book” form to avoid “peer” review & to make money on book sales, was it a scientific report it would make him little money other than from Berkley.

There are plenty of publications out there that address the various senses of a bass; one simply has to do a Google search.

It amazes me what a nonbeliever have to believe in order to remain nonbelievers

P.S.: I sorry to hijack this thread but as long as people throw “supposed” scientific data into the equation I feel obligated to show both sides and let the readers decide which is the function of a forum.

[Sam]

I Googled largemouth bass senses and clicked on the first link. Here is what it said:

When fishing for bass in low visibility conditions (overcast sky) or in murky water, try using light colored (white or silver) or neon colored (chartreuse) lures. These colors tend to give a good light reflectance which allows the bass to see the lure quicker and give it a better chance to react to your presentation. In high visibility conditions such as clear water and clear skies, use dark colored lures. In these conditions, dark colors appear to be more natural and appetizing to the bass.

In this issue of Bass Times, Gene Gilliland, the assistant chief of fisheries with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation says "It appears that science can support conventional wisdom. Clearer water means more light and better vision so color, size, shape and detail appear to make a difference in what lure you should choose. In dirty water or low-light conditions, detail may be less important, and dark or fluorescent colors might be more easily seen, presenting a contrasting silhouette that entices the bass to strike first and ask questions later."

So a scientist says to use dark colors in dark water and light colors in light water and someone I don't know says the opposite. And we know Gilliland is correct.

I would still rather understand what a known biologist and professional bass fishermen have to say than rely on a Google entry which may or may not be correct.

And of course Dr. Jones is getting paid for his research book. Catt, you would too if you wrote a book on fishing the Toledo Bend as has Virginia guide Teddie Carr with his book Fishing Lake Anna.

We agree to disagree. But I will go with the current science and then relate it to local fishing.

[Catt]

So other words the part that says “the environment is in no way being manipulated by the observer nor was it created by the observer.” does not bother you!

[J Francho]

From page 75 of Dr. Keith A. Jones's book, Knowing Bass - The Scientific Approach to Catching More Fish, "Oil-based scents never have and never will be true attractants - and that's just a physical reality."

He continues..."Although dismal as attractants, oil-based scents do serve a purpose in angling: they make great masking agents for covering repulsive odors and tastes."

Get the book. It is a fantastic read based on scientific research.

P.S. MegaStrike rules!!!!

Here's the part of that statement that gets lost in translation. Perhaps the "oil base" is simply used to carry the amino acid based scent. Liquids wash off, oils do not. This is why I would not dismiss a scent that uses fish or other oil.

[tmier]

You guys are definitely going somewhere with a worm based attractant. The mix I made before the weekend yielded no results. I tried senkos and zoom trick worms loaded with the attractant in every rig possible. My girlfriend however was nailing bass and crappie on a swimbait with a spinner trailer. I do have a bottle of Berkley nightcrawler scent which I will mix into some jelly and try along with real bait.

[tmier]

Kudos to Cart and Sam, you guys are posting useful information about the purpose of bait scents. I fish a 100 acre lake with visibility around 12". I've used scents to mask my odors and try to gain an edge. That and I'm getting my butt kicked by my girl and her $1.56 swimbait spinner combo she bought at Walmart.

[roadwarrior]

Wow!

Three pages...JJ's is for color and garlic,

MegaStrike for taste and user convenience.

Both work well...VERY WELL. There is really

no reason to make your own, it will never be

an improvement over these two products.

[tmier]

I will buy MegaStrike but I am dragging my meet on it. What gets me is last weekend I used the fish oil and jelly stuff all over every plastic I used in the morning, when water visibility was fair, but no bites. Later after noon, speed boat-o-rama clouded the water to no visibility. I threw in a bps green stickbait that had a single garlic clove in the baggies and BOOM! The fish took it before it hit the bottom. It's just weird, I guess its why I love fishing.

[LSU Fan]

I have a jar of the fish scent attractant SMELLY JELLY Bass Feast that when NOT exposed to the heat of a 80*-90* or greater day the consistency is that of petroleum jelly.  Now when this scent attractant IS exposed to the normal heat of a 80*-90* + day the consistency really changes from a thick paste to more of a thick liquid form.  I'd appreciate any ideas for adding something to this SMELLY JELLY Bass Feast fish scent to help keep the consistency at a thick paste.