If you don't think scent makes a difference to fish....

[Kentucky Lake]

I do believe that's quite possible ... to very probable.

Take for instance, people that can wear faux jewelry ... vs ... people that put on faux jewelry & turns it black (or has it corrode on them). Different skin pH !!

There are many factors to consider, and this could certainly be one of them. In any event .... using a scent on your bait, or a bait with scent already in it, can't hurt ... especially if it's already proven to work.

... cp

Yes, I agree

I would be very curious to see what Kevin Van Dams skin ph is LOL

[Bombfixer]

I tired this idea and it works. If one person in your party is catching fish and you are not, have that person tie on your next bait. That just might be the difference. Sometimes I catch fish left and right and my wife cannot buy a bite. I tie her lures on and presto she catches fish. Other days it works just the opposite.

Whether you want to call stuff a Fish Attractant or a Human Scent Masker, it gets the job done and the livewell full. Isnt that the end result we are looking for anyway?

[smoothlures]

I've seen it make a different quite a few times with sunscreen. Not so much using a scent but not putting the foreign scent (sunscreen) on your bait. Fresh and saltwater.

[Buckeyemusky]

There is lots of times that my dad will outcatch me on certain fish. Doesn't seem to matter on cats or when casting for bass. But useing live bait for crappie, saugeye, bluegill and bass he usually beats me. I smoke and he doesn't. I believe that the smoke smell on my hands gets on the baits.

[ONEON]

The jury may never return with a definitive answer on the merits of scent but consider the results I have collected over a number of years.

In my boat house on Lake D'Arbonne, there are generally schools of fish actively feeding. These schools of crappie, bar fish, cat fish, bass, and an occasional goo respond immediately to objects dropped into the water.

Over the last few years I have dropped all types of artificial bait (niblets, nibbles, powerbait, etc...), impregnated with every conceivable scent, into the water and watched them come to investigate. I have NEVER seen a fish swallow one! On RARE occasions I have seen one swim up to one, flare his gills, suck it in, and immediately spit it out.

On the other hand, I have dropped mamy minnows, both dead and alive, and watched the fish literally fight to see who inhales them first!

[Steve]

Well, the reason I don't like to use crappie nibbles is because the bluegill will not leave you alone! I do like using nibbles when the strikes are slow, it helps. I find that I like using them better in January through March. Spawning crappie could care less about them. When the crappie bite is slow, fish slow w/ a crappie nibble. Don't get caught up in the colors either (it doesn't matter). They all smell the same! Get a jar and try it, or not!

[Kman]

All very interesting.

I use nibbles by injecting them up the tube with the bait pump I got from someone on this site. (great product BTW). My point is, I use it because "I feel like" when they DO hit, and they are doing that summer time "mouthing it" bite they give you where you almost have to FEED it to them, they will hold it in their mouth a bit longer before deciding it aint real.

I could be wrong, but if nothing else, it boosts my confidence which is about 90% of this anyway.

[Steve]

Yesterday the crappie were "mouthing" me to death! I wished I would have had some crappie nibbles to atleast try! I'm all about confidence boosters!!! Whatever works!

[Kman]

Yesterday the crappie were "mouthing" me to death! I wished I would have had some crappie nibbles to atleast try! I'm all about confidence boosters!!! Whatever works!

I hear ya Steve! I dont really understand what the difference is (hunger? competition? aggression? temperature?) in the arm wrenching BANG you get in the spawn that any novice can detect, and the way they bite the rest of the summer. It's weird. They "peck" almost like a bream at first, and if you set it stout, forget it! I fish with a real sensitive Sam Heaton 9ft rod and what I have found is that if he aint "there" on that first peck, I just start to slowly lift my tip to the sky. If the tip starts to double over, he's there and I snap it quick. I'm tellin ya, even if you're a pro, you miss as many as you catch! If you are not familiar with crappie, it makes for a LONG day of missing most of what you entice to hit. Nibblers seem to help that ratio.

Funny suckers.

[sparkie51]

Kman and Steve I bet if you dropped down in bait size and line size you will up your catch rate. Those tap-taps will turn turn into slams. I will even go down to 2 lb with a 1/32 or 1/64 jig and tail. Normally I fish just 4#.

As for the smell I'm of the school that it's just something to catch fisherman, woman. Many times I've had gas and oil on my hands from filling the tank before hitting the lake. Doesn't stop me from catching fish. The same with cigarette smoke. BUT if the scent stuff gives you confidence than go ahead and use it. Confidence is the game. The more you have the better off you will be.

I have the confindence to catch fish everytime I go with the use of gimmicks.. It might not be a hundred fish but I'm confident that I can bring home enough for dinner everytime I go out. But of course I've put in my time. Usually around 150-200 days a year for the last 25 years or so. Thank goodness I have a very understanding wife.