[hi steel basser]

I just tried something new today. When you are pitchin' a lure, you are touching it every cast. I smoke, which is a turnoff scent to bass(along with some women) . Today, as I was rubbing my Carolina Lunker sauce on my lure, I got a little on my right(lure holding) hand. :idea: Well, I started rubbing a little scent on my hand on purpose. That way, instead of cigarette smell being rubbed on my lure every cast, a little more garlic smell goes on. I'm sending it in to Exremely Anal Basser's magazine. I think I'll win top prize. :dunno:

 

[Ouachita]

You might add another tip to it. Keep a rag soaked in Ivory Soap. Finish the cigarette, then wipe your hands with the rag before handling the lure. The soap will remove scents, and all fish are attracted to Ivory. I use it some for catfish bait, and tow a sock with a bar in it between jugs. That leaves a trail for fish to follow jug to jug. Lots cheaper than commercial scents.

Jim

 

[Jared]

Ivory Soap huh? Thats interesting. Ive actually heard of people using soap chips for bait but never gave it much thought.

I am a STRONG believer in scents!

Good tips guys. Thank you

 

[hi steel basser]

Irish Spring doesn't work? Gotta be Ivory,he says. At least trips to Wal-mart are cheaper than trips to BPS. Thanx for the pointer,Ouachita. :bowdown:

 

[Shannon]

I have one of those bars that is made of somekind of metal I bought at BPS, you rub it all over your hands like soap in the water and it does take away any smells, it also floats which is a plus for guys like me with the dropsees. I forget what it is called, I will look it up.

 

[oldschool]

I used to keep a bar of Ivory soap wrapped in a old hand towell and after awhile the bar of soap and rag were one after it was wet & dry sererval times. Then I discovered Colgate tooth paste was less messy and removes all types of grease, oils, oder's and it's water soluble and biodegradable. Know I just keep a tube of tooth paster in the boat and wash my hands as needed.
Tom

 

[hellabass]

When I get in the boat in the morning, I always give my hands a quick spray of bang or some other attactant to cover any scents, I figure it cannot hurt

 

[oldschool]

Fish attractants, misused term for bass, are generally oil or gel based petroleum products and make a good lubricant. You may want to consider the possibility of losing a rod & reel outfit by letting it slip out of your lubricated hand. Some of these products have very aggressive solvents used to carry the oils that stain carpet and clothing, not to mention etching your boats gel coat.
Tom

 

[hellabass]

Oldschool,

You are so glass half empty : Are you speaking from experience, losing a rod?

 

[Ouachita]

Tom's exactly right-on about that. I have the excess L-serine problem and have to use scents. I've learned to try a little on the hands before buying because once on the water I've had some so slippery the rod spun in the hand while cranking and retrieving fish, requiring an extra heavy grip. Of course it would be possible to let a rod get away : It'll let a steering wheel get away too.

Ivory has no perfume, being a soap recommended for folks allergic to additives. It's used around here on catfish trot lines and jug lines. It doesn't hold up long enough on limb lines where waves constatnly come in.

It doesn't sound right, but a less slippery attractant is one I make. I barely melt lard not getting it too hot, then add some anise oil and crushed fresh garlic cloves, and pour it into a baby food jar. Once hardened again it makes a good attractant and hand scent masker. It wipes off the hands easily on pants leg, but doesn't help meet new ladies.

It can get a little expensive, so be conservative on the anise oil. Adding a little liquid Cod Liver oil can excite bass too. You mostly want lard, as that's the main old fashioned ingredient in soap, edible to fish, not too slippery. If you can't find lard or lamb suet at the grocery then Ivory will do as well. Any excess suet ought to be used to make up a fine pot of chili.

Jim

 

[oldschool]

Oldschool,

You are so glass half empty : Are you speaking from experience, losing a rod?

Pessimist thinks the glass is have empty, optimist half full, so you think I'm a pessimist! It's your tackle, lets see how far you can throw it. I had a fishing partner throw one of MY outfits about 25 feet trying to reach some jumping fish, because he got excited and forgot to wipe his hands off. It was my own fault as I handed him my outfit to use while re rigging his. So, yes Ive seen this done before. Once watched a guy hook a mackrel baiting for a hot big tuna bite and cast a $1,500 new rig into the water because he didn't wipe his hands, it happens when things get exciting.
Tom

 

[oldschool]

Not to change the topic, but home brewed scents make sense. Because most commercially available scent products for bass fishing are petroleum base gels or oil like Vaseline with fish oil, I have been making my own for a long timer. Robert Lincoln Page, the editor of Outdoor life back in the 50's ran an article about bass being attracted to anise oil and had a recipe for pork rind trailers; Add two drops of pure anise oil and glycerin to your bottles of pork rind. I tried that and have never stopped. When talking with Robin who makes Super Pork trailers, the best available pork trailers on the market in my opinion, he suggested adding fresh crushed garlic to the recipe. I tried that and that works even better. So now the recipe is 2 drops of anise and glycerin and 1 teaspoon garlic to each bottle 4 ounce bottle. The water in the bottle is a 50% boiled water and dissolved salt mixture, called heavy salt to make the pork trailer buoyant. This solution does not affect the hairs on hair jigs, stain clothing or ruin the gel coat on your boat and works on everything that I fish with.
Tom

 

[hi steel basser]

Yeah, we call it the "Italian licorice" flavor. I have heard that some craw flavor does a good job on pork trailers, as well, esp. when you leave it in the bottle with the water.. I usually fish plastic trailers, so pork bottles do me minimal good. Except in the winter, this is the only time of year that pig is really pig on my jig. BTW, Old School, in the 50's my dad was born. :-* But that formula makes alot of sense, even to a new scool guy like me. Can you use it on plastics?

 

[hellabass]

Oldschool,

Just having a bit of fun, it is my equipment and little scent is the one of the last things I worry about, and never have come close to losing a rod because my hands were slippery But i do think a lil' scent will get your more bites in the long run when using artificials for bass.

 

[oldschool]

Oldschool,

Just having a bit of fun, it is my equipment and little scent is the one of the last things I worry about, and never have come close to losing a rod because my hands were slippery But i do think a lil' scent will get your more bites in the long run when using artificials for bass.

Most soft plastics are already salt impregnated and have scent added in the plastisol when molded. When adding additional scents you can cause some bad things to happen, just need to use some common sense, pun intended. Fun! we can't have fun on this board!! Good luck to you with your tournaments.
Tom

 

[hi steel basser]

The whole throwin a rod in the lake thing scares me. I have combos that exceed my monthly vehicle payment. If this ever happens to me, I hope my post on the subject will be cleaned up by a moderater before anyone else sees it. > As to the use of scents, call me durn near religious about it. I have tried several types, I will not throw a plastic without them, and even have some designed for hard baits. I am not as strict with the hard baits, but I still don't feel right if the lure is moving slow and does'nt smell like natural forage (or garlic, bass must be Italian). :-\

 

[Ouachita]

Most of the store-bought attractants I have are not very slippery, and in fact some might even help the grip, making the cork tacky. Some are super slippery. My lard concoction is very slippery, but it's really effective. I've lost track of the "fishing" trips I've joined for the purpose of trying to fish out someone's prize combo. I'd guess most of that happens in summer, losing a grip due to sweat. Some of it is newcomers not expecting stripers. A trigger handle helps. One mindless moment is all it takes to toss a few hundred bucks out of the boat. I've come close on 100+ degree days, using both hands to keep my rod on the cast. I've only done it once in my life, air temp in the 20's, hands too cold to feel anything. I was lucky, hoisting it out of 15' or deeper water by the line with spool shut. I don't do stupid things like going bare-handed or wearing cotton jersey gloves in winter now. But back then I don't think we had access to thin insulated fishing gloves. The option was thick mittens. Couldn't hold a baseball with those.

Jim

 

[Jared]

The whole throwin a rod in the lake thing scares me.

I hear ya!
I have a nice combo on the bottom of Lake Murray. I sent it airborne in the middle of a winter tournament. Man was I embarassed too lol

 

[Big Bass Rich]

Just run some fresh minced garlic through your juicer and rub that all over your hands. You'll never worry about cigarette scent (or women messing up your fishin' game) ever again. Oh.. but you might not want to make juice anymore.

 

[hi steel basser]

Just run some fresh minced garlic through your juicer and rub that all over your hands. You'll never worry about cigarette scent (or women messing up your fishin' game) ever again. Oh.. but you might not want to make juice anymore.

Sounds to me like that mixer might be ready to make some awesome bloody marys, though. ;D : Mater juice (Rich, that is what we call tomatoes here in the land where lakes don't freeze), Salt and pepper, shot of tobasco, several shots of tequila, run through a blender that has garlic flavor built in? I'm gettin' drunk thinkin about it. > ;D