human scent

[raider44]

I used the search tab and could not find a thread about scent since 2007. I was watching fishing a Great Lakes fishing show a month or so ago.. It was filmed during the Pro-Am tournament off Olcott, i believe. The boat the show was following around mentioned human scent on lures a few times, and how important it is to make sure there is no scent on spoons, flashers, flies, etc.

I have personally never really took human scent into consideration while handling lures/equipment- and have had good success over the past 15 years of fishing, but I am wondering if maybe sometimes a lure goes dead is because scent got onto it?

[goin deep]

You're gonna get mixed answers on scent. I personally won't let anyone touch my lures if they have any foreign smell on their hands (suntan lotion, food, fuel etc) without washing their hands first. I keep no-scent hand soap on board for washing hands. Does it help? I don't know but it can't hurt!

Brian

[spoonfed-1]

They seem to like my scent.

My crew on the other hand are kinda stinky and they seem to repell the fish.

So I guess it all depends on the particular human.

Glen

[fishbone]

What about spitting on the knots when tying? Did you brush your teeth?

[LongLine]

I once found a rapala floating out there.(wood) Dragged it around for a couple hours & couldn't catch squat on it. Got bent & threw it in the bilge. Tried it again the following weekend & it was the hot lure. Go figure...

Tom B.

(LongLine)

[Big Dave]

Salmon find their way back to the stream they were born in by sense of smell. Its susposed to be much greater than a deer. Think about all the things that you do each AM before getting into the boat. All the soaps , food , fuel , waste, etc. that you touch will leave a trace on your hands. I use it, put some on my hands before I touch anything in the back of the boat. Does it help? I think so, can't hurt. All those hunter guys hang their clothes outdoors all year to hide the smell. Maybe we should too

[fishound]

Paying attention to scent might help you catch more fish, and it will definitely keep you from catching fewer. Keeping the wrong scent off your lure is just as important as using the right one, I am new at this though, better listen to some one who has been fishing for years

[lavarock64]

Interesting that sun tan lotion is mentioned as a no-no.

I jig lakers a lot and have been playing around with various scents. Without my knowing, my 13 year old nephew put suntan lotion on his jig when whw intended to put uncle mikes on it.

He was significantly out fishing me. Once I realized his mistake, I tryed the same sun tan lotion and low and behold I started hooking more fish.

Another fellow told be that preperation H ointment (not the cream) is made with shark oil and really works as an attractant........Anyone verify?

[kingslamon22]

i was outfished before buy somebody swearing by DEEPWOODS OFF with DEET. who knows. i know everyday i go out on lake ontario i literally rub smelly jelly into my hands, then completely smeer it on dipsies, downrigger balls and all terminal tackle. then after i gut my whole herring or alewives i rub that crap into the lures and hooks and flashers. i caught fish before all this disgustingness but i think it works better than not doing that. just make sure somebody else pops your can of beer or youll smell herring oil every time you take a slurp.

[Trolling82]

Is it possibly that most these things are oil based?

Not sure about deet but I would assume so

Sun tan lotion

Preparation H

Bilge

Think we may be on to something here....

[Trolling82]

Isn't the secretions from the skin of fish (bait fish in particular) oil based? They leave a "trail" in the water. An oil based product would leave a similar oil trail....

[stinger]

Another fellow told be that preperation H ointment (not the cream) is made with shark oil and really works as an attractant........Anyone verify?

Be carefull rubbing perperation-H on your 11" flashers,.... they may end up 8"ers.

.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself

[711skwerlz]

I've been told to use WD-40. It is supposedly fish oil based??

[Trolling82]

Think I'd find something a little cheaper WD-40!

[lakebound88]

I have used the wd-40, i have had days that it hits more fish than non sprayed, and had days where not one hit on a sprayed one, maybe scent is a deal, maybe not, i know when bass fishing it may be....

[jkarol24]

wenever im fishing and i happen to get slime on my hands i always rub it on my lure before washing my hands. It seems like the first bites the toughest but when i get the slmie on there, the pace gets faster and i start getting more hits. Why try to imitate the fish oil when u can put the real deal on there?

[711skwerlz]

Good point I've done that too. Doesn't work if you can't catch the first one though. Never used the WD just heard about it.

[Landshark]

I use scent to mask mine. Before I set out a dab on my hands and i rub it in

[Big Dave]

Next time you have a bleeder in the boat , wipe the blood on the lure. That will be the next rod to pop when set back out