Fact From Fiction II Last post 2025
Bobby Uhrig reply :
I did something I dont normally do yesterday. I had gotten frustrated. I read a couple of posts and I wanted to get more information about what we were talking about in previous post.The fact and fiction about spray scents. The other things I wanted to see is if what I had come to conclusions in my years of R&D were correct or not.First I wanted to go over what I thought about the Anise Oil theory. I have looked at several different SDS. The level of toxcitity was slight meaning Safe for human consumption but should be diluted. It should not be ingested it pure form in any large quantities. Every one of them stated its was not water soluable. The other thing I did was back tracked and looked what people were talking about the Book "Knowing Bass" by Dr. Keith Jones. So I went to every book store in town to find it. Truely amazng readng and I think every bass fisherman sould read it.It was very good reading.My time frame was way off.They started using so called fish attractants around the 1600's even the anise seed was part of it. GO FIGURE Imagine the technology back then.Must have loaded the boat. The oil theorys are the other subject I wanted to find opinion on also.Lets open this can of worms. I will be taking quotes so none of this is mine but you can refer back to some of the statements I had made before reading this info.Stated "New technologies emerge every year,changing the face of the industry.My quote"EVOLVE OR BECOME EXTINCT"Heres another one I found "oil based attracants are derived from highy purified fractions of naturally processed foods like herring,shad and cayfish.These oily based compounds are composed of fatty compounds renowned for their insolubilty in water. They offer little chemosensory information to bass.They are often touted as fish atractants but definitly are not.OIL based attractants never have and never will be true attracants.THAT IS JUST A PHYSICAL REALTY.Oil based scents make good masking agents.I said that before in my theory of blocking or clogig the receptors.The ingrediants used in the so called attractant are whats most important.-fruity flavors,ANISE,GARLIC and TABLE SALT are a waste of tme. I believe I stated that somewhere.The pheromone theory =used for sexual enhancement and migratory reasons not for feeding. I believe I mentioned my theory on that also.Flavors derived from plants are usually poor for use as flavor enhancers. BASS ARE MEAT EATERS.Fats and oils go undecteted by the fish.The flavors mut be water soluable. He had one subject mentioned about the amino acids.It talked about the amino acids being the building blocks of the proteins. Dr Joes seems to have high praise for this theory of using them as an aid to attractact bass.So before I get to crazy here and I want to do some more reading.I have made some statements and someone else has backed my theorys.I m not here to get bashed by anyone . Like I said-we are all friends here with one common goal-TO CATCH MORE BASS.I wanted to try to help open the minds of some people and to answer some questions. From now on I will leave my opinions to myself so I will not cause any controversy here. Again use anything you have confidence in. I believe I told the truth about all of the statements I have made here and on previous posts.The best advice I can give is go get this book "Knowing Bass".
Bobby Uhrig reply :
SORRY ABOUT THE SPELLING ERRORS SOMETHINGS UP WITH THIS PUTER .ITS PRINTING EVERY OTHER LETTER
islandbass reply :
Well said, Bobby!
I second the recommendation about that book. I recommend it every time to those who ask, but I don't know if people take the time to find and read it as you have. Having such knowledge at one's disposable is invaluable especially for someone who is shorebound like me.
Glenn reply :
Just a word of caution about the book - none of his theories in that book have been independantly verified by certified scientists/laboratories. I'm not saying they aren't true, or that he's full of it. Just worth noting that it's not Gospel. I wouldn't go quoting the book as "fact". But it does bring up some interesting theories worth further, independant studies.
Catt reply :
Yet another problem with your and Dr. Jones's theory BASS ARE MEAT EATERS. Fats and oils go undetected by the fish, y'all ever see an oil slick on the water given off by schools of bait fish (either in fresh or saltwater)? Now y'all gonna tell me bass and other predator fish can not detect this?
Bobby I aint trying to bash anyone or cause a controversy; I'm just giving both sides of the story and will let our members make up their own minds.
Matt Fly reply :
http://www.another site/article11.htm
There are too many articles that can be googled that give so much evidence, its over whelming. Evidence that makes you look at both sides.
This article I just read is one of many that could have links posted to. Simple, Google, Scents, and Bass together and you will have endless reading material.
This is were I wished Doug H would come in and give his .02.
Seems to me, the debate I have read about, oils and water soluble properties require both properties. What I have read has no gospel.
But alot of articles, one such refered to lots of Texas Wildlife Biologist studies. I have faith in Texas programs as I have witnessed the great strides the state has made in research of bass.
I go back to the statement I have mentioned many of times. It gives me confidence when I have applied my Bang, Lunker Sauce, and a few others to my baits.
Help, confused in Texas,
Dear Doug,
Can you help a fellow basser out?
Matt
T-rig reply :
Just don't use any scent and you'll still catch them. 
Siebert Outdoors reply :
Has anyone asked Doug Hannon on this? Just see his opinion.
Matt Fly reply :
If bass can't smell oils in the water, then why did Dad and others alike always make us wash our hands after messing with boat oil and gas.
On one theory, its a petroleum product, which is oil based, why wash your hands? Fish can't smell oil based products.
My theory is simple. I want to better my odds on having a good day, so eliminating what I can individually, and thats up to me.
I try to eliminate boat noise all the time, I turn electronics off all the time when approaching big fish areas. I try not to wear LBH's bright Orange shirt he gave me on bright days. I try to blend in to the sky contrast. I have washed my hands in the boat before. I try to keep the sun in play at all times.
And yes, after a short time fishing and it appears to be tough, I apply scents or attractants. Not even sure which is proper anymore, scents, masks, or attractants.
Matt
Bobby Uhrig reply :
Catt , I have heard about these oil slicks, more in salt water than fresh. I have read from biologists that it is more of a visual effect =attraction than a flovor-or smell attraction.. They believe that over millions of years of evolution preditor fish use this as a visual way of finding bait .I know that the salt water fishermen look for these slicks to find the bait.Ususlly if theres bait the predator fish are not far behind.Its a secretion from the baitfish possibly as a warning.It could be from them being so vast and so tightly balled up-that the current or contact can wash it off of them. They release a pheromone type chemical. I dont know if its part of that or not.Some biolosist needs to skim some off the surface and see whats its composition is. Then they can deduce whats its purpose.I believe it being an oil and raising to the surface it really dosent help as a taste or smell attraction for the predators..they dont ride the surface.Then again nature is amazing. I watch that Blue Planet Show all of the time. We cant even imagine what goes on down there or how these creatures instinctivly know what to do. But they survive.
tyrius. reply :
QuoteHas anyone asked Doug Hannon on this? Just see his opinion.
He's got it on his website.
http://www.bassprofessor.com/askdoug.php
QuoteI am currently using a Pure Anise spray as a means to kill human scent on my fishing lures. I also wash my hands with pure Ivory soap prior to going fishing. The anise also serves to lubricate my plastic baits in their storage bags. Would I get any benefit from using a crawfish scent in addition to the anise spray?Keith... No...anise is one of the best products to mask odors, and it is a natural scent. None of this probably makes any difference with bass except that it lubricates soft plastics and improves their glossy look in the water. It can have an effect on saltwater species and freshwater species that are more dependent on scents. Crawfish will make you smell bad and ruin your carpet and cork grips.
Doug Hannon
grimlin reply :
Very interesting and excellent post.
I think it's all has to do with confidence.
smallfry reply :
QuoteJust a word of caution about the book - none of his theories in that book have been independantly verified by certified scientists/laboratories.
Actually, the book references many studies by "independent" (is a university study independent? a government agency?) scientists...
SwampMan reply :
In your opinion can the bass 'taste' oil scents in their mouths, as in the bait is sitting in their mouth? I know you talked about smelling, but you didn't hit on the tasting aspect.
tyrius. reply :
QuoteThese oily based compounds are composed of fatty compounds renowned for their insolubilty in water. They offer little chemosensory information to bass.They are often touted as fish atractants but definitly are not.OIL based attractants never have and never will be true attracants.THAT IS JUST A PHYSICAL REALTY.Oil based scents make good masking agents.I said that before in my theory of blocking or clogig the receptors.
Are you saying that the actual individual molecule of oil blocks the fish's olfactory lobes? It seems to me that an oil based "attractant" will not disperse well in water and since it does not disperse the bass will not be able to "smell" it from a distance. However, the oil will remain on the bait and once the fish gets close enough to that bait (or even bites it) some of those oil molecules will pass through the fish's olfactory system and be registered. That is unless a single molecule of that oil is too big to interact with a fish's olfactory lobe. This doesn't seem to make sense though as those molecules are still relatively small.
Glenn reply :
QuoteQuoteJust a word of caution about the book - none of his theories in that book have been independantly verified by certified scientists/laboratories.Actually, the book references many studies by "independent" (is a university study independent? a government agency?) scientists...
Was waiting for somebody to mention that...
You need to be very careful here. He lists proven studies and facts to base his own theories and studies from. Neither his theories nor his own studies have been independantly verified.
To be sure, there's some great info in the book. Just need to seperate proven facts/studies from his own theories/studies when reading it. And I'm not saying his theories/studies are necessarily wrong - just not proven. In the scientific world, that's an extremely important difference.
Hookemdown. reply :
Guys...seriously...does it really matter?
Note: this is coming from someone who has never really used scents that much, and probably never will.
This is a very informative thread, partly because I have no idea of what you guys are talking about. But does all of this technical stuff really amount to anything? I don't want to see people become enemies over something like this. JMHO
Catt reply :
The only enemies I have are Sooner fans
Lane reply :
Here are the FACTS from a scientist and active member of The American Fisheries Society.
There are NO SCIENTIFIC STUDIES that have been conducted that PROVE that fish scents or
attractants actually increase capture rates of bass. In fact there more scientific evidence to
suggest otherwise, especially with the pure strain of the Florida Largemouth. The Florida Largemouth
hunts PRIMARILY by SIGHT. This is why they are very difficult for the average angler to catch
on artificial lures, they are HARD TO FOOL! Scent makes NO DIFFERENCE. I purchased the book
last year, and did not get very far before I put it down in disgust! His basic biology is good, but
that is where it ends. He used PORTIONS of published transcripts from the AFS to persuade readers to purchase Berkley/PureFishing scented products to catch more fish. Independent scientific studies
are UNSOLICIATED, and are mainly funded by federal grant money. Most of these studies are
conducted by well known universities, USFWS, USGS, and various state DNR agencies. Grant funding
is provided through the US Department of the Interior Sportfish Restoration Act. There is evidence
that bass do detect electrolytes such as sodium chloride (found in natural prey) and pheromones,
which are excreted by prey. There is much research yet to be conducted, and good scientific research
takes YEARS.
As far as Doug Hannon goes, we have had MANY DISCUSSIONS about scents, his own research
has indicated scents do not make a difference. As Glenn pointed out, the book is mostly theory
that is presented as fact to sell a product.
Hookemdown. reply :
QuoteThe only enemies I have are Sooner fans
I'll settle this on Jan. 7 in New Orleans.
You'll be there...right? 
F15HGuy reply :
We all know that having confidence in your lure and presentation is pure gold. If there is a product that helps you build this confidence level, I say spray whatever you want regardless of research. If you think it helps you catch fish it probably does.
Catt reply :
First off I agree totally with what The_Natural stated when he said the word attractant is the wrong nomenclature.
Secondly this was not an attack on anyone or any product; my point was that anise oil is not toxicant to fish and that fish will not reject baits solely on the fact that it contains anise oil or had anise oil sprayed on it. Yes 100% pure anise oil in mass quantities wouldn't be healthy for human or animal consumption but when I add ½ oz anise oil to 8 ozs Fish Formula II or Baitmate, then spray a small amount on my worm and cast it into Toledo Bend Reservoir which contains 1,448,934,927,000 gallons of water I'd say it's pretty much diluted.
I use attractants for two purposes first as a lubricant because I fish in grass a lot and the attractant helps my plastic baits slide through easier; I believe it will mast any odor my plastics may have picked up.
Tommy T
T-rig reply :
Catt, just use vaseline as a lubricant. ;D
Seriously, you actually find that "attractants" help you slide your plastic baits through grass better??
Soft plastics are soft enough to slide through grass and I doubt that any "attractant" will help.
Catt reply :
I use Gene Larew 7 ½ Salty Ring Worm which have a curl tail that is 3 ½ & these tails are notorious for wrapping around grass strands. Straight out of the bag they have a lubricant already on them but after several casts they start to hang up more, a couple quick squirts and I'm back in business.
roadwarrior reply :
Lane,
Your comments on this thread and the original thread are greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Matt Fly reply :
You guys can conduct a simple test of your own. Fist off, it has been said that a bass has a nose better than a dog.
I can spray bang, garlic scented on my bait and make a long cast. Yes I do see a slick on the water, and when I have completed that cast, I can still smell garlic on my bait. Many casts, and I feel the slickness and still has the smell. So it appears to work from a humans view.
So it don't all wash off and if I can smell it. Can the bass detect it also?
Matt
T-rig reply :
QuoteYou guys can conduct a simple test of your own. Fist off, it has been said that a bass has a nose better than a dog.I can spray bang, garlic scented on my bait and make a long cast. Yes I do see a slick on the water, and when I have completed that cast, I can still smell garlic on my bait. Many casts, and I feel the slickness and still has the smell. So it appears to work from a humans view.
So it don't all wash off and if I can smell it. Can the bass detect it also?
Matt
Just fish with scent for one week and another wthout, and you'll find out.
Cory N reply :
My best attractant is roasting garlic, ginger, and onion in coconut milk with thai red curry paste.
Really piqued the curiosity of some healthy females for me!
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