I spray bang craw/shad combo scent into my bags of plastics since I use mend it to repair my baits and it has an acetone smell. I also think it helps keep them from crumpling up to have some lube in there, and plus extra scent never hurts (though it makes your plastics oily and messier).
Who else here does this?
I use Kick'n Bass, but I put the plastics I am going to use in a ziplock bag and add a few drops to the bag. also, I never mix colors; it is the same colors in each ziplock bag. The Kick'n Bass will blend the colors.
I use hog tonic. Usually I spray a generous amount inside the packaging just to keep them oily and lubed up and not drying out. The smell is quite pungent but I love garlic so I can deal with it.
Don't do it!
Add scent to your soft plastics as you use them.
IF you want to pre scent soft plastics use a mixture of glycerin & pure anise oil in a zip lock bag, it will not ruin your baits.
Tom
Yall gotta try Olive oil ..ooooops
I add CB's Hawg Sauce to my baits as I use them, but will put them in a plastic zip bag when finished, for future use. I'm partially color blind, but I don't notice any bleeding of colors. I don't see any benefit to adding it to a whole bag of baits.
On 6/13/2015 at 6:57 AM, Maxximus Redneckus said:Yall gotta try Olive oil ..ooooops
If you add a little garlic and a basil leaf or two to the bottle the ILMB will swallow it before you can set the hook, so be sure to use circle hooks. We don't have any Italian smallies around these parts, but I'm sure they'd like it too.
JJ's magic hahaha
On 6/13/2015 at 12:55 AM, WRB said:Don't do it!
Add scent to your soft plastics as you use them.
IF you want to pre scent soft plastics use a mixture of glycerin & pure anise oil in a zip lock bag, it will not ruin your baits.
Tom
What does it do to damage your baits?
On 6/14/2015 at 5:51 PM, iceintheveins said:What does it do to damage your baits?
I add it to my bags never had a problem, just a little bit of mega strike in a bag saves me time. If your using a water based scent yeah I could see it damaging your plastics.
Mixing various scent chemicals, ie; Powerbait and any other scent produces an unknown reaction that could be negative in several ways. If you use hand poured soft plastics the colors often fade from scent chemicals, injection mold high production plastisol often hardens from long time exposure to scent chemicals. Soft plastics impregnated with one brand of scent can react negatively with another brand of scent.On 6/14/2015 at 5:51 PM, iceintheveins said:What does it do to damage your baits?
If you are adding a few drops of scent to few soft plastics, the risk is smaller, adding to a larger quantity that you are storing the risk is higher. Why take the chance of ruining your soft plastic baits.
Tom
Ok, on my senkos and other salted plastics I use no scents at first.
If I get a strike and a miss my weedless barn comes up open if it was a strike. One shot of scent on the next cast is a definite hookup.
My used plastics go into there own zip lock bag. I don't want them to contaminate my new baits.
When I got heavy into bass fishing I purchased every scent at the time to try and compare them. Estimate was my first one to try. Works awesome. So did YUM, BANG, too. If your using a shad or a bass scent with zero results switch to a garlic.
I've done it before, but not in a looong time.
Only put scent on occasionally, not all the time
anymore.
Yeah I don't add much, just one spray. The bang spray has never altered my baits in any way.
On 6/13/2015 at 6:57 AM, Maxximus Redneckus said:Yall gotta try Olive oil ..ooooops
That idea actually came to my mind! Is there any issue of the oil going rancid?
I was curious about adding scents to bags. I had a couple of bags that popped open and the juice leaked out and I was curious about adding a scent or oil to them in a freezer bag. Is it better to add a spray scent or to add salt or coffee grounds to the bag?
I really wouldn't do a bag. Anything I did have scent on goes in a bag with other stuff that also had scent. Those also always get hooks or whatever removed. That is not really the case with non scented stuff usually. It goes in a box of already used and rigged stuff so it's ready to go. I don't always use my stuff to the death every time and what I want might already be in there and still reaks so its not a problem. Unless your just burning through plastics and know your about to use the whole thing then why even do it.
On 8/31/2015 at 8:17 PM, tntitans21399 said:I was curious about adding scents to bags. I had a couple of bags that popped open and the juice leaked out and I was curious about adding a scent or oil to them in a freezer bag. Is it better to add a spray scent or to add salt or coffee grounds to the bag?
Not sure on the scent oils, but if you're just looking to keep soft plastics lubed especially when transfering to a new bag, mineral oil works great. I've used it for years with no adverse effects on the plastic. Keeps them ready to go. I've even used it to bring old plastics back to life.
I don't add before into the bags but I sure do love my megastrike! Maybe I will try it in the bags before hand as others have mentioned.
To help with other questions Ive seen, Dont add coffee grounds it may alter the color.
As others have said too do NOT use water based scents.. letting them sit in that will absolutely ruin your baits. It will only take about 24hrs
hope this helps a bit!
Brian
On 9/7/2015 at 11:00 PM, BizzBaits said:I don't add before into the bags but I sure do love my megastrike! Maybe I will try it in the bags before hand as others have mentioned.
To help with other questions Ive seen, Dont add coffee grounds it may alter the color.
As others have said too do NOT use water based scents.. letting them sit in that will absolutely ruin your baits. It will only take about 24hrs
hope this helps a bit!
Brian
Your baits have a lot of scent on their own! Smells like garlic bread.........
i use Pro-Cure only in , shad , rainbow trout , crawfish , and trophy bass . i only use a drop or two depending on the bait , if it's for swimbaits , i use considerably more ! but i never put it in a bag of soft plastics , just only when i have the bait rigged and ready to go ..
When I get a new hollowbody frog, I throw it in a Ziploc bag, spray scent, then seal for 24 hours.
Josh
I have put non salted plastics one per bag soaked with scent. But a scent injector into the plastics makes more sense for a slower release of the scent.
Tips, Remember not to keep your salted plastic baits with your topwater, crankbaits etc. Hook rust in your tackle box.
Keep your tackle boxed closed in the rain.
When you return home open your tackle box to dry out.
Prevent hook rust.
I use to years ago but no longer do it. Anymore I add Mega Strike to the bait when being fished when I use a scent.
I put JJ's Magic in bags of plastics using an eye dropper.
I use the Gulp Alive Concentrated marinade. It stinks! I place a couple drops on a paper towel and drop into the bag of goodies I plan to use the next day.
I've put "scents" in my sacks of plastics since the mid-70s when the original Fish Formula hit the market, I also add 1/2 oz of pure anise oil (not essence of anise) to the bottle. Today Fish Formula is no long made so I use Baitmate Classic Bass and still add the anise oil. And yes I've heard all the arguments about "oil" based scents and a fish's ability to smell them; do your research properly and you'll find that's pure hog wash!
I do this for two reasons; one is to mask any "scents" my plastics may pick up from various sources including my hands, and second it allows the plastics to slide through vegetation easier.
I have been experimenting with MegaStrike; the jury is still out on that one!
I use to buy bottles of Jelly Worm oil. Yes, Manns use to sell the scent in small bottles . I'd add that to my bags of plastics. Now almost all plastics are scented with something , so I dont bother .
i've never done this since all of my craws are in one box, which i'm starting to think is a bad idea.
I normally don't use scent but i might try some this weekend and recommendations?
I never add scents. I keep them in the original bag..do they really make that big of a difference?? maybe i should pick some up
For those who don't believe "scents" work; school is in session & my back seat is open!
On 9/12/2015 at 1:58 AM, Catt said:For those who don't believe "scents" work; school is in session & my back seat is open!
what time is class?
not that I dont believe, just never tried
Ive tried it plenty times, i never saw a difference. But i was always a skeptic. Maybe i should give it one more shot
I was using a garlic scent, my son was using nothing. I was tearing em' up, he was catching nothing. I knew it was because he didn't have any scents.
Hootie
they work for me , i have a lot more bites than without scent . i never use plastics without some Pro-Cure on it .
I use scents just because they may help me catch more fish.I have caught lots of bass using scents but i have also caught them without it.The way i look at it....We buy expensive lures because they MIGHT help us catch more fish.Why not use the scent if it Might also help catch more fish.You have nothing to loose but the money you would have spent on another lure anyway.If it will make that bass hang on for just a second longer then i'm for it.
the scent i use , Pro-Cure super gel also acts a lubricant on the bait so that when a bass get's it in it's mouth , you can set the hook a heck of a lot easier , really makes a tremendous difference with soft plastic swimbaits like Hudds and such ...
I was in the take it or leave it, undecided camp until a couple years ago....watching Bobby U's video where the fish just hang on to Megastriked lures without hooks convinced me to try it.....watched him working an exhibition tank (or more appropriately, working the crowd) with same results...no hooks, but the fish would hang on and get dragged for a couple yards before dropping the lure...May or may not catch fish, but it caught me for certain.
I believe in scents , especially the old Riverside Real Claw and Berkely Strike .. There have been a couple of experiences I've had that "at times " makes me believe that scents make a huge difference .
On 9/14/2015 at 10:51 PM, Choporoz said:I was in the take it or leave it, undecided camp until a couple years ago....watching Bobby U's video where the fish just hang on to Megastriked lures without hooks convinced me to try it.....watched him working an exhibition tank (or more appropriately, working the crowd) with same results...no hooks, but the fish would hang on and get dragged for a couple yards before dropping the lure...May or may not catch fish, but it caught me for certain.
I was fishing about 15 foot deep with a texas rig something sprayed with Real Craw. I felt a tap and did not set the hook . I slowly reeled a 15 inch bass to the surface . Once at the surface the bass let go .
So...I'm a believer that scent can affect how long they hold a bait. The question that continues to bug me is whether or not scent will induce more strikes...my question is rhetorical and for me alone....because it would be very easy to get into a long, fairly pointless conversation about what we think a bass 'tastes'...or 'smells'....but...wait...what if it is garlic scented, tastes like coffee, but colored red?
On 9/12/2015 at 2:57 AM, d-camarena said:Ive tried it plenty times, i never saw a difference. But i was always a skeptic. Maybe i should give it one more shot
While fishing the Trinity in Fort Worth I fished a 200 yard stretch using Texas Rigged Havoc Pitt boss green pumpkin with a 1/8oz tungsten. 1st pass w/ no scent caught 3 14-16" LMB. 2nd pass w/ scent caught about 6 15-19" LMB. This was the only test I needed, now I will be using it every time. I was skeptical before as well.
I used to but now if I am on a pattern I will take a couple and put them into a ziplock bag with the scent. That way lures stay fresh, because I have seen scent screw up plastics.For example, a gulp scent I used turned my white flukes a slight tint of blue. Worked great, but did change the lure.
I've been trying out plastics with scent already on them the last couple of years. Right now I'm working with Bass Pro plastics that have their "8up" scent impregnated. They are pretty slick out of the pack compared to my standard Zooms. Oily compared to what I am used to. My Zoom Z-Hogs kind of stick or rub together on the smooth body portion of the bait and have a faint rubber smell where a BPS River Bug feels oily and the dang things slip and slide all over the bag and have a little bit of funk to them.
I also bought some of their 8up stuff in the 8 ounce spray bottle. I think it washes off pretty quick but I do think it covers up my scent well enough. I will shoot a bit onto my Zooms or a jig and get more bites. I don't think it's actually attracting fish though.
I use Upper Hand Scents Coffee Shad and Java n Garlic scents. The Java n Garlic produced well for me last year. I had been using the Coffee Shad years prior, but I wanted to try the other one. They both work extremely well. I just add enough of the scent to coat the baits in the bag. The fish seem to really hold on good! I know one things for certain, my drops are a thing of the past.
On 9/7/2015 at 9:00 PM, Kyle46N said:
Not sure on the scent oils, but if you're just looking to keep soft plastics lubed especially when transfering to a new bag, mineral oil works great. I've used it for years with no adverse effects on the plastic. Keeps them ready to go. I've even used it to bring old plastics back to life.
Mineral oil has the added benefit of keeping bass "regular" too (sorry - could'nt resist
i spray yum shad or crawfish in bags to help lube the plastic,also if I have some older bags it gets that old plastic smell out.
On 6/16/2015 at 7:58 AM, Darren. said:I've done it before, but not in a looong time.
Only put scent on occasionally, not all the time
anymore.
Same here. I picked up some 6" black ribbon tail Gulp worms on sale at Walmart that were bathing in their liquid. The bait was just weird feeling to me to the touch, I did try it but didn't get 1 strike. But the after mess a leaking bag and a dried up hard worm on my hook left a "I wont buy that crud again" thought in my head.
I have also tried Berkley Power Bait Attractant and put a few worms I was going to try in a Ziploc with some. It just made a slimy worm and a mess getting them out of the bag along with the potential leaking bag. I did not see any improvement over the ones with no scent.
I have JJ's now and use it more for the dye effect and only on the bait I am using. No pre dying a bag full etc. for me.
I see no positive reason for me to go back to trying to scent numerous baits at a time.
I don't like eating sandwhiches with nasty scent on my fingers.
I squeeze Megastrike into larger ziplocks that I load up with a few bags of creature baits for flippin' and for swimbaits. Only lures I do this with.
I never add it to the bag since I may not use that bag again for a long time and sometimes scents can mess up plastics if they are colored etc...
I started using a system a few years ago where I use the Gulp tub and I leave a little bit of gulp juice on the bottom, then squirt some Megastrike into the gulp, and stir into a liquid paste...I then will just dip my baits and lures into the tub while fishing, and I soak all my baits the night before I go fishing and if you fish the Ned RIg and like the salt out of your baits, if you soak your Zinkers overnight they will float and so will other brands etc....But I think the Megastrike is great since it stays on the jig or plastic for a long time, and mixed with gulp liquid it gives me more confidence and is quicker to use.....Megastrike is not expensive compared to other brands since it lasts on your lures or baits much longer than other's I have tried..
I have used the Bang spray which was garlic and it was gone way to fast, but it was a spray in a can so I probably sprayed most of it into the air...
If you ever wondered why companies use scents like Garlic, Anise, Coffee etc....Their is a book called "Knowing Bass" by a PHD named Keith Jones I belive, and it is all studies he conducted over years without giving any brands or companies any recognition so it is not a biased book like many Magazines designed to sell you lures in every article.
He did studies and found that Bass are curious, and some chemicals actually alter the PH of the bait, Bass notice new scents and the only one that repelled them was Laundry Detergent if I remember correctly. He concluded that the use of Garlic for instance and even salt, oil, etc. is meant to alter PH and smell to make fish curious and pick it up since they don't have hands (Paraphrasing from Memory, so this is a summary of a long chapter) and one study showed if you are fishing cold water a Bass would respond to a heated worm, and in warm water, a cold worm....I have tried the cold worm once and it worked but I can't say it was better than a regular since my buddy was also catching them, but many scents like bug spray, WD 40 actually attracted bass....He concluded using scents was worth it since bass hunt by sight, sound, and smell and in stained water, scent is often easier to follow then sound since sound deflects in different directions and that matters even in weeds since sound and sight are limited, they often rely on scent first...Obviously Coffee scent works since Strike King baits works, and so do Gambler with Garlic...I believe they are meant to get fish to pick them up out of curiosity..
Also I remember the Phermone was ***, but I can say with 100% certainty that when the Power Worms came out I noticed a difference in strikes between a culprit and a power worm...I now still use Culprits but with Scent....Hope that makes sense, I just type fast and can ramble...but great book..
Also, the shape that fish respond to best in a worm or lure is 4"x 1/2" and for a craw, the shape of a Gambler BB Cricket or Missle Craw Tube and the Havoc Slop Craw was hit like 10x more than all the other shapes with large claws etc...That was a cool study, but Doug Hannon always said if you want to catch big bass use long thin lures like the Rapala J-18. That was his favorite lure to troll on weed edges in FLorida.
On 2/14/2016 at 8:25 PM, Sam said:
OK, I'll come clean.
I will either:
1. Do nothing.
2. Add some JJ's Magic the night before.
3. Slobber some MegaStrike on the plastics in the bag.
4. If in the mood, will grind up a bunch of Nightcrawlers and put the goo in the bag.
If I go with the JJ's I don't add MegaStrike and visa versa.
If I go with the Nightcrawlers goo that is all I put in the bag. Yummy!