What's Your Favorite Fishing Smell? 2025
VABasser reply :
Well I'm sitting here fighting a major case of cabin fever as I'm making a big list of tackle to get tomorrow 
. I was thinking of my fondest memories while out on the water and thats when my favorite smell came to mind. Its after a hot summer day, the sun is beginning to sink and its cooling off. The critters start becoming active, maybe you see a deer or two at the waters edge. Theres a smell coming off the water and out of the trees, its kinda sweet, cool and many other things I can't put my finger on, but it's just such a pleasing scent. It's all the better if you're enjoying it while pulling in some nice bass. The smell of fish on your hands is nice too because it means you're having success. So maybe I'm going a bit nuts in this cold but whats your favorite fishing smell?
Bassin_Fin@tic reply :
Am I wierd? :
But Yum plastic baits,love em!
Jimzee reply :
Right after it rains on the lake in early spring. Nothing like it. 
Perfect Hook Set reply :
The smell of a Bass not cooked but, straight out of the water.
There are more but, since I don't remember the smell its hard to descrive lol
One there was a bait shop called Hanks Tackle and omg the smell of the shop oooweee
Along with V&M baits I found a bag of lizards once fishing it had a crazy weird pork sent
HesterIsGod reply :
QuoteAm I wierd? :But Yum plastic baits,love em!
No your not! I love the smell of renegade worms. When I was 12 and just starting bass fishing these were the first and only baits i used for a little while and when I open one of those bags it just takes me back. Reminds me of some simpler days
BaitMS reply :
I'd have to say the exhaust of the outboard.
Gatorbassman reply :
The powerful smell of JJ's Magic.
It means it's time to catch a fish. 8-)
burleytog reply :
The smell on my fingers...
Bass XL reply :
Yep. Smell of an outboard at 5 am.
The Rooster reply :
First and foremost the smell of a fresh caught bass, especially on my fingers!!! It's kind of musky and I love it. Can't stop sniffing on the drive back home pulling the boat behind!!! Don't wanna wash once I get home, but I have to anyway.
Some others.......smell of 2 cycle oil burning from my Johnson 88 SPL outboard as it's fired up for the first time that day as it's leaving the trailer to go up the lake.
The smell of dirt and just a general outdoorsy, woodsy, leafy tree smell that the wind carries to me with a gentle cooling breeze when it's in the low to mid 70's outside temperature wise.
The hot smell of summertime in the air mixing with the smell of cool creek water rolling off of moss covered rocks and spilling into the lake at the back of a favorite fishing cove on one of my favorite lakes, Grayson Lake in Kentucky.
One of my true favorites though is the smell of campfires burning from shore as I fish in my boat nearby, one of them being mine where my wife is roasting hot dogs for lunch!!! And the smell of those dogs!!! MMMMM..................summer, hurry up and get here!!!!
Other. reply :
Fish thumb all the way!
Fish Chris reply :
The smell of success ;-)
Peace,
Fish
jrhennecke reply :
QuoteAm I wierd? :
Not at all. I love that smell too.
Jake P reply :
The smell of any soft plastic bait 8-).
MaxDal reply :
I love the smell of ZOOM plastics ....
But I also love the smell of bass on my hand, already been said, but it's the smell of success ...always good.
Eventhough I tend to barely eat while on the water (usually take a snack and most often than not, I'll bring something to eat but will only eat it when I'm out of the water)..... but I still love the smell of somebody grilling ribs, or any barbecue smell for that matter 
! Always makes me hungry, but I usually keep on fishin .... yop weird.
BTW, I just can't stand 3X soft plastics' smell.
HOIST-N-HAWGS reply :
The dew evaporating off the evergreens on a warm spring morn and the smoking ambers of the campfire from the night before.
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
QuoteThe dew evaporating off the evergreens on a warm spring morn .
Yup,....5am mist on the water...
I also like the smell of rain on hot pavement. That means they've been in the sun for hours and it just clouded over and rained,...GET TO THE LAKE!!
I like the coconut smell of Michelle's tanning oil coming from the bow
The smell of wet oak leaves in the fall
Like Fish says, The smell of success is always a welcomed one too.
powerman970 reply :
I have to go with the smell of my outboard early in the morning. Overall the first 15 minutes on the lake are the most enjoyable time in the world. Everything just has a different feel and there is usually that little nip in the air. 15 minutes is all you get and you better get there early.
cart7t reply :
QuoteThe smell on my fingers...
This could have s-o-o many different meanings.
Bass Smacker reply :
The smell of spring. Warm weathere blooming flowers and big fish.
the smell of the bait shop that I never go to now that i fish lures.
(i go now and agene with the kids the need memorys to)
and all the smells of camping in the woods.
8-)
garry77 reply :
That clean watery smell on the lake,just as the sun comes up and warms the air enough to make a slight breeze.
And marshmallows over a campfire.
guest reply :
The smell of bluegills, bedding. You can actually smell them when you get close to their bedding areas. And as wierd as it may sound, when I do get a chance to fish in someones boat with a gas motor, the smell of the motor just as it turns on and that litlle cloud comes up from the water.
Grey Wolf reply :
The good old aroma on your hands of the fish you have caught after a successful day on the water.
TruflShufl reply :
QuoteI'd have to say the exhaust of the outboard.
+1
snyper77 reply :
On a hot July day, my bags of Tiki Sticks are laying on the front deck of the boat, almost cooking in the 100 degree sun, and I rip open one of the bags and that black licorice scent reaches my nose.... ahhhh. Even though I hate black licorice candy....that scent is deadly, with wacky style tiki sticks!
VABasser reply :
Great smells guys, you brought up a few that I had forgot. Man, why cant spring/summer be here now :'(
guitarkid reply :
times two for the renegade worms.Diesel exhaust in the morning, and the smell of pavement after it rains.
-searoach
AKFerzy7 reply :
the smell of a check
jasone reply :
Mine is the wierdest I think.
Power worms.
I fished with them when I was a kid when they first came out and my olfactory senses have never forgotten.
J
Dean reply :
QuoteYep. Smell of an outboard at 5 am.
x2, nothing beats getting up and headin out early and smellin some exhaust.
LCpointerKILLA reply :
Sometimes it's good to come home smelling like fish... ;D hahaha
The Rooster reply :
QuoteI love the smell of ZOOM plastics ....But I also love the smell of bass on my hand, already been said, but it's the smell of success ...always good.
Eventhough I tend to barely eat while on the water (usually take a snack and most often than not, I'll bring something to eat but will only eat it when I'm out of the water)..... but I still love the smell of somebody grilling ribs, or any barbecue smell for that matter
BTW, I just can't stand 3X soft plastics' smell.
I agree wholeheartedly with everything this statement has said, it's just like me, with the exception of the 3X part, never fished those before.
Other. reply :
Berkely products smell pretty good too.
CJ reply :
Well since I started using garlic scent, I no longer like garlic on my food. Only occasionally will I eat garlic bread with pastas.
The worst smell is a skunk! :
Oh, this is supposed to be a smell I like. Okay, I like the smell of a new boat.
osbornj2 reply :
QuoteAlong with V&M baits I found a bag of lizards once fishing it had a crazy weird pork sent
And I thought that maybe I was the only one in the world who loves V&M ! It's like a cross between black licorice (anise, I guess) and pork fat...MMM MMM....makes me wanna go out to the garage right now and grab a bag!!
In addition to most of the things that you guys have already mentioned (i.e. a spring rain, outboard exhaust at 5 am, that "fishy" smell on your fingers [and it usually ends up on my jeans too!]), I also love to occasionally enjoy a cigar out on the boat, and I love that smell too (almost as much as the smell of brand new tires at the tire store!)
FishinDaddy reply :
2 cycle smoke in the morning is hard to beat.....
This reminmds me of another one....VP racing fuel!!! For those who love the gas smell, this one just adds "sweet" to the mix.
Gone_Phishin reply :
My favorite smell is early evenings in the summer, fishing from our dock. Just a bit after the sun sets, a layer of cool air starts to sink from above. When it settles at ground level, and mixes with our sandy soil, it is one of the sweetest scents I've ever had the pleasure to experience.
I have lost numerous fish over the years because I've been too busy smelling, and flub the hook-set. It's well worth a few lost fish for such a wonderful memory.
Also, beating the banks in the spring during the week the lilacs bloom. And just about any brand of anise or garlic scented soft plastics; they always bring a smile to my face.
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
FDaddy--This reminds me of another one....VP racing fuel!!! For those who love the gas smell, this one just adds "sweet" to the mix.
maxke01 reply :
where i fish the grass is cut quite often. I love the smell of fresh cut grass
Popeye reply :
I'll have to ditto the smell of the morning dew and mist as it evaporates off the water's surface. The sound of loons and ducks is also a sheer joy to hear as well.
ba7ss3in reply :
after reading all those posts, makes me hate Mondays. Rain on a hot summer day.
slomoe reply :
gas fumes, rain, and YUM. All of which have been previously mentioned.
ejtaylor822 reply :
QuoteI'll have to ditto the smell of the morning dew and mist as it evaporates off the water's surface. The sound of loons and ducks is also a sheer joy to hear as well.
2x -- add in the "earthy" smell of the woods. Only thing that makes it better is spring time when the honeysuckle is blooming.
Del from philly reply :
favorite- fresh opened bag of Senkos....plasticy, fresh, perfect
least favorite- Garlic scent from mallmart (think its shakespear)
roadwarrior reply :
Budweiser.
8-)
Tin reply :
A massive group of two-strokes ready to run to their favorite hole first thing in the morning.
Murray reply :
definatly exhaust fumes. whenever i smell a car that smells like a boat exhaust i immidiatly think about being on the water hopefully catching fish.
Cigarlover 1 reply :
I love the smell of bass after I've caught a few. If they made a candle of it I'd buy it. lol
Also the mixture of ***, Chompers and JJ's in my car. When I start smelling that I know the temps are rising and it's almost time to start fishing.
Bassnajr reply :
A hot cup of coffee while in route on the water to that first spot, mixed with the way the water and woods on shore smell early in the morning.
ajr
BOOYAH reply :
Berkley power bait. Love that stuff!!
Catt reply :
The smell of a fireplace gently drifting across the lake
The aroma of spring in full bloom
Oh yea that sweet smell of anise oil that comes as my partner sprays his worm
HorseEmIn reply :
Well for me, it's a couple of Oreos and a cup of coffee at 8:30 and a good cigar at 10:30.
Mitch1660 reply :
JJ's Magic ;D
Tokyo Tony reply :
QuoteThe smell of any soft plastic bait 8-).
Open a bag of Gulp baits, take a big whiff, then we'll talk
Big-O reply :
Fish
thetr20one reply :
I love the smell of a spring morning especially after a rain!! BUT WHAT I REALLY LOVE IS SMELLING ALL THE DIFFERENT BRANDS OF OIL AS I FLY PAST MY FELLOW COMPETITORS EVERY BRAND HAS A DISTINCT SMELL EVER NOTICE THAT? When i get a low draw # its nothing but spring breeze all the smeel of spring!!! My OPTI doesn't have a whole lot of smell. I kind of miss the old smoky EFI, but not the gas milage. besides that i really like to get a little taste of salt when i tie my soft baits. I GUESS I AM WEIRD LIKE THAT
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