Fish attractants...

[IB1]

Can't think of a better place to ask this... What fish attractant (if any) do you guys and gals use? Do they even work?
I use almost any type to remove the "human" smells from my hands, but am I really affecting my days' fishing by doing so? Is it really necessary? Any input will be greatly appreciated!

As a side note... I have been visiting WC for a few years now, and I can truly say that it's great to have something on the internet worth reading! For the most part this group is a very friendly, helpful bunch of guys and gals, and I am happy to be a part of the group!

Enjoy life, laugh much, fish well - IB1

[chatman]

i've been using attractants for more than 15 yrs...might be alot longer. i have full confidense it a few of them. friends of mine who also us them have their favorites and i have mine. but they do put a "+" to my catch ratio. i test it most times when i'm out, if i'm fishing a known good spot and not catchiing, i add some to the same bait and bingo! this is also with repeated cast to the same spot before the attractant. imho

[Kevin B]

I use juice with crankbaits. Usually Bill Dance's stuff : real craw or real baitfish. The Berkely stuff is useles, washes off in 30 seconds or less - at least it did when it first came on the market. Never tried Dr Juice as local tackle shops don't stock it. Scent Doesn't seem to help much when trolling for trout. Works good for northerns, walleyes, bass.
I remember reading an article in years gone by where Bob Propst conducted a test using no scent, scent, and motor oil. The motor oil did just as well as the store bought scent. I also use WD-40 sometimes. - Kevin B

[Ness]

I've heard this before about using motor oil for an attractant. Personally, I don't care how good it works, you'll never see me using it. There's enough pollutants in the water without us fisherpeople adding to it intentually. I know it's only a little bit but it's still a little more. I'm not a radical environmentalist or anything like that but I follow a few simple guide lines when I'm out in the woods or in the water.
The big rule is whatever junk I take with me, I try to bring back with me. Someday, I'd like my
grandkids to be able to enjoy the forests and the
waterways like I have :-)

[Trophy19]

I use "Smelly Jelly" when I am running crank baits at night. Been know to use some WD-40 while tossing a jig and minnow.

[EAGLE EYES]

Exactly Ness, I don't like the use of petroleum distillates by any means, except what they were intended for. They are not dissolved by H20 and are poisonous to all aquatic animals. I'm not a PETA freak or anything like that either. I just like to show some respect towards my favorite passtime. I wish others would practice the same.
Even if the outdoors is not your thing. You wouldn't spray WD-40 in your frying pan to keep eggs from sticking just because it worked! Would you people?

[Stotch]

Have a home made concoction for a sure killer of a fish scent. Must wear rubber gloves to avoid transferring any human scent odor to this formula.

1/2 pint bertolli olive oil (the good stuff)
2 teaspoons garlic powder (NO salt)
4 herring entrails squezzed thru a cheese cloth to capture the juice. Use the juice only.

Mix the above together (no lumps) put into a sealed glass container. Place on a sunny windowsill to ferment for 4 to 5 days. Then put into a trigger spray bottle. Spray on lures, bare hooks, bait, etc. Catch fish.

Good luck, Stotch

[Ness]

Hey, Stotch, sounds like it might be good added to my spaghetti sauce too... :-)

[Backwater Eddy]

The one and only attractant that I have built up faith in is Dr. Juice------Why, it works! Attractants for walleye seem to be most effective in water temps below 55 deg.. Dr. Juice has a formula that triggers a strike reflex in pre and post spawn conditions that fall into that temp range. Fall same thing--cool water more strikes on Juiced rig's compared to plain. Fished side by side with people who aren't on the Juice and seen the difference way too many times not to have confidence in it's triggering qualities. Most guys are soon to ask "Ah--please pass the Juice there Bud?" Warmer water conditions of summer, I am not sure if it maters much, jury is still out on that one? I tend to have confidence in live baits if they won't hit a aggressive presentation such as a crank or spinner rig. I'm a big Dr. Juice fan for many years, I tend to stick with what works! As far as WD-40----MMM----not the best for the environment as I see it?

Backwater Eddy