There has been a lot of
controversy over "Fish Attractants" or otherwise known as "Fish
Scents". In the past, I've noticed that many of my former bass angling students as
well as by bass guide clients have always come prepared with plenty of "Fish
Attractant", and wow! Do they ever use it! They will grab that particular bait they
are using, hold it over the edge of the boat, and really pour it on. Is that method really
practical?
I'll explain that in a moment, but
first let me explain a few things about "Fish Attractants". There are several
different types of "Fish Attractants" on the market today in the multi-billion
dollar bass fishing industry, and the marketing is very costly! Somewhere the companies
have to sell, sell, and sell to make up for the high cost of marketing. Many commercials,
whether it be TV, Radio, Magazines, Outdoor Shows, etc., have to get the anglers to buy
this stuff!
First of all let me explain the importance of "Fish Attractant". A freshwater
black bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth, or Spotted) will usually spit out a bait within 2 or 3
seconds if the bass doesn't accept the taste (if it picks up the bait at all). On the
other side of the coin, if a bass likes the scent or attractant, it can hold the bait up
to 30 seconds or more before it spits the bait out. Fish Attractant does not really
"Attract" fish, but your odds on setting the hook will be greater by using it
rather than not.
Now, let's get back to marketing once again. The companies that manufacture "Fish
Attractants" or Scents want the anglers to "Use it by dousing the bait with
it." Well, if you have lots of money, go right ahead! Most tackle shops that I've
been to have a variety of Attractants and Scents, and they cost the angler anywhere from
$1.99 up to $10.00. When an angler "Douses the Bait" several times, He or She is
ready for another bottle soon, and that can get expensive after awhile. Now, most plastic
baits on the market today are manufactured with a "Scent" already put in the
bait. So why would you want to douse this same bait with additional "Fish
Attractant"? It really makes no sense at all, does it?
However, there is a reason why one would want to buy and use "Fish Attractant".
Just think of this; a freshwater black bass can sense 1-200th of a drop of a substance in
about 100 gallons of water. Wow, what an accurate sense of taste! This just goes to say
that whenever you go fishing in the morning, "Gas-Up" the night before!
Now, let's get right to the point, and hopefully this point can and will save
you some of your hard-earned cash. When you go fishing, the first thing that you should do
before you hit the water is to wash your hands with soap and water, this will
"hopefully" clean any foreign scents off of your hands that may get on your
baits when you handle them.
Second, take that bottle of "Fish
Attractant" and pour a little bit on your hands and rub them together, like a hand
lotion. Now you're ready for action because any bait you touch will have this "Fish
Attractant" scent added to it. Just think of the money you will save from just
pouring the formula over the bait. A bottle of "Fish Attractant" should now last
you about 20 times as long as it did before. I will not tell you which ones to buy, but I
use only "Natural Scents" like crawfish or Shad. Remember the angler pays for
the High Cost of marketing of a product, so of course they want you to use lots of that
product!
So, "Fish Attractants" are they really worth it? Yes! But use it as a hand
lotion and you will find yourselves saving money and getting the same results as if you
were dousing the bait with this "Fish Attractant"! Remember, the Presentation of
the Bait is the MOST IMPORTANT! If you have any questions please, Just Ask!
The Bass Coach
Route-1 Box-65, Pearl Street
Crown Point, NY 12928
(518) 597-4240 |
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