Tackle Tactics » Tips-Techniques » Pro-Lure-Fishing-Tips » Scentsational! - Scent Tips
Scentsational! - Scent Tips
By Justin Willmer
I often have people ask me, 'does scent work when fishing lures?' and the answer is a resounding YES from me. After fishing lures for over 35 years and in more recent years, fishing with better quality scents, from global scent manufacturer Pro-Cure Scents, I have no doubt that scents attract fish, trigger more aggressive strikes, and make fish hold on longer, allowing you more time to set the hook. In this article I wanted to look at the how, when, where and why of scents, along with how I utilise them when fishing.
Can fish smell scent?
Yes, fish have all five senses as do humans - sight, smell, taste, hearing and feeling. In fact, fish have four nostrils, located on their snout above their mouth. Water, carrying scent, moves through small sacs that are connected to the brain via nerves, allowing the fish to smell. Some fish, such as sharks, have an incredible sense of smell.
Throw some bait or burley in the water and it often doesn't take fish long to follow the scent trail back to the source. Adding scent to our lures creates a scent trail, assists in masking foreign odours, such as fuel, sunscreen and bug spray and also makes our presentation more realistic once the fish gets closer and actually eats the presentation.
Can fish taste scent?
Pro-Cure contains laboratory science, such as UV enhancement, bite stimulants and powerful amino acids, while most flavours also contain real ground bait for added attraction and taste. Fish have taste buds on their tongue, as do humans, however their tongue cannot be retracted like ours, simply moving with the bottom jaw, so they also have taste buds on their snout, mouth and throat. Some fish species even have taste buds on their head and can actually taste lures and baits by bumping into them with their face! Others are fitted with whiskers, complete with taste buds, so that they can forage in the mud until they find something tasty and then eat it.
This is one reason why I believe the range of flavours is so important with Pro-Cure Scent and later in this article I will talk about how we use different flavours. You may like a particular food, whereas I may prefer something else. Likewise, with scent, some species prefer particular flavours based on what they eat, location, season and other variables. The 'one scent fits all' type scents are the reason that I believe some anglers don't think scents are important or haven't had success with them. Find the right Pro-Cure flavours for your target species, region and so forth and there is no doubt that it puts more fish in the boat. This fact is reinforced to me every time I speak to someone that uses Pro-Cure scent as they are 100% on their favourites for different species, locations and seasons.
Scenting up.
When it comes to applying scents, they can be applied to all lure types as well as used to turbo charge baits. Personally, I apply a small squirt of scent to each side of the head on the lure and smear it right down to the tail to ensure a good coverage all over, reapplying every 30 or so casts. Often, I will also reapply after landing a fish and sometimes apply more often if the bite is tough. Better to apply a little scent more often, rather than a lot once at the start and then forget about it.
Anytime I tie on a lure of any type, I apply scent. Even when fishing high speed lures, such as metal slugs, I still apply scent as sometimes we allow the slug to sink down through the bait and bust ups, where it is picked up by a mixed bag of other species, including reef species. Scent becomes even more important when fishing slower, pausing the lure more often, using techniques such as the Ned Rig System and when the target species is particularly finicky or the bite tough.
What Flavour?
Pro-Cure Super Gel has established itself as the number one scent in Australia thanks to its super-sticky formula that stays on longer, combination of laboratory science meets real ground bait, and its selection of tested and proven flavours. Which flavour should I use? This is a common question and there is no real 'right' answer, however there are trends of use that have proven different flavours especially effective in different situations.
You may select a Super Gel flavour based on the lure type being fish.
Here's a few examples -
Paddle tail plastic / baitfish profile - Mullet or Sardine / Pilchard.
Curl tails / worms - Bloodworm or Butt Juice (designed for targeting bottom feeders).
Prawn / Shrimp / Creature Bait - Saltwater Yabby / Nipper or Shrimp.
You may select a Super Gel flavour based on the target species and area being fished.
Here's a few examples -
Bream - Shrimp, Bloodworm, Mullet, Blue Crab.
Flathead - Mullet, Sardine / Pilchard, Saltwater Yabby / Nipper.
Snapper - Squid, Bloody Tuna.
Barramundi - Mullet, Shrimp, Sardine / Pilchard.
You may select a Super Gel Flavour based on the type of water / location you are fishing.
Here's a few examples -
Offshore - Bloody Tuna, Squid, Sardine Pilchard.
Inshore - Inshore Saltwater, Mullet, Shrimp, Saltwater Yabby / Nipper.
Freshwater - Crawfish, Nightcrawler, Aniseed, Garlic Plus, Mullet, Shrimp.
Aniseed and Garlic Plus have long been favourites in the fresh water, while also being included in some saltwater angler's kits also. I'm guessing that these two powerful scents are so popular in the fresh, especially lakes and impoundments, due to the lack of tidal flow to assist with scent dispersion. You can smell Aniseed and Garlic Plus Pro-Cure from a mile away, which is perfect in these environments with less water movement.
The key outtake is that fish can both smell and taste your presentation, so start by selecting a scent that you believe will appeal to your target species, location, season, etc. In saying that I would rather add any flavour of Pro-Cure Super Gel scent than fish my lure unscented, so if your options are limited, grab the one that sounds most appealing.
Super Gel Scent Vs Tinted Bait Sauce
More recently Tinted Bait Sauces have been added to the range in a 4oz bottle, compared to a 2oz in the Super Gel scent. What is the difference and when might I use one or the other?
Tinted Bait Sauce has a consistency that is less thick and sticky than Super Gel, meaning it may not stay on as long, however it comes in a larger bottle and it does disperse through the water column further and quicker. This has made it extremely popular for anglers that are fishing areas with reduced current flow, such as freshwater lakes and impoundments, saltwater lakes, backwaters, canal systems and other areas where the scent will stay in the area longer and fire up the fish. There is more in the bottle, so it still lasts a long time and anglers have had great success when fishing slower and focussing in a set area, or when firing up a school of fish to feed, such as southern black bream, bass or barramundi.
Plastics with ribs, rigging slots and appendages can also be used to hold the scent longer, as well as other lures with grooves, eye sockets and hook hangers where scent can be smeared. Tinted Bait Sauce not only acts as a scent on the lure like Super Gel, it also acts as a powerful burley trail or an attractant like ground baiting the area to draw more fish into your casting zone and fire them up to feed.
Tinted Bait Sauce is again available in a selection of flavours to suit inshore, offshore and freshwater fishing applications, along with a wide range of species and lure types. It is also tinted, allowing it to be used as a highlight colour on lures, or mixed with bait to add both scent and visual attraction.
The Wrap
I hope that this article has helped a little in terms of why we use scents, how we use them, why there is different flavours and when we might select these different flavours. Have a think about the type of fishing that you do, your target species, what these species eat, the lures you're fishing and where you are fishing them, to work out what flavours may be a good starting point for your fishing.
After many conversations with anglers who have had good success adding Pro-Cure scents to their lures, along with my own experience of switching on bites, more aggressive strikes and having fish just keep biting the lure until they find the hook, I have no hesitation in saying YES, scent definitely makes a difference when lure fishing.
Scent up and slay them!
See you on the water...
Cheers, Justin
Gearing Up:
Pro-Cure Super Gel Scent - Mullet Super Gel Scent and many more flavours.
Pro-Cure Tinted Bait Sauce