Making Sense of Scents

Personally I am one of those long time bass anglers who has had a love-hate relationship with the plethora of gooey, slimy concoctions we add to baits ... bait scents. 

Thinking way back to the first introductions of scents like Fish Formula and the oil-slick like trail they left when hitting the water after first application not to mention an oily slime on everything it touched.

Combine the oily mess with the fact I was never really sure it worked, more often than not I couldn't be bothered adding scents to baits. If a bait happened to be doused in scent when it was manufactured, fine but the decade-old bottle of oil-based craw scent occupying space in one of my less used tackle bags is evidence of my attitude toward regular use.

Now as far as purposely buying packages of pre-scented soft baits, the only company's baits I buy are those from Berkley lures with their water-based additives in the PowerBait/MaxScent lines. After reading some of the background research info and trying the baits on numerous occasions, I found there were times when the bite was off and the PowerBait scented baits appeared to help catch more fish. Add in the fact the baits were manufactured with the scent "baked-in" so I didn't have to mess with adding it myself all the better, especially since it has kind of a funky smell.

Earlier this year, American Baitworks (company behind Snag-proof & Scum frogs, Net Baits, Halo Rods, etc.) introduced a new, water-based, NON smelly scent called BaitFuel that is rapidly gaining popularity in the bass angling community. 

Even scent naysayer, Mikey Balzz seems impressed with BaitFuel as he describes in the following video...

Pretty cool video and I appreciate his demo on how to "marinate" baits properly to get the best results and not impact the structure of the baits (especially those that contain salt) if you add to much to the package.

Sounds like it could be a great non-smelly alternative to Powerbait so I just picked up a bottle to check it out.

If you are interested in getting a bottle of BaitFuel for yourself, click on the image below to access the current inventory at Omnia Fishing plus more video info on the science behind the scent...

Keep the Sun Out of the Bass’ Eyes

Have you ever stopped to think about the relationship of the Sun, the cover you’re fishing and how it might impact the bass using the cover?

Are you doing all you can to “keep the Sun out of the bass’ eyes” when you’re fishing shallow cover?

Many anglers do not even consider this factor but taking the time to consider how the fish is positioned on cover, the angle to the Sun and your approach on that cover can definitely impact your bass catching success!

There are two reasons for wanting to make sure the Sun is at the bass’ back and essentially in your eyes:

1. When the Sun is behind the bass, the fish has a cleared view of the bait making it much easier for it to hone in on and attack; &
2. It keeps your shadow from suddenly projecting over the area where the bass is holding sometimes causing spookier fish to lose interest and aggressiveness.

So the next time you hit the water be sure and note the relationship between you, the cover you’re fishing and the Sun to help keep the Sun out of the bass’ eyes and increase your odds of success …

Mental Aspect of Bass Fishing With Rick Clunn

Bass fishing legend, Rick Clunn is the first person to win four Bassmaster Classics by relying heavily on the mental aspect of bass fishing.  Clunn definitely believes off-water preparation and education is as important as being a master at presentation while on the water.

Understanding your prey, your equipment and how you use all of this on the water can either make or break your fishing trip.

Watch the following video and listen to Rick Clunn discuss his approach to bass fishing, both on the water and off …

I found the segment on Clunn’s approach to the third day of the 1984 Bassmaster Classic (his third Classic win) particularly interesting.  By just stopping and considering the events of the two previous days and making the adjustment to a crankbait with a tighter wobble and no rattle triggered his best day of the tournament.

Even more amazing is the fact that Clunn basically fished a 50 yard stretch of water during all three days of the tournament catching 15 bass with a better than 5-lb. average!

It looks like focusing on the mental aspect of bass fishing can really pay off!

Favorite Fishing Quotes & Sayings

Some of my all time favorite quotes and saying 

“A positive attitude and an open mind are true characteristics of all good fishermen” – Kevin VanDam

“To me, a fishing buddy is a more esteemed relationship than a friend.” Alton Jones

“A lot of people think there’s a lot of luck in fishing, and there really isn’t.” – Kevin VanDam

“Fishing adds years to your life, and life to your years.” – Homer Circle

“The two best times to fish is when it’s rainin’ and when it ain’t.” – Patrick F. McManus

“If all politicians fished instead of spoke publicly, we would be at peace with the world.” – Will Rogers

“Most of the world is covered by water. A fisherman’s job is simple: Pick out the best parts.” – Charles Waterman

“If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there’d be a shortage of fishing poles.” – Doug Larson

“Everyone should believe in something; I believe I’ll go fishing.” – Henry David Thoreau

“Carpe Diem” does not mean “fish of the day.” – Author Unknown

“My biggest worry is that my wife (when I’m dead) will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it.” – Koos Brandt

When you’ve been fishing for 3 hours & haven’t got anything except poison ivy and sunburn, you’re still better off than the worm. – Unknown

“Fishing is a discipline in the equality of men – for all men are equal before fish.” – Herbert Hoover

“The fishing was good; it was the catching that was bad.” – A.K. Best

“It has always been my private conviction that any man who pits his intelligence against a fish and loses has it coming.” – John Steinbeck

“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.” – Author Unknown

Bragging may not bring happiness, but no man having caught a large fish goes home through an alley. ~Author Unknown

Fishing is the sport of drowning worms. – Author Unknown

“Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught.” – Author Unknown

Gone fishin’, be back at dark-thirty! – Author Unknown

“There’s a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.” – Steven Wright

“Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” – Henry David Thoreau

“I’ve gone fishing thousands of times in my life, & I have never once felt unlucky or poorly paid for those hours on the water.” – Wm Tapply

“The gods do not deduct from man’s allotted span the hours spent in fishing.”  – Babylonian Proverb

“Creeps and idiots cannot conceal themselves for long on a fishing trip” – John Gierach

“Give a man a fish and he has food for a day; teach him how to fish and you can get rid of him for the entire weekend.” – Zenna Schaffer

May the holes in your net be no larger than the fish in it. ~ Irish Blessing

“A bass is a bass no matter where it lives” – ??

“If fishing is interfering with your business, give up your business.” – Alfred W. Miller

“I go fishing not to find myself but to lose myself.” – Joseph Monniger

“Don’t tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.” – Mark Twain

“There is no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm.” – Patrick F. McManus

Men and fish are alike. They both get into trouble when they open their mouths. ~Author Unknown

“I only make movies to finance my fishing.” – Lee Marvin

“Bass fishermen watch Monday night football, drink beer, drive pickup trucks and prefer noisy women with big breasts.  Trout fishermen watch MacNeil-Lehrer, drink white wine, drive foreign cars with passenger-side air bags and hardly think about women at all.  This last characteristic may have something to do with the fact that trout fishermen spend most of the time immersed up to the thighs in ice-cold water.”  – Author Unknown

Even if not fishing, I just like this one…

“If he’s gonna put his lips on something I created, I’ld rather it be a duck call” – CEO Willie – Duck Dynasty

Those are a few of mine; leave a comment below if you have some you prefer!

Rigging a Texas Worm

Have you ever see or participated in an online survey about favorite bass fishing lures?

I know I have numerous times and do you know what bass fishing lure wins most surveys?

Plastic bass baits, particularly plastic worms ….

There are a number of different methods you can use to rig a plastic worm but the “Texas Rig” is preferred most often.

Many anglers use the Texas rig in a variety of situations since it is more or less weedless (therefore resists hang-ups) and works in numerous structure and cover situations.

So if you are struggling with your plastic worm fishing, here is another bass fishing video tip demonstrating the proper method for rigging a plastic bait using a “Texas Rig” …

Enjoy!

Once you learn how to properly prep a plastic bait with the “Texas Rig”, you will likely never forget.

If you do not get the worm rigged correctly on the other hand, it will often twist and turn not only leaving the bass a little dizzy but your line a curled mess as well!