Garlic spray for Largemouths?

[Triton4Bass]

I was just curious, supposedly Garlic spray works great for catching spots. So is a largemouth attracted to it as well? If not, would it be a better idea to spray a little bit on the bait to overcome the scent of a human being?

 

[rsimms]

I won't ever go to the trouble of actually "adding" scent to a lure. I'll buy tubes, etc. that are impregnated with garlic/salt on occasion... may not help, but it can't hurt. But for me it's not worth the effort to actually add spray or dip scent while I'm fishing. HOWEVER, I am very picky about avoiding potentially hazardous odors. If any of my clients ever apply sunscreen, I specifically TELL them to wash their hands good before they handle my rods, baits, etc. I am very careful pumping gas before going fishing, etc. I strongly believe that foreign odors can repel fish... I saw dramatic evidence years ago on a bluegill fishing trip... a woman was catching fish one right after another, until she applied sunscreen. Her partner continued catching fish like crazy and she simply couldn't catch one.... until 30 minutes later we convinced her to wash her hands good and then she slowly started catching fish again. We were fishing live crickets and I am certain the sunscreen odor on her hands, transferred to crickets, repelled fish.

 

[Louie B]

T4---

I seldom use any attractant, but when I do I always use BANG Crawdad attractant..... I use it primarily when I am having trouble w/ spots short striking jigs/worms..... Sometimes it has seemed to work other times not..... The way I look at it, if it can help me get 1 more bite that day, it's worth it..... On the other hand I completely agree w/ rsimms I'm careful what I get on my bait and would rather have baits which are self impregnated w/ scent than adding it myself.

LB

 

[Triton4Bass]

thanks guys, thats something i've always wondered! good point about foreign scents! i couldnt ask for 2 better anglers to answer that question emoThumbsup

 

[Guest]

I used to use Chompers grubs quite a bit and they are laced with garlic big time. I always caught fish so I guess it worked or at least did not repel the fish.
I have also used many different attractant scents and none of them hurt. Bang is my favorite especially on jigs.

Cheez

 

[HarrisBasser]

I think they hold on to a bait longer with some type scent like garlic,allowing you more time to set the hook.

 

[Guest]

HarrisBasser - 4/10/2007 10:32 PM

I think they hold on to a bait longer with some type scent like garlic,allowing you more time to set the hook.

Agreed, I think that is the key. I have actually slowly reeled bass to the boat before setting the hook to demonstrate to my partner how well Bang worked.
It was demonstrated to me when Bang first came out.

Cheez

 

[hl&s]

I just read the results of a study on black bass scent turn offs. The study shows that bass are actually attracted to some amino acids. It also showed, more important to fishermen, that black bass will turn away from soap, sunscreen, and insect repellent with DEET. Other studies say that bass have a keen sense of smell and can even smell individual fish within a school.

I use scented bait but very seldom do I apply added scent to lures. I've caught largemouth on garlic scents many times. I smoke so I normally rinse my hands thoroughly in the water I am fishing and apply some fish attractant to my hands to mask any offending odor that may be transferred to my lure.

I've had bass stay on all the way to the boat, without being hooked, on some gulp products. You could actually see the worm and the hook curled in their mouth, hook still embedded in the worm, when they opened wide and let go. You could fish the same bait the rest of the day and not get another hit while your partner was catching steady fish with another scent. I think it's just whatever any particular fish wants at any particular time.

 

[J-Dub]

If there was an Italian strain of largemouth I'd definitely use it. emoLaugh I've not used garlic scent much myself but I know of some guys that swear by it. Some people I've fished with make their own concoctions using anise oil, petroleum jelly and a ton of garlic. I've also been with one guy that used garlic scented cooking oil spray, like Pam (cheaper I guess). I remember reading somewhere many moons ago of a scientist that did a study that found that certain types of aquatic plant, like algae, put off some sort of scent in the water that's similiar to a garlic scent. He hypothesized that this scent would trigger a feeding response in fish. I don't know why it would but that's what he claimed. I stick to nature based scents like minnows and crawdads. The bang combo scent has both minnow and crawdad in one so I use that one pretty exclusively. But to each his own. Whatever you have confidence in is the one you should use.

 

[greg706]

I am suprised to say the least. I thought all bass hunters used scent. I just don't feel confident without it. I don't have a favorite but I do keep my plastics sprayed with something, Bang, Yum or whatever.

 

[B-Pro]

I have found when the largemouth are on the bed, they seem to hit the worm better with the garlic spray on it. I have seen it were they will hit the worm with spray and never touch the worm without spray.