Some soft plastics smell like motor oil, petroleum or strong plastic oil. I usually don’t use anything with that strong oil smell, so I don’t know if it bothers the fish. Do you think this smell makes the fish not bite? Or do you think they don’t care?  

It may depend on the day if the fish are finicky that day it may make a difference but there are days due to approaching weather system you could soak your lures in motor oil and the fish would still bite. Whatever you do just dont eat a banana on the boat

Whatever you do don’t open a bag of Berkeley Max Scent and take in a deep breath. 

 

I love the smell of most soft plastics.

Studies have shown that fish are only deterred by about 3 different smells, gasoline and oil weren't on the list. If you're worried about it, get a good scent and cover the smell up.

3 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Studies have shown that fish are only deterred by about 3 different smells, gasoline and oil weren't on the list. If you're worried about it, get a good scent and cover the smell up.

Just out of curiosity, do you know off the top of your head what scents these are?

30 minutes ago, ratherbfishin1 said:

Just out of curiosity, do you know off the top of your head what scents these are?

The only one that actively repelled fish was DEET, that I know for sure. 

Yup, deet is the real killer.

 

A scent needs to be water-soluble in order to stimulate bass olfactory organs...so they don't "smell" oils. Although, oils may contribute to texture, and may cover up other smells.

I ALWAYs use MegaStrike.

 

https://www.megastrike.com/fishattractant

2 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

Whatever you do don’t open a bag of Berkeley Max Scent and take in a deep breath. 

 

I love the smell of most soft plastics.

OK, I thought everybody was crazy when they were saying they couldn't smell Maxscent, or that the smell was weak.  It smells rank to me.

 

My wife has been paranoid for years that random bags of gummy worms in the cabinet will be be replaced with powerbait when she isn't looking.

Hmmmm....I’ve never used any scents, except for things like powerbait or gulp. But I would think the fish don’t like bad smells. I cracked open a new pack of NetBait craws and felt like they were motor oil flavored gummie bears. I just can’t see the fish liking that.

7 hours ago, ratherbfishin1 said:

Just out of curiosity, do you know off the top of your head what scents these are?

DEET, sunscreen, cat and human scents?

I read once that some cat-fishermen used wd-40 as added “scent”. 

9 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

DEET, sunscreen, cat and human scents?

Sunscreen, especially banana boat, coppertone lotion (the blue aerosol spray is good and does not repel fish, but it doesn’t last) and cheap no name brands are the worst. Aveeno, on the other hand does not affect fishing and it’ll usually last a whole day in one application. So I only use this:

 

d**n. I’m such a troll I just jacked my own thread.

7 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

The only one that actively repelled fish was DEET, that I know for sure. 

Chlorine or bleach would be another.

On 3/9/2019 at 5:51 PM, microotter said:

I read once that some cat-fishermen used wd-40 as added “scent”. 

WD-40 is a popular attractant used by the walleye guys on Lake Erie. They spray it on their crankbaits, spinners, and even worms. I've seen it's magic work first hand. 

On 3/9/2019 at 8:45 AM, CrankFate said:

Some soft plastics smell like motor oil, petroleum or strong plastic oil. I usually don’t use anything with that strong oil smell, so I don’t know if it bothers the fish. Do you think this smell makes the fish not bite? Or do you think they don’t care?  

I’m not sure where I had seen a post back awhile ago but some dudes were complaining/commenting as to how the Havoc SR Pit Boss had an offensive plastic smell. I can somewhat agree but I catch fish not spraying them or by giving them a shot of YUM Garlic spray. Pit Boss is a great plastic bait. Newer version out this year. I like fishing a 4”-5” black worms. Various tails. I have them by different manufacturers. Admittedly I’ve bought some of the Lucky Strike and YUM bargain black worms. Their smell can be a bit strong but they do produce again with or without a spritz of garlic. 

53 minutes ago, fishballer06 said:

WD-40 is a popular attractant used by the walleye guys on Lake Erie. They spray it on their crankbaits, spinners, and even worms. I've seen it's magic work first hand. 

Old Formula WD-40 had Fish Oil as an ingredient.  The new formula does not.  I doubt it repels fish but it probably lost its "attractant" value as well.  

1 hour ago, fishballer06 said:

WD-40 is a popular attractant used by the walleye guys on Lake Erie. They spray it on their crankbaits, spinners, and even worms. I've seen it's magic work first hand. 

I hear that a lot and it doesn't make much sense.  It's also not recommended to use by the company that makes it and is illegal in some places since it's a petroleum product.

Back in the 70's one of the better fishing magazines out there was Fishing Facts.  I read in Fishing Facts once, that it was a good idea to put anise oil into your bags of plastics.  So I did.  Don't know if it helped.   I was a bad contact bait fisherman then, I missed more than 50% of my hits AND I'm pretty sure there were more hits that I didn't know about. At the time, Mann's had the jelly worm that had different fruit flavors associated with different colors.

 

These days I find I fish powerbait products more often than not, and when I don't I give the bait a spray of BANG scent, so I guess I think it helps.

On 3/9/2019 at 8:45 AM, CrankFate said:

Some soft plastics smell like motor oil, petroleum or strong plastic oil. I usually don’t use anything with that strong oil smell, so I don’t know if it bothers the fish. Do you think this smell makes the fish not bite? Or do you think they don’t care?  

They don’t care...they probably can’t smell it either.

11 hours ago, Spankey said:

I’m not sure where I had seen a post back awhile ago but some dudes were complaining/commenting as to how the Havoc SR Pit Boss had an offensive plastic smell. I can somewhat agree but I catch fish not spraying them or by giving them a shot of YUM Garlic spray. Pit Boss is a great plastic bait. Newer version out this year. I like fishing a 4”-5” black worms. Various tails. I have them by different manufacturers. Admittedly I’ve bought some of the Lucky Strike and YUM bargain black worms. Their smell can be a bit strong but they do produce again with or without a spritz of garlic. 

They smell a little, but they work.

Subjectively, I have not found that scent makes a difference. I still use Megastrike a good bit of the time.  I also wear my lucky cap, but it doesn't always work either.