Smallmouth excrete a chemical from their skin that smells like crawfish ?

[xDirty]

Quote

Smallmouth excrete a chemical from their skin that smells like crawfish and entices crawfish to reveal themselves while investigating for the intruder.

 

Im sure im not the only one who has heard this rumor. I call it a rumor cause have not been able to find a single scientific source.

 

Im looking for information. How did this rumor start, is there any truth to the rumor and does anyone have a scientific study on the subject. 

 

[Jar11591]

That’s a new one on me. 

[MN Fisher]

It's been brought up before - and in a 'properly' titled topic.

 

[2tall79]

I've heard that they excrete a chemical after being hooked that will warn off their buddies.  Hence, a lot of guys will keep smallies in their livewell until they leave an area.

[xDirty]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

It's been brought up before - and in a 'properly' titled topic.

 

 

I disagree. I've seen that thread. This concentrates on individual rumor. This is the opinion of a single person. I want to know who started this rumor and if there has been any scientific study on the subject at all. 

[MN Fisher]

The only places this is 'bandied about' is on Canadian fishing sites. There is no scientific study I know of that breaks down specific prey odors in the slime-coat of any species.

 

<-Aquatic Biology major in college.

[xDirty]

10 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

The only places this is 'bandied about' is on Canadian fishing sites. There is no scientific study I know of that breaks down specific prey odors in the slime-coat of any species.

 

<-Aquatic Biology major in college.

This is more of the type response i was expecting to have, not the previous one. I have concluded the same thing so far, and it seems multiple people have copied the same exact sentence on various sites. I found this article that im posting below but that seems to be another copy and paste job by an author doing research on various sites without any scientific backing.

 

https://www.idahostatesman.com/outdoors/fishing/article40868019.html

[A-Jay]

Been studying this here anatomy chart.

Seems they left out that crawfish excretion zone.

A-Jay

[MN Fisher]

58 minutes ago, xDirty said:

This is more of the type response i was expecting to have, not the previous one. I have concluded the same thing so far, and it seems multiple people have copied the same exact sentence on various sites. I found this article that im posting below but that seems to be another copy and paste job by an author doing research on various sites without any scientific backing.

 

https://www.idahostatesman.com/outdoors/fishing/article40868019.html

This is why it's considered an 'old wife's tale'....just like using Mountain Dew for bleeding - though there are studies on that one.

[Team9nine]

Looks like your article is hidden behind a pay wall, so I’m guessing no one here can read it. No idea where this got started, but weird theories get life and spread all the time on the internet.

 

First, it makes no sense and would likely lead all crayfish to their untimely death - then the smallmouth would starve- lol - a smallmouth bass pied piper.
 

Studies show crayfish react to smallmouth bass based on their perceived vulnerability to predation. Those that feel fairly secure in their habitat tend to go about their business a bit more regularly. Those that feel vulnerable restrict their behavior and movement. Additionally, they can use alarm cues to warn each other when predators are in the area, causing them to restrict movement or retreat further to avoid predation.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, 2tall79 said:

 Hence, a lot of guys will keep smallies in their livewell until they leave an area.

When & Where applicable regulations allow,

I totally do that.

And to the best of my knowledge, it hasn't ever 

made a bit of difference, one way or the other.

But I still do it.

Because I'm a crazy person.

At least I'm not in denial.

?

A-Jay

 

[T-Billy]

12 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Been studying this here anatomy chart.

Seems they left out that crawfish excretion zone.

A-Jay

I've had a couple excrete some grey slimy stuff on me from the vent. It didn't smell like crawfish though. 

 

[A-Jay]

5 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

I've had a couple excrete some grey slimy stuff on me from the vent. It didn't smell like crawfish though. 

 

I hear ya ~

That vent deal should really be avoided.

A-Jay

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, T-Billy said:

I've had a couple excrete some grey slimy stuff on me from the vent. It didn't smell like crawfish though. 

 

 

Just now, A-Jay said:

I hear ya ~

That vent deal should really be avoided.

A-Jay

Ya - doesn't matter if it's a SMB, LMB, Pike or Crappie - it's not something you should strive to experience.

 

Don't ask....

[T-Billy]

1 minute ago, A-Jay said:

I hear ya ~

That vent deal should really be avoided.

A-Jay

Absolutely!!! My reaction was similar to Zona's if you caught that episode where he got pooped on. I don't recommend it.

[Woody B]

This spotted bass smelled like a crawdad.   

 

 

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, Woody B said:

This spotted bass smelled like a crawdad.   

 

 

Can’t imagine why……..

[Dogface]

16 hours ago, 2tall79 said:

I've heard that they excrete a chemical after being hooked that will warn off their buddies.  Hence, a lot of guys will keep smallies in their livewell until they leave an area.

 

I doubt it. When I hook a SM and bring it up to the boat I often have other SM follow it right up.

 

That other SM are supposed to be "warned off" by an excretion I have to call BS on that one. ?

[cheezyridr]

i don't sniff the fish i catch,   but it doesn't matter.  i would NEVER sniff a crawdad, so i have no idea what they smell like

[Dwight Hottle]

Serial sniffer?

[Susky River Rat]

12 hours ago, 2tall79 said:

I've heard that they excrete a chemical after being hooked that will warn off their buddies.  Hence, a lot of guys will keep smallies in their livewell until they leave an area.

No one would fish the susky if that was the case. 98 miles of it you cannot posses one. CPR only. Pound that area till they stop eating them come back later and get them for seconds. 

[Woody B]

38 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Serial sniffer?

Pull my finger.  (sorry, couldn't help it  LOL)

[Recurve1]

9 hours ago, cheezyridr said:

i don't sniff the fish i catch,   but it doesn't matter.  i would NEVER sniff a crawdad, so i have no idea what they smell like

Patrick McManus wrote a book called "Never Sniff a Gift Fish" - funny stuff.

[Bdnoble84]

I have no basis on science for any of this, but i could see it plausible that if they ate a ton of crayfish maybe they would develop a specific odor based on that diet? There are scenarios where that does happen. Again no just ification or evidence to support but thats what came to mind as plausible.

[Buzzbaiter]

On 1/8/2023 at 1:40 AM, cheezyridr said:

i don't sniff the fish i catch,   but it doesn't matter.  i would NEVER sniff a crawdad, so i have no idea what they smell like

I am a sniffer. Of the crawfish I’ve sniffed, none have really had any discernible smell