August Posted May 10 Share Posted May 10 I’ve heard a lot about scents attracting bass, but only a bit about scents repelling them. I’ve heard that some soaps, gasoline, and DEET can discourage bass from biting. I was wondering about cologne. If I put cologne on my wrists, and then went fishing a couple hours later could the smell keep some bass from biting? What about if I’m pitching and flipping where I’m handling the lure and line a lot? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User LrgmouthShad Posted May 11 Super User Share Posted May 11 I’ve tested this extensively and the bass prefer Dior 4 19 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Brown Posted May 11 Share Posted May 11 This time of year large female bass are spawning. This means they are often cruising the banks looking for mates and open beds to lay their eggs. If I was you I'd double up on the cologne. And bring some flowers. Make sure you're freshly shaved and dressed nice etc. Imagine how you'd want to be greeted all full of eggs and eager to make babies. Definitely wear the cologne. 2 1 17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smokinal Posted May 11 Share Posted May 11 I'm sure there will be mixed responses but personally I believe it does. I think scents help to make a fish hold a bait just that hair longer to set a hook; but I think they are most effective at masking human scents. One of my OCD tricks I've done for years is I keep a Ziplok bag of baking soda in my boat. Once I'm done launching, priming the bulb, handling all they equipment needed to launch the boat etc...I scrub my hands with a little baking soda and rinse in the lake before touching any of my soft plastics. I don't do this if I know I'm throwing hard baits/reaction baits all day long as I don't believe it makes a difference there. But any soft plastic days...hands washed first. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User scaleface Posted May 11 Super User Share Posted May 11 Honest, I still have a bottle of Hai Karate. I dont know if it repels bass but it repels ladies. 17 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted May 11 Super User Share Posted May 11 Deet and sunscreen are fish repellents. Don’t lather up in either one without rinsing your hands afterwards. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Team9nine Posted May 11 Super User Share Posted May 11 Most days, fish don’t care. Easy to test for yourself. Lather up intentionally and then go catch you some. Just don’t get the stuff on your sandwiches. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User WRB Posted May 11 Super User Share Posted May 11 Using cologne eliminates you as a bass angler unless it’s 100% pure anise oil😎 Tom 3 1 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MediumMouthBass Posted May 11 Share Posted May 11 Fishing in the Susquehanna river taught me nothing you have on you will be more polluted or have worse scent then whats already flowing in it. (Sewage, waste, toxic mine water, etc....) The bass keep biting. Alot of residential lakes have boaters and swimmers in the water constantly during the summer months, im betting tons of sunscreen/tanning spray/deodorant/cologne/perfume is getting into the water, ill go by a bit after and catch a few on a ned rig. Now if we are fishing for trout, they are extremely sensitive to scents, bright colored clothing..... I dont think ive ever worn cologne fishing though.... But next time i go to the really nice lake where the homes cost between 250k-1mil ill be sure to put some cologne on and ask the rich women if they think the bass mind it. But as the bass pro's say, if you dont smell like half a bottle of $50 cologne you're not catching bass. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
August Posted May 11 Author Share Posted May 11 If someone had cologne or DEET on how long would it affect the bass? If I handled my rods and tackle with either of those on, by the next day would it all be gone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MediumMouthBass Posted May 11 Share Posted May 11 @August i doubt it, i have a coat that had some cologne and deodorant get on it, after 1 month of not wearing it i put it on and smelled them both as if i just put it on that day. Most chemicals have to be wiped or washed off, unless they are alcohol based then they usually dry/evaporate. Some dish soap and water mix should get any off, but thats only needed if its actually on there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ironbjorn Posted May 11 Share Posted May 11 Sure, if you're actively polluting the water where you're fishing with any of those chemicals or getting them on your baits. But bass smelling your cologne while you're in the boat or on the bank??? No dude. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susky River Rat Posted May 11 Share Posted May 11 @MediumMouthBass I hate touching the water of the susky anymore than I have to. Unless you’re actively spraying it all the time in the boat I doubt it makes a difference at all. I have a stick of deodorant in my lunch bag for after fishing to not smell like a linebacker on the way home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil McCauley Posted May 11 Share Posted May 11 imo the whole scent concept, like many things with fishing, is a marketing scheme. Water is the ultimate dilutant. And especially moving water, as it is with a lure being retrieved. There is simply no way these fish can smell anything on a lure moving through hundreds of feet of water. They are far more keyed in on their vision, hearing and lateral line senses. Do pro bass fishermen actually spray lures up before casting? No, just no. If scent is so important, we should be chumming to attract schools of bass. Real question is why're you wearing cologne while fishing...it covers up that wonderful bass slime scent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MickD Posted May 11 Super User Share Posted May 11 Sarcasm alert! The straight answer to your question is yes, cologne, perfume, sunscreen, etc, all are a negative influence on getting bass to strike. Depends on the strength, of course. If you want to encourage bass then no scent. Some contend that for bonefish one should pick some sand from the flat being fished and rub it between his hands. Scent is significant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
August Posted May 11 Author Share Posted May 11 2 hours ago, Neil McCauley said: I’m not putting on cologne in the boat, I’m just wondering if I put some on for work if it will still be a problem if I go fishing in the evening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MN Fisher Posted May 11 Super User Share Posted May 11 1 hour ago, August said: I’m not putting on cologne in the boat, I’m just wondering if I put some on for work if it will still be a problem if I go fishing in the evening. A thorough washing of hands should take care of it...just don't touch anywhere you applied it afterwards. I can't wear cologne...wife's allergic to them all and it kicks her athsma into high gear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted May 11 Super User Share Posted May 11 I still can't get past applying cologne to your wrists. 3 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User OkobojiEagle Posted May 11 Super User Share Posted May 11 A fishing boat is NO place to do any activities that cologne will benefit? I'd be far more concerned about hooking myself, or someone I was trying to impress, at an anatomical location that neither of us would want disclosed... oe 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BucksBasser Posted May 11 Share Posted May 11 They don't smell the contamination. They taste it. It can be a factor with slow moving baits that a bass inhales before you set the hook. Not on moving baits like crankbaits and spinner baits. And yes, you can chum bass with certain scents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody B Posted May 11 Share Posted May 11 I'm looking to catch older Bass so I wear Old Spice. Dior, and that other stuff is only good for young Bass. 2 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FishTax Posted May 11 Share Posted May 11 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Tennessee Boy Posted May 11 Super User Share Posted May 11 I wore cologne fishing once. I don’t think the smell bothered the fish but all of the women following me around did. 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User flyfisher Posted May 12 Super User Share Posted May 12 A guy on here was an electronics guru, WayneP i think, he did a test with sunscreen and he didn't notive any difference. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
August Posted May 12 Author Share Posted May 12 The reason that I posted this is because I got some cologne as a gift and put it on once while handling my rods. Im just making sure that it didn’t have any long lasting effects. I’m not saying that I put on cologne in the boat, or that I wear it in general. My ODC makes me spend a lot of time thinking about stuff like this 😂 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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