Have you guys noticed if you catch a lot more fish using scented/salted plastics vs. non-scented/salted plastics.  :-?

Salt is a key to the fish holding on longer.  It definitly adds to the catch percentage.

There's always a lot of debate on this topic.  Who knows if scents and salt work.  I believe scents help catch bass, which gives me confidence when using them.  Having confidence in something goes a long way in my book!

I haven't really paid any attention to scented baits.  If I buy some baits that already have salt on it then so be it.  I really haven't noticed a difference.  Maybe I will give it a try and see what happens.

salt is way important ingredient of the lure than scent. on our first bass contest one guy beat the rest with yamamoto senko's. fish holds the lure longer in the mouth. regarding to scent flavours i've cought lot of largemouths on anis scent. i'm thinking now to do some trials with worm scent from sensas...

I have to agree with Avid on this one. I have noticed the difference when using salt laden baits and non-salted ones. I do think the bass hold on longer to salty baits. As far as scents go, I think maybe it helps as a cover up, maybe, but, I am not sold on them. I have not seen a significant difference. Plus, when you come home with all those weird smells on your fingers your better half might think you are having a affair.

In my opinion I really don't put any stock into scents or salt myself.  If the bait has a scent when bought then thats fine but I don't use scents.   I think the key to the GYCB is there softness and texture I beleave thats what makes a fish hold on longer not the salt.   Agin this is only my opinion I'm not saying anyone here is wrong or that I'm right just a opinion

bassnut1276,

I think it might be the combination of salt (taste) and texture (feel), but I completly agree with you about the softness of GYCB plastics. Bass will hold them longer, they like the way this particular plastic feels in their mouth.  

I believe the use of scents may help a fish take a bait if he's right up on it, or hold on longer, but scientific experiments have proven that bass cannot locate prey by scent.  

Personally, my most productive soft plastics (Bobby Garland stuff, Gambler flipping tubes, Zoom Mag II, many handpoured finesse worms) have no salt and some have no scent.  

Bobby Garland didn't impregnate his lures with a bunch of salt because he said it inhibited the action, which is believable considering his Hyper-Tail Hula Grubs  make Yamamoto Hula Grubs look as stiff as a pencil.     These things don't have an ounce of scent or salt and I've never had a bass spit one out before I've had a chance to set the hook.  

Same thing with the (non-salt impregnated) Hibdon Flipping Tubes from Gambler......put one in the water and drop down another flipping tube beside it that has a bunch of salt in it - - the Gambler breathes, flows, and looks alive with the tentacles waving around in a fluid motion.  The other tube will not react the same way.

This is just what works for me, though.   A lure's visual appeal gives me the most confidence in using it, and if having a salt impregnated lure gives another angler confidence in that approach, then that is probably what he should use.        

(BTW....I realize some soft plastics (e.g.Senko) actually rely on salt for their particular action)

I wont even throw a lure scented or unscented in a tournament without Smelly Jelly on it. I recoat ever 10-12 casts. Just a light coat, I have confidence in it and I believe it helps the lure go thru vegetation easier.

i think its good for hiding ur own scent not really drawing bass they aint sharks. Bass rely mostly on there eyes and lateral lines for food searching  all i know is i catch bass with it on mine and wether its from the scent or what im confident thats what matters most

Research by Berkley indicates that salt or anise(garlic) does not increase strikes or increase bait retention times very much if any. Water based natural attractants will increase strike rates a small portion on plastics and by about 40% on hard baits. The bait retention time increase significantly with water based natural fish or crawfish scents. In some tests the retention time went from <1/2 second to almost 3 seconds. It is my understanding that Bass can not follow the scent trail because of water dispersion but instead if they smell food they become aroused and start searching for prey creating the strike.

In these same tests, human scent along with gas, oil, and soap smells did NOT have a negative effect on strike rates or retention times for bass. Sunscreen and DEET(insect repellant) smells shut down the stikes for up to 3 hours. However Salmon are VERY sensitive to human smells and will avoid that scent with great effort.

Like the rst of us i dont have scientific proof but my personal experience leds me to believe it definitely helps, my friend and i were fishing the same exact lures, their were no differences in our retrieves because we were actually testing the scents eventually and wanted to make sure we were on the same page, nothing was giving and i had recently purchased bang in the crawfish scent, so i fiqured why not, loaded up the bait and caught about 5 smallies in roughly 5 minutes, finally my friends looks at me and without words i loaded up his lure with some bang craw, this story is no joke, so i dont know if it was due to the scent but had 5 more fish than my fishing partner  

I wouldn't want to bite a flavorless piece of plastic.  It better be salty garlicy for me to bite.

I like to think a bass is no different.  

Daryl

If your up for a good read I would suggest that you get   Knowing Bass the Scientific approach to catching more fish,  by Keith A Jones PhD.   It basically lays out everything as far a bass senses are concearned.  

Research by Berkley indicates that salt or anise(garlic)

I saw that study, and I think anise was at the bottom, followed by salt and then garlic.  BTW...Anise is the black licorise smell, not garlic.

I like salt but dont like Yum.

I think salt or some sort of impregnated scent will give you a second or two more to set the hook. Do I know that....no. But if I have the choice of fishing soft plastics with or without salt/scent, I will go for the salt/scent every time. Like I said...I dunno if it really does give an edge, but the fact that it might is enough reason for me to use them. Same thing with the red hook theory for me. Maybe it gives an edge...maybe not. But the fact that it might is enough to get me to use them.