02-07-2006, 10:03 PM
[cool][#0000ff]There are some waters where using scent on flies would be a hanging offense. And, some purists would insist on shooting you first, before hanging you, just to make sure.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As far as the ethics go, it is a matter of personal choice. And, like religion, nobody else should have the right to tell you what to believe or how to live your life. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I am an all-tackle, multi-species, decidedly non-purist fisherman. I make and used all kinds of flies, jigs, spoons, spinners and hardbaits. And, I often tip them with a bit of "sweetener"...worm or fish flesh. I also use several different kinds of scent, and I have proven to my own satisfaction that it DOES help in many cases.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are many "triggers" that cause a fish to bite what you are offering. With many species, sight is a biggie. They hunt and capture prey largely through sight and sight recognition of what they perceive is edibility. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Most fly fishing is sight oriented. We try to serve up something that LOOKS good to the fish and then present it in a manner they cannot refuse. If we get it right, Bingo.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]During some conditions of water clarity, light levels and/or other factors that reduce visibility, fish cannot see their prey in time to react and dine. Then they rely on their sensitive lateral lines to pick up vibrations and help direct them to their prey. Having a big bushy fly, and stripping it aggressively, is often the key to getting bit under these conditions.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The third major triggering mechanism for many fish is their olfactory senses. Some species rely more on how a potential food item smells than how it looks or sounds. And, time after time, I have seen how having some sweet smelling stuff on a fly or lure helps seal the deal when fish are following but not biting otherwise.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]What is the best scent? That will always be a topic for debate. Everybody seems to have their own personal preference. I don't think that a scent that is different from what the fish should expect from a certain fly or lure would turn them off. That is giving the small brained fish too much credit for conscious thought. They react to stimuli. They do not reason out every action.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In truth, I personally believe that one of the greatest benefits to adding scent to lures is to mask human odor. Some people have lots of the hormone L-serine on their skin. That has been proven to be a definite turnoff to many species of fish.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The oils and other ingredients in many fish attractants can indeed mess up a nicely tied fly. I use a lot of large marabou jigs and flies. Once you apply an oily attractant to the marabou, it never has the same breathing action again. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I would not worry about dressing up a dry fly, or something fished near the surface. Those will be hit by sight feeders. On the other hand, if you are dredging the bottom with leeches or crawdad imitations, add a couple of drops of crawdad or nightcrawler scent and see if your reception improves.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]As far as the ethics go, it is a matter of personal choice. And, like religion, nobody else should have the right to tell you what to believe or how to live your life. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I am an all-tackle, multi-species, decidedly non-purist fisherman. I make and used all kinds of flies, jigs, spoons, spinners and hardbaits. And, I often tip them with a bit of "sweetener"...worm or fish flesh. I also use several different kinds of scent, and I have proven to my own satisfaction that it DOES help in many cases.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]There are many "triggers" that cause a fish to bite what you are offering. With many species, sight is a biggie. They hunt and capture prey largely through sight and sight recognition of what they perceive is edibility. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]Most fly fishing is sight oriented. We try to serve up something that LOOKS good to the fish and then present it in a manner they cannot refuse. If we get it right, Bingo.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]During some conditions of water clarity, light levels and/or other factors that reduce visibility, fish cannot see their prey in time to react and dine. Then they rely on their sensitive lateral lines to pick up vibrations and help direct them to their prey. Having a big bushy fly, and stripping it aggressively, is often the key to getting bit under these conditions.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The third major triggering mechanism for many fish is their olfactory senses. Some species rely more on how a potential food item smells than how it looks or sounds. And, time after time, I have seen how having some sweet smelling stuff on a fly or lure helps seal the deal when fish are following but not biting otherwise.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]What is the best scent? That will always be a topic for debate. Everybody seems to have their own personal preference. I don't think that a scent that is different from what the fish should expect from a certain fly or lure would turn them off. That is giving the small brained fish too much credit for conscious thought. They react to stimuli. They do not reason out every action.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]In truth, I personally believe that one of the greatest benefits to adding scent to lures is to mask human odor. Some people have lots of the hormone L-serine on their skin. That has been proven to be a definite turnoff to many species of fish.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]The oils and other ingredients in many fish attractants can indeed mess up a nicely tied fly. I use a lot of large marabou jigs and flies. Once you apply an oily attractant to the marabou, it never has the same breathing action again. [/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]I would not worry about dressing up a dry fly, or something fished near the surface. Those will be hit by sight feeders. On the other hand, if you are dredging the bottom with leeches or crawdad imitations, add a couple of drops of crawdad or nightcrawler scent and see if your reception improves.[/#0000ff]
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