Method to Apply Scent to Steelhead Plugs

[FM2]

I'm looking for ideas on how to provide scent to plugs. I have made up some scent receipes and want to experiment with using various ones and steelhead plugs.

In the past I have applied scent directly to the plugs, things like Mike's, WD-40 and smelly jelly. It seems as soon as the plug hit's the water most of the scent is washed off before you can get the plug in the strike zone. Also putting this stuff on the plugs gums them up and takes away from the finish which at times I believe the fish strike based on the color.

One method I am currently experimenting with is tying on a barrell swivel about 18" above the plug and putting a round shaped plastic sleeve on the main line above the swivel. The sleeve is about 1" long but I have many choices in lengths. I have a product line of plastic parts and there are several parts I think will work but the sleeve seems to fit and would be easily installed. I could then fill the sleeve with the scent solution and with some small holes drilled in the sleeve the scent could be slowly released back to the plug. I think this would attract the fish to the plug and could possibly induce a higher ratio of strikes.

What ideas to others have?

[David Johnson]

Since the salmon and steelhead have a sense of smell of 1 per billion I don' think you need a huge amount of scent on your plug. You're right about the liquid washing off but I've had real good luck with Smelly Jelly staying on. To keep from messing up the finish just apply a small dab on the top of the plug, away from the hooks and snap etc and then when you're done using it first wipe it off with a towel and then wash it with soap.

[Fishing freak]

Good question,

When I was down at the Rogue for the Holidays a friend of mine at a Ma and Pa store( Pats hand tied flies) showed me some scent patches that have what looks like felt with stickey tape on the back side. They can be cut to accomadate your plug,and then add your scent to the plug. might work on a bigger plug (Kwikfish etc.) The problem I saw was that the felt was white. If you could color them to possibly match your lure, they might work. I was done fishing for the trip and didn't give them a try.

[Dr Strangelove]

My grandfather taught me the value of foam plugs sopped up with scents while catfishing. Try needling the line through a 1"x1/2" cylinder of couch foam above the barrel swivel and sop it with sandshrimp oil. You can cut the plugs with old umbrella tubing sharpened with a file or grinder. Looks like a punch biopsy for those of you unfortunate enough to be in my office. Good luck, Dr Strangelove

[David Johnson]

Fishin' Freak,

That color doesn't matter, when we tie sardines on our Kwikfish the meat is white and they catch fish.

I think I've seen those pads you are talking about and you are right about them being a big for steelhead plugs.

[FM2]

Dave, what is your opinion of the dispersion of the smelly jelly. The scents I have been working with have different ingredients to aid in the dispersion of the scent. The oils are nice binders but as you know oil and water do not mix so much of the scent will just float to the top thus possibly not reaching the fish.

When I think of dispersion I think of eggs milking out so when they are below the surface and flowing with the current a scent trail is created to attract the fish. I'm trying to use this same thought process with liquid scents.

I'm in the experimental phase of this project and appreciate everyone posting their thoughts and experiences.

Thanks for your time!

[David Johnson]

Smelly Jelly must dispers as particles into the water.

As far as eggs milking into the water wouldn't that be water soluable? The milk you see is the protiens and fat that is pushed out of the egg as the water goes back into the membrain.

Maybe you can make something up that is water soluable yet thick so it doesn't all wash off at once.

[Dr Strangelove]

water soluble and thick - how about taking power bait and making a thick slurry with some water and basting it on the plug, foam, or inside the tube? Just a thought, Dr Strangelove

[Buddy Page]

I've had very good luck with Smelly Jelly. I also use smelly jelly as a base and mix other liquid and paste scents into it. I like to start off with about a half jar of either shrimp or herring scent and then add other scents (tuna, sand shrimp, salmon egg, etc.)

I also buy the red steelhead and predator scents and add some to the mix. My idea here is that a good cocktail of scents increases the chance you'll entice any nearby fish. Seems to work well.

You end up with a potent paste/gel. It sticks to spinner blades and plugs for a half hour or more depending on water temperature and conditions. This mix has greatly improved my success with hardware and I never fish any hardware now without scent.

By the way, if you're fishing blue fox spinners, be careful not to get any gel on the inside of the blade. It'll make the blade stick to the spinner body.

[FM2]

Eggs are water soluable which is one of the reasons they are effective. This is the challenge with scents, to make them disperse with the right attributes that will mix with the cold water. There is also the current to deal with that will either aid or hinder the dispersement of the scent.

The scents themselves whether they are shrimp, sardine, egg or others are generally extracted as an oil. There is not much that can be done with this so the challenge becomes on how to provide the most effective dispersment of the scent. Unfortunately pure scent would not be cost effective so that is why they are mixed with other binders. Smelly jelly is a good product and works at times but how soluable is the base material. The jelly also distorts the finish of the lure/plug it's being applied to.

Has anyone experienced any negative effect of a plugs action by applying something to it (velcro, pads, etc). My thought is to keep the plug as it was designed and not to interfere with the finish or shape to obtain the optimal results. This is why I am experimenting with alternative ways to provide a scent while pulling plugs.

I think there is a new dimension to providing scents to pulling plugs and there is enough technology available to discover a new method so this topic just needs to evolve with all the great ideas folks have.

Keep the ideas flowing!! :grin: :grin: :grin:

[periwinkle]

How about cutting some small felt strips 1/4" down to a point, (like the 'shammy skin' you used to use for Crappy) - impale it on the siwash at the back of your plug and soak it in scent??
I have some of these in my plug box but haven't been out yet this year. Shouldn't interfere with plugs action.

[Up-4-Air]

I've added pieces of tape backed velcro to my plugs. Use the side of velcro that has the stiff little hooks rather than the fuzzy side. Then smash a piece of sardine into the velcro instead of using a wrap. It washes out over time but is easy to touch up with another small gob of sardine. I've also tried smashing power bait into the velcro. :smile:

[FM2]

Great feedback, the more ideas that come out, the better chances folks have of putting more fish in the box. This is the goal. :grin: :grin:

This experimenting will take time and effort to possibly discover any new methods of bagging the steelies. If anyone is interested in working with me on this project, just shoot me an email and I will discuss with you some ideas on how to catch more feesh . As I mentioned, I have a plastic hardware product line of over 2000 items and in looking at many of these I believe there is a possibility of several of the items working to provide a scent trail leading to plugs. All this will involve is creativness and ingenunity. :grin: I have also been working with different scent receipes and dispersion methods so I will supply this and the hardware.

Anyone want to catch more fish!! :grin: :grin:

[Pete]

I'd be careful about putting something on the line above your plug. The Oregon Regs. prohibit "Chumming: Depositing in the water any substance, not attached to a hook, which may attract fish". I don't know whether something on the line above the hook is attached to the hook ... it certainly seems like the line is an attachment, but I'd want to check it out with ODFW before I did it.

[Gizmo Man]

FM2, if you want to dispense a liquid type scent like smelley jelley try this:

Find a small piece of aquarium air hose or the air hose people on respirators use (I have some if you want it). Cut a piece about 2" long. Know all those red beads you have in your tackle box. Find two that will fit inside the tube and the ones with the smallest holes in them.

run one bead up the line, then the tube, then the second bead. Time for a bobber stop knot below the last bead.

Push bottom bead into the tube. Fill tube with your favorite scent the push upper bead into tube. Adjust the bobber stop the distance you want from the plug or herring if you want to use this for herring also.

Catching on....

Good luck...Giz... :smile:

[FM2]

Good point about chumming, I have checked into this and have not had one negative comment about using a device on the mainline that releases a liquid scent. Your point is well taken Pete and I addressed this from a position of using corkies, yarn and birdies which I use a lot for steelhead. These are not attached to hooks and are attractants to fish and in many instances the yarn is coated with some sort of scent. There were no decisive opinions expressed.

The bead idea sound really good. I was looking at some plastic parts tonight and found a terminal cover that I think could work. You have probably seen spade terminal covers that are round on one end and have the flat oval shape on the other, well I found one that is nearly round in shape and is made from clear pvc which could slip down the main line and then be filled with a scent solution. The bead idea really fits this well and can act as a regulator to release scent in a measured form to create a stable and consistent scent trail.

Gizmo, can you share what your success has been using your creative approach?

Thanks! :smile:

[CAGEY]

Thin strip of velcrow (the fuzzy side) then squish the scent on and you are in business.

[ampersat]

here's a tip for the bank-stricken angler who might be watching this thread for ideas:
when fishing with slinkies, soak them down with scent as well as soaking whatever is tied on behind it.

as long as it's already tagging along for the ride, it might as well make itself a little more useful. to bad i'm fishing with pencil lead these days.

[Jbug]

just barely coat you're trailing hooks with smelly jelly (not the sticky liquid type). make sure its not gobbed on there. this also works with spinners and spoons and usually lasts quite a while before it needs recoating.