Looking for some help!

I was wondering which scents, or smelly jelly you have found to be the most effective when trolling in the salt.

Aunty M, I know from some of your posts that you use a lot of them , I troll cut plug a lot , sometimes on downrigger behind hotspot, some times 6 ozs.15- 20pulls do you use anise or herring oil on either? And What kind of smelly jelly (flavor or brand) do you use, if any?

I've heard of injecting bait with scent, is this effective? What do you use?

As you can tell I ask a lot of questions !

I hope I haven't offended anybody!

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

herm

Scents (paste and oils) serve two purposes: (1) to mask the human scent (L-lysine from the hands) and (2) provide a scent trail for "hard" baits, e.g., hootchys and spoons. The paste last longer when applied on hard baits than oils. I know a lot of folks that add scent to their cut plugs for an added scent trail. I very rarely use bait, so I have no idea how much more magical adding scent to a "natural" smelling herring can be (??). Seems to me that by adding scent, you'd decrease the effectiveness of the natural bait. Again, I am not a bait guy.... I can tell you that you'll be hard pressed to inject Smelling Jelly paste in a cut plug. Used a liquid like Pro Cure.

When I troll a plug cut bait I flick the guts out of the herring and squirt a dollop of smelly jelly herring scent into the cavity, thats the way I was shown, can't say if it is better or not, but I catch fish...

The only use for oils and scents I've found is to stink up my boat. Every time Ive used smelly jelly I cant buy a bite until I wash that stuff off my lures. So I just wash my tackle on a regular basis and if I want scent I'll go with a strip of herring which is usually only for silvers. Every once in awhile a little squirt of WD40 on the hands if Ive gotten gas or grease on them.

I also use a herring strip but for both BM and Coho. The trick is to "Julienne" them into thin strips...you cooks out there know what I mean. This keeps the hooch rollling and darting nicely without a slab of meat hanging off it.

Last year when fishing off WP in the Everett Derby, I trolled a hooch with a strip and hit 7 fish, 3 coho and 4 chinook with this combo. ..after that I was convinced.


I was using my new knucklebuster that day and got one of those workouts that hurt the good way!

I think that method can be very effective, I dont use smelly jelly or other scents on anything but the flasher or downrigging gear.

Auntym are you gonna help me out here please?




herm

Herm,

I didn't read the "effectiveness" part...

Use whatever scent (flavor) you have confidence in. With minor differences (strength), I don't think one is more effective than the other. All of them mask odor- that's is the most important factor (for salmon). The scent trails left by pastes are actually small and only really help if Mr. Salmon is following the bait at a close distance. The liquid types will provide a decent scent trail however, it will wash off in no time from trolling around.

Let me throw a curve ball in there.... I would choose herring or shrimp before anchovy in the sound. Blackmouth in the sound are more in tune with the herring than anchovy... Although the anchovy is consider a forage fish in Washington, there presence in the strait/sound is minimal at best- unlike off the Columbia R.

Some folks like to mix and match flavors... I think it is more of a confidence thing at that point. I like to follow the "natural" flavors.

I use only two flavors... Herring and garlic (fresh crushed) or herring and (secret).

AuntyM & DR !

Thank you much!



herm