I once heard wd40 sprayed on plugs helps there effectiveness. Do any of you guys spray your plugs with this stuff or would you advise against it.

I will sometimes use it on my spinners, I dont know if the scent helps or not but it tends to make it spin easier.

I have fished the snake river and the clearwater river in idaho and when we pull plugs we always use wd 40.I believe the use is to hid any scent from your hands and help to attract the fish

I recently read on the Web an interview with one of the people who developed Berkley's Powerbait products. He was asked about WD-40 and categorically said that WD-40's molecules were too large to be picked up by fishes' (all species?) olafactory organs ('noses', I think). Fish simply can't smell WD-40. This guy went on to speculate that WD-40's reputation might stem from its acting as a masking agent rather than being an attractor itself.

Strangely, this same fellow seemed to think that the pheronome-based Power Bait products were superior to WD-40 in their fish appeal.
(I don't know about steelhead, but this is certainly the case when using plastic worms and grubs for other fish. Unfortunately, Power Bait plastics cost a bomb and usually last one-per-fish when the targets are toothy critters.)

I know that Berkley makes small-ish worms, wigglers and tube baits marketed as trout or crappie lures. Anyone have any luck with these on steelies or salmon?

I've used Power maggots tipped on a 1/16th oz jig in low clear water in the summer and had good luck for summer runs.

berkley makes a six inch, pink power worm. i live on vancouver island and if you don't use pink worms on some systems your missing out. i have seen summer-run steelies swim 60 ft upstream to grab them on the retreive. they are a must in my vest. it says fish bite and wont let go on the package, they're not lying!

They make a four-inch worm too ... no comment from this point on ...

I know a couple of guys that swear by the new "Exude" worms that produce a slime coating with scent (Berkely product?). I myself like the Yamaguchi worms that have the curly tail. They quiver like a 15 year old 'bout to get his first.

Comment about Berkelys WD40 remark. All salmon can pick up scents at the parts per billion level in the water (1 part per billion is about 1 drop of something in a swimming pool). They use their sense of smell to feed and to avoid predators (like bears, humans etc.). The scents that potential salmon food produce are proteins, amino acids, and other complex organic molecules that are much much larger than a hydrocarbon molecule like WD40.

I didn't see the article mentioned, but it sounds like marketing larky.

WD-40: I went to www.berkley-fish.com to look for the interview. No dice, but I e-mailed the question to them and will post their reply when/ if I get a response. (I'll also keep looking for the interview.)

Powerbait for steelhead: Thanks to all for the feedback. While I was at the Berkley website I noticed that Berkely now markets a 4" Power Steelhead worm (w/ paddle tail) in bubblegum and sherbet colors.

I also checked the infamous In-Fisherman Steelhead video (the one where all the fish are lifted by fingers under their gill covers)and the narrator recommends Berkley Micro Sandworms and Power Wigglers (for tipping jigs), while mentioning that 1" 'white tubes' catch cold water Midwest steelhead (esp.when tipped with a grub). FYI.

One of the primary ingredients in WD-40 is supposedly fish oil. Which would explain why it works on lures and totally debunk the Berkely guys claims.

I don't understand why people would use WD40 when there are lots of excellent scents on the market that are made for attracting fish!

I use WD-40 from time to time, but also use ANISE Oil. I have always heard that WD-40 was nothing but scented diesel fuel??
I usually take the cover off my outboard engine from time to time and spray the engine.

I don't think it really hurts to try..Know of two youngsters that limited on steelhead. they sprayed it on their bobbers every 15 minutes, and got fish when all the other folks that they were fishing in the middle of did not. when asked by an old timer if if really works, they said " you tell us, we got fish and are going home now"

Who cares WHY it works, as much as whether it does or not?! As long as it works, I don't much care!! heheh!

Tom