[Lastcar]

I have bought a few attractants for steelheading and salmon fishing. I have Pro-Cure Steelhead Combo Bait Sauce and Smelly Jelly Special Mix Shrimp/Anise.

I have tried the Steelhead Combo on yarn and will be using the Smelly Jelly on my jigheads and leaders.

Without giving up their secret of all secrets anyone mind sharing what brands they use, how they use these types of products and specifically what scents?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Bent Rod]

Carp spit by Pro Cure.

 

[rln]

fish 3 different brand, ProCure, Smelly Jelly and Atlas/Mikes "Lunker Lotion". All have times when they work. Most of the time they work better on finicky or fish that have been around a little while. Once you figure out what scents you like they become a "Never leave home without them" type of an item.

 

[swiftwater]

I like to use mikes shrimp oil and pure anise oil from the health food store,The anise from the health food store is 100%pure and is much stronger than the bait versions. A little goes a lot further with this one.

cheers

 

[fishortho]

Shrimp, garlic oils and anise............all you need...............Ortho 8)

 

[ambler]

You guys think this stuff helps? I've tried it a few times, and haven't noticed any difference. I tend to throw a lot of flies, which can make it a little harder to hook steelhead. Perhaps scent would up the odds.

 

[Lastcar]

If you are ok with straying from the 'purist' portion of fly fishing (which was the the original attraction to fly fishing for me until I realized how much fun catching fish is) it couldn't hurt to use the smelly jelly. It is like vaseline so you could smear it on the hook with out gumming up the feathers or fur.

I doubt I would ever go this route for stillwaters or rivers like the Skagit where I fish flies exclusively. However some days on the salmon or steelhead rivers it would be nice to reduce the number of fishless days on the fly. Don't need a dozen fish, just one fish on most days. Without the odd skunking one may lose their determination. Of course improving my skills would go a long too...

 

[professori]

I would hope you wouldn't use it on the Skagit. The Skagit is a bait ban river. Added scents are considered bait.

 

[Lastcar]

Yes, I know Prof. In fact I believe it should be fly only. If you reread my statement it says 'rivers like the Skagit' by which I meant small trout streams in general. Probably should have used a generic descriptor. Sorry for the potential confusion.

In the past two years I have put in 20 days and have rarely seen gear on the river so it likely isn't a huge issue, just a personal opinion not supported by any evidence. One of the times I saw gear it was being used by a father and young (under 10) boy. If using gear turns the boy into a lifelong fan and supporter of the Skagit then I guess the river, its fish and its other fans are better off. Perhaps a gear restriction above a certain age?

 

[ambler]

I am home for the holidays. Before heading to the river a few days ago, I asked my mum if there was any annis oil in the house. She went to find it and came back, asked me what was wrong, and handed me a tube of hemorrhoid ointment.

 

[Chris]

Take it to the river, maybe it will work wonders.