One of the things I like about writing sport fishing columns is addressing controversial stuff.
One of these subjects is the use of attractants (or fish luring scents).
There is no doubt that attractants work, and work well. Field tests across the board, by many of the popular manufacturers, have proved that treated lures (flies included) out-fish untreated lures by a ratio of four to one.
The reason is that fish have a keen sense of smell, which is three-and-a half times greater than that of a dog. Scientific studies have shown this sense is accurate in detecting amino acids diluted up to one part per ten million.
The controversy comes into play when the questions are asked: Which scents work, and which hat scents don't work? Is it ethical to use scents?
Aside from the controversial debate, there is another factor that needs to be considered; repellants. If certain scents attract, others must then repel.
It has been said that petroleum-base materials repel fish, yet the late Charley White maintained that bilge water is one of the best salmon attractors. Citrus is undisputedly one of the worst, as is Deet.
L-Serine, an amino acid that can be emitted through human skin, is another offender but can be eliminated simply by hand washing.
THE REPORT
Fishing on our Lower Mainland lakes is Grade A. Our local bass and panfish fisheries are also good. For bass try Wooly bugger, Big Black, Lizard, Clouser's Deep Minnow, Zonker, Tied Down Minnow, Bucktail, Dolly Whacker, or Crayfish, sizes 4 to 1. For Crappie or Pumpkinseed try Wooly Bugger, Big Black or Micro Leach.
