Fishing Tips

Did you know that fish can sense foreign scents and tastes on your bait and lures?

I was down at the local pier the other morning and I got talking to an old fisherman. He is in the prime of his life, having worked hard as a machine operator in a factory, he is now retired and goes fishing every morning with his faithful little dog Bosco.

As we were talking he was catching quite a few Garfish, while my bait stayed in the water without so much as a nibble. That's when he asked what I had been doing this morning. I told him that I had been for my morning walk with my wife and our dog, had a shower and a shave before I headed down here for some relaxation time.

His next question astounded me, 'what aftershave did you use?'

'Gillette Ice Cool' I replied

'There's your problem!' He said, 'Your wife might think you smell good with it on, but the fish don't'

He continued to tell me that fish can sense foreign scents and tastes in the water. By baiting my hook after using aftershave, the scent of the aftershave would be passed onto the bait or lure and the fish wouldn't touch it.

Even freshly washed human hands can leave foreign scents on bait. The best way to remove any scent is to mix up a small bottle of tuna oil and water, then rinse your hands with a small amount before baiting your hook, wiping any excess off with a towel so you don't get oil all over your equipment. You only need to use enough to moisten your hands enough for the tuna oil smell to cover any other scents.

Aftershave isn't the only thing that will scare fish off. Having a cigarette, using sun screen and hundreds of other small things we wouldn't think about can drive fish away from your bait.

Be smart, catch more fish, keep your hands free from foreign smells!

More great tips can be found at: http://www.fishinglinks.com.au

About the author: Ben Young is a recreational fisherman with over 25 years experience in fresh water, surf, estuary and lake fishing. http://www.fishinglinks.com.au