That's My Story

HANDS ON! HANDS OFF!

Originally published in Western Outdoor News, the week of July 22, 2008

One of our readers, Larry Wayne, sent me an e-mail recently asking about scent and it’s effects on fishing. Specifically, he wanted to know about sunscreen on his hands. To wit:

“ I have both read and been told that sunblocks have ingredients that are highly repellent to fish, and that if you have sunblock on your hands when you handle lures or bait, it will significantly hurt your chances of getting bit.

Since I am fairly dark skinned to begin with, I have rarely worried much about sunburn, but with what I now know, I have to be careful not to overexpose myself…Do you agree that getting sunblock from your hands onto lures or bait can repel fish, and, if so, what do you advise your clients to do to prevent that problem?”

This is the first time I’ve gotten a written query about the subject, but I’ve been asked about this when doing fishing seminars. So, let’s spread my two cents (scents?) on the subject.

First and foremost, I too am dark-skinned. I never go out on the water without the sunblock on. I used to think that I was immune to the sun as well. I never burned. I got a deep dark tan. Then, I had a little bout with skin cancer and that opened my eyes and I’ve also noticed how many of my own clients and friends are now paying the price for their time under the sun. It’s a serious issue. Don’t let yourself burn.

Secondly, on the subject of scents, I’m a big believer. Fish might have brains the size of a pea, but they have handy-dandy keen senses that keep them alive. Their sense of smell is just one of them. But it’s awfully powerful and a big motivator in getting the fish to eat or not to eat what you’re offering.

Just look at yourself. If the cheeseburger not only looks like a cheeseburger , but also smells like the roasted charbroiled meat, the grilled onions, the sesame bun toasted with butter…well, you get the idea. Are you salivating yet?

By the same token , if it looked like a cheeseburger but all you can smell are your roomate’s smelly gym sneakers he left near the dinner table, that would be a turnoff too!

Same with fish. Just look at the display counters at your local tackle store. Row upon row of lotions, potions, oils and goo to put you your lure, live bait, or other terminal tackle. There’s “stink bait” for catfish. Shrimp scent for rockfish. Anchovy and squid stink for pelagic bluewater species. Crawfish flavor for bass. Trout get garlic. There’s probably a cheeseburger scent in there somewhere too!

Some anglers even swear that stuff like WD-40 lubricant is a powerful scent as well. (But that’s for another column).

The point is, smell does have an effect, both positively and negatively.

Sprays, lotions, chemicals, gasoline and solvents from your boat; your cigarette; wiping sweat off your brow; even (gasp) eating that cheeseburger or burrito on the docks or in your box lunch all have scents and oils. Rub the side of your nose. See that oil on your finger? All can be transferred to your rod, reel, line, lures and bait.

I grew up fishing with my old Japanese, Filipino and Hawaiian uncles and cousins. They were religious about keeping their hands clean. The hand that touched the cigarette or sandwich did NOT touch the baits or gear. That’s how we were brought up, whether fishing for trout or tuna.

Obviously, you can’t go around all day with your hands in gloves so anytime we touched anything, we would wash our hands when possible before touching the gear or baits. But, even soap has scent to it…usually something flowery or antiseptic.

So, after getting the gunk off our hands, we’d grab a piece of dead bait or even a small live one and mash it in our hands. We’d stick them in the ground chum…anything to mask the human oils on our hands or things we had touched. Only then, would we touch our gear.

So, use the sunscreen. Eat the burger. But keep your hands as clean as you can!

That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.