Fish Attractants and Fish sense of smell

[Flyjunkie]

I goop this on all my flies. Sometimes they get foul hooked because their patented "sex attract" gets the fish all wound up and they try to do something other than eat the fly.

Yeah Jazz, when that happens it takes away from the "peaceful relaxing pursuit of Flyfishing"...

[NorcalBob]

<<<when a person takes up the Fly rod there are certain guidelines that are to followed, and spraying scents on your fly certainly isn't one of them>>>
Every person needs to define what THEIR flyfishing experience is about, under their own terms, and not necessarily follow the "sheeople". I know a few "big name" fly flingers whose name you'd probably recognize that use scents on their flies. The only rules about fly fishing is to go your own way and do your own thing. Be legal with the law and follow your own path.

[JGFLYFISH]

I ate a mayfly once before and it didn't have a smell nor taste...

[Rockstar Fisherman]

I'm almost too lazy too tie a blood knot, and for sure too cheap to buy any scents, but you know this about me Mark

On the other hand, I used scents today spin fishing (this is the only weekend of the year my Dad and I fish together) and I will say we caught a lot of steelhead here in Oregon!!!

[Flyjunkie]

<<<when a person takes up the Fly rod there are certain guidelines that are to followed, and spraying scents on your fly certainly isn't one of them>>>
Every person needs to define what THEIR flyfishing experience is about, under their own terms, and not necessarily follow the "sheeople". I know a few "big name" fly flingers whose name you'd probably recognize that use scents on their flies. The only rules about fly fishing is to go your own way and do your own thing. Be legal with the law and follow your own path.

[rayfound]

Honestly, I don't think that trout eat in streams by scent - pretty sure its mainly visual - other fish are obviously different.

A scent might help with getting them to look though - tough to say. Personally, I do not think it would work, and only a scientific, double-blinded study would prove to me it does work in a fast stream.

Now in stillwater, i can see it working, again, as something that gets the fish to come and have a look.

Either way, its not something I have any interest at all in, and legally speaking, its baitfishing (as others noted).

[fflutterffly]

On a whim I tried the carp stuff in the LA river and it didn't increase or decrease my catch rate. I still stunk up the place!

[Danny McB]

I hate having to put floatant on my dry flies. Putting on scent just seems like too much work in the wrong direction for me.