When I was still chewing (Skoal long cut) I used to spit on my jig all the time. Swore by it. I've also sprayed my soft plastics and jigs with WD40. It works.

I chew grizzly straight and have noticed that a few spits in the water often turns some lazy fish on. Maybe a light tobacco "high" for them, but more likely I think it helps mask the scent of people when handling the lures.

The real thing to think about is that if it even crossed your mind that the tiny residue that might be passed from your finger to a lure that is then dragged through the water might be offensive to a fish...how offensive and damaging are the cartons and cartons of cigarettes that you smoke to your own body!!!! Seems like a great reason to quit...catch more fish and add years to your life!!!

My grandfather was a commercial fisher man in California. He fished for Rock Cod, Albacore and Salmon and he swore about scent control. My grandfather is a 2-3 pack a day smoker and when he doesnt have a cig in his hand he has a cup of coffee. Anyways, he wears gloves when he handles baits, lures, or lines. That being said Salmon are extremely sensitive to human scent. I do not believe that bass and other freshwater fish are a sensitive to human scent but I have read that there is a negative influence of human odor and nicotine on fishing. However, when the fishing is great I doubt you will notice any difference, but when the fishing is bad any little thing will help.

I smoke two cigs when I'm fishing. One when I get there and the other when I go home. Waste of time to sit out there without your focus on the reels

The scent of Copenhagen drives fish crazy. Fact.

I smoke half a pack a day at work (when fishing, I smoke less than a quarter of that :P )
It does not change my catch results.

When done with with one, I dispose of them in an empty disposable coffee cup. At the end of the day, I toss the cup into the nearest trash can.