How essential are after market scents? I have been using Kick'n Bass shad/anise and crawdad for awhile. I try to apply to CB's, SB's, jigs. I am curious to know what everyone else uses and opinions. Does it really matter? For years growing up out west fishing for trout, we would swear by scenting our gear with WD-40, literally out-catching our friends 3:1.
Also do you scent your plastics? I know some are salted, garlic, etc but some brand have no scent that I am aware of. Ie, zoom. What would you scent a brush hog or lizards? Any feedback would be appreciated cause im a little lost when it comes to scents.

I use DEVOUR scent on all jigs and plastics. I won't use a plastic or jig without dipping it in DEVOUR first. I use both garlic and coffee. While I make and sell DEVOUR I'll be more straight forward about it than anyone else selling it and say that there are times when it makes a difference and times when it may not. It helps when they are not eating the bait well and you have a hard time hooking up because they will start to eat it better after dipping the bait in scent most times. There are times when you may be using it and the person fishing with you isn't and you both do about the same as far as number of bites and hookups, but most times the person using a scent will have a better hookups percentage. I use it on spinnerbait and buzzbait skirts when I'm fishing around a flooded area with alot of trash on the surface since the oils from the scent reduce the trash and weeds sticking to the skirts. The addition of salt puzzles me since it will dissolve once it touches water. The main reason certain baits have salt is help make them sink (i.e. Senkos). Most scents won't stay on a bait for along period of time. With DEVOUR I use an oil base that will not wash off and is similar to the oils used when plastics are made which is why it stays on the bait so well.

I have used a bunch of different ones....like in upwards of 20+. The best ones in my opinion and in no particular order are: Bang in Crawfish for plastics and Smelly Jelly in Crawfish for hard baits and skirts. On my list to try next is Grande Bass Mega 3 scent for plastics.

Lol what's the deal with wd40 havnt heard of anyone using it in a while killer on crappie jigs too.

I use Yum Garlic-Works for me- Wanna try KVD's "Fishsticks"? look like it would be good to use on hardbaits.

Spike it Garlic dip glow. i use it on soft plastics for pinchers on craws, tails on worms and lizards, and most of all just to give something a little different look then what everyone esle is using.

Haven't used any in years. Still catch plenty but I am more of a hardbait guy.

Smelly Jelly is good stuff in Garlic and Crawfish.

I read an article in BASS (I think) a couple of months ago where they did a study on scents and how fish react to them or whether they do at all. Their study was could not show any advantage to using scents. I still use Bang in Crawfish out of habit/superstition but I really don't think it makes a difference.

Had anyone read the article I am referencing? I think it came out this winter.

I remember reading something similar bit they did say that shad scent would sometimes cause them to hold onto the bait longer (like 2-3 seconds). Iono if scent work or not personally I catch them with and without it.

Kick n bass(craw),smelly jelly(bassfeast,basshammer),Carolina lunker sauce (craw).Stick with these.

In the 45+ years of bass fishing I have tried pretty much everything know to man, stuff that would eat the bark off a tree, melt the glue holding your boat carpet down, glow in the dark sparkles that after u use it, u look like an irradiated Gene Simmons in the dark, and yes even Preparation H,actually has some success with that one, but I keep coming back to 2, KicknBass and plain old Cod Liver Oil u get at drug stores

I've been using Kick N Bass for years and in some situations it does seem to get you more bites or a least make the fish hold on to your bait a bit longer. I first started using scents for night fishing in the mid 80's and it made a big difference in the number of bites we got vs plain unscented baits. We mixed Fish Formula crawfish scent with store bought liquid garlic before some companies started selling the garlic scents which made the whole mixing process a lot easier.

I cant promise you it works every time, but it does work enough to make me want to use it regularly. You have to be careful with it because it will make a mess, dont leave it in your boat in the hotter months when you get back home from the lake.

I use power baits in everything I can. Fish just won't hardly let go of them. Must be something to the smell & taste. I LOVE THEM!

Yum F2 crawfish and shad.