[cool]Hey, Leaky, you are old enough to remember when "rubber worms" first hit the angling scene. Most fishermen laughed at them. They were the "Banjo Lures" of that time. But, a few guys thought "What the heck!" and began experimenting with them.
I was one of them. The first few bass I caught on the early fake worms were more by accident than design. I had no idea how to present them or work them. Consequently, I did it right...casted, let them sink to the bottom and then vary the retrieve until I got bites.
I knew nothing about Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, Wacky rigs, drop shottin', flippin, pitchin' or any of the other fancy stuff we take for granted today. And, If there was any scent on my phony worms it was peanut butter, from one of my fuel food sandwiches...or maybe some chocolate. No fancy amino acids, pheromones or salt. Just plain old plastic.
The Creme Lure company were one of the original plastic worm manufacturers. They are still around today and have greatly expanded their lines. You can visit their website at [url "http://creme.zoovy.com/"]http://creme.zoovy.com/[/url]
In the olden days, I did extremely well with only three colors...natural worm, black and purple. Later on I picked up some clear blue and some dark red. Over the years I have almost gone blind with all the fancy new colors available, but I can still take my three original worms...in those three colors...and catch bass almost anywhere they exist....and without scents.
We have become spoiled. While there are still a few anglers who do not either buy scented plastics, or buy scents to anoint their lures...most of us have come to believe in the use of attractants. And, justifiably so. Almost anyone who has tried scents has proven their effectiveness to themselves.
Since the DWR has set the rules, we have to live with them. No good reason for them...just policy. (sound familiar). The good news is that it does not mean you can't catch fish on non-flavored lures. It just means you have to be a better all around fishermen. You have to read the water better, make better casts and work your lures more enticingly. Sometimes frustrating, but necessary if you want to avoid contributing to the DWR party fund.
One of the points that has been made...by a couple of BFTers who have almost found out the hard way...is that you can not only not use scents on your lures...but you cannot have either scent or scented lures anywhere in your possession on waters that are thus regulated. If a fisheries officer searches your vehicle, and finds scent in your tackle box in your vehicle, you are busted.
Is that fair? I think not. But, on waters that get hammered by harvesters, it is more fair than letting too many cooler clowns remove all the fish from the lake. There are already too many spots where you never know if you will find more fishermen than fish.
On a personal note, I am going to suggest you acquire some deer hair bugs and some sexy streamers...with mono weed guards...and start learning how to get those largies on the fairy wand. That will put a big enough
on your face that you won't be worrying about sweetened plastics any more.
You would probably benefit by getting together with Emuscud. He is a fly tyer and whips up a pretty mean series of warm water patterns. He is still working on graduating from troutskis to non-troutskis, but is making rapid progress. You guys might be able to gang up on them.
[signature]
]Leaky
