07-06-2021, 08:36 PM
I don't remember which web site it was, it may have been tackleunderground.com, it may have been makelure.com, or even Lurebuilding 101 for all I can remember, but it was about 15+ years ago.
The site had a poll to determine the top 10 things lure builders considered when they made/fished with a lure. Most of the time on this site I see color or scent talked about, but this international group of lure designers/builders considered those as number 9 and number 10 on the list. Other things, like depth control, size, shape, action, etc., all ranked higher.
Now, making the top 10 on a list like that means it IS important, and that is why I try to keep my hands clean. Ya, I agree, sunscreen is bad news, don't have it and you get skin cancer, have it on your hands and fish don't like it. I have gone to long sleeve shirts, UV rated, I used the pull over face and neck mask before COVID, good hat, and fingerless sun gloves. Still, I put some SPF 50 where my sunglass side arms are because my mask won't cover. I do that at home, clean my hands with scent free, dye free soap.
I remember something about the bass pro who said something like 'if the fish are aggressive that you could dip your bait in gas and the fish would take it'. He is right, tried it. But, if fishing is hard, sometimes something as simple anise with crawfish will work but crawfish won't and anise won't.
Larry Dahlberg of HUNT FOR BIG FISH fame always says you have to ask the fish what they want. I guess he is right, every day, several times each day. Certain trends seem to be true, and at least keeping sunscreen, and that breakfast burrito, and the nacho cheese chips, off your hands seems to always be a good idea.
But, yes, I have seen days when fishing on lakes in Washington where scent was not legal, considered bait, and catching that first fish was more difficult. We than would rub the lures on the sides of the fish and that was "legal" and it worked. LOL
The site had a poll to determine the top 10 things lure builders considered when they made/fished with a lure. Most of the time on this site I see color or scent talked about, but this international group of lure designers/builders considered those as number 9 and number 10 on the list. Other things, like depth control, size, shape, action, etc., all ranked higher.
Now, making the top 10 on a list like that means it IS important, and that is why I try to keep my hands clean. Ya, I agree, sunscreen is bad news, don't have it and you get skin cancer, have it on your hands and fish don't like it. I have gone to long sleeve shirts, UV rated, I used the pull over face and neck mask before COVID, good hat, and fingerless sun gloves. Still, I put some SPF 50 where my sunglass side arms are because my mask won't cover. I do that at home, clean my hands with scent free, dye free soap.
I remember something about the bass pro who said something like 'if the fish are aggressive that you could dip your bait in gas and the fish would take it'. He is right, tried it. But, if fishing is hard, sometimes something as simple anise with crawfish will work but crawfish won't and anise won't.
Larry Dahlberg of HUNT FOR BIG FISH fame always says you have to ask the fish what they want. I guess he is right, every day, several times each day. Certain trends seem to be true, and at least keeping sunscreen, and that breakfast burrito, and the nacho cheese chips, off your hands seems to always be a good idea.
But, yes, I have seen days when fishing on lakes in Washington where scent was not legal, considered bait, and catching that first fish was more difficult. We than would rub the lures on the sides of the fish and that was "legal" and it worked. LOL