Saltwater Fishing Discussion Board Including Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Saltwater Fly Fishing and Kayak Fishing

I am starting this as a new topic since I felt it may have some merit whether it be superstitious or related to poor practices.

There is no doubt that many have had a rod or reel that just don't catch fish, while others are constant producers.
I myself have several old, well used combos that always bring home fish, while other brand new outfits just don't seem to produce.

I've heard about using WD40 tricks, not cleaning the tackle, and buying only used, proven tackle vs. using a shiny new rod and reel.

How much of this is scent related when it comes to fishing? Can the fish smell the difference?

I've got a few older combos that I've been using for many years, nothing special, just rods and reels that always work well. A few are reels that I bought many years ago and have just kept using, others are just old, used yard sale finds. Yet I've got brand new rods and reels that just don't seem to catch anything, yet.
Does keeping your rods and reels super clean deter fish? Is it scent related or just superstition? I'd be interested to hear some opinions on this.

bluefishbill

Joined: 08/22/2001
Posts: 266

posted 11/06/2009 04:10 AM

good fisherman will always catch fish/

do not kill the party boat fleet

WWDLLudlum

Joined: 01/18/2006
Posts: 264
Location: Kings Park, NY

posted 11/06/2009 12:45 PM

I will gladly take any hexed fishing tackle off anyones hands to help them catch more fish.

AxBeetle
Noreast.com Club Member

Joined: 06/07/2008
Posts: 849
Location: Staten Island

posted 11/06/2009 01:22 PM

I have a bad luck 320LD available for sale $75 plus shipping w/Penn Power Handle that I never used and original handle the handle alone goes for $30. Packing it away has caught me tons of fish. But I have to keep the penn reel tool that came with it because its good luck, anything else it touches catches tons of fish, except the reel it came with.

New fishing line always outfishes old for me so does good bait. Backer doesn't matter so much, but what goes in the water does.

quote:
good fisherman will always catch fish

Yeah, because they know what gear to use Shades

I still don't know why you would put that sticker on the stop sign at walgreens???

willie864

Joined: 01/08/2005
Posts: 1414
Location: bronx

posted 11/06/2009 04:38 PM

Have no idea what bad luck equiptment is. I have a great idea what bad equiptment is, and that is not a reference to cheap stuff. Was fishing for cod on the frances fleet out on coxes ledge, about 125 feet of water. I couldn't believe what some people think is appropiate gear. Saw several trinidad 40 on stand up tuna rods with roller guides. One guy had a trinidad 50 on a shimano trevaly rod a total mismatch. He broke the rod lifting a doggie, bad luck or bad choice. I use a trini 14 on my custom rod. Caught my share of cod.

jcjigs
Noreast.com Club Member

Joined: 12/06/2008
Posts: 194
Location: Indiana, PA.

posted 11/06/2009 10:32 PM

In my youth I used to catch my share of fish using a hand line, sinker and hook only, couldn't afford a rod. By the way anyone remember fishing line named cuttyhunk???? We caught eels and stripers in the Hudson river. Seems our youthful sensitive fingers were able to detect the slightest tug on our bait, big ol night crawlers from Central Park.

JC JIGS fishing lures, You may find as good, however no better.

reelmess

Joined: 10/24/2009
Posts: 31

posted 11/07/2009 12:11 AM

willie864 wrote:
Have no idea what bad luck equiptment is. I have a great idea what bad equiptment is, and that is not a reference to cheap stuff. Was fishing for cod on the frances fleet out on coxes ledge, about 125 feet of water. I couldn't believe what some people think is appropiate gear. Saw several trinidad 40 on stand up tuna rods with roller guides. One guy had a trinidad 50 on a shimano trevaly rod a total mismatch. He broke the rod lifting a doggie, bad luck or bad choice. I use a trini 14 on my custom rod. Caught my share of cod.

I know what you mean there, I was on a Drum fish trip lest spring and there was a guy with a 6/0 Penn with an electric drive and two brief case sized batteries. He caught nothing but skates and dogfish.
Along the same lines I see the flip side where a guy has a 2500 series spin reel to catch a 50 pound drum. Its one thing to fish heavy or light, but some go to extremes. I tend to fish with my gear a bit on the heavy side, but only to the point where it may open my catch options regarding more than one species of fish. I don't have the bucks for high end gear but try to choose wisely myself, and look for deals on used tackle when I can.

clementine

Joined: 02/27/2005
Posts: 1119
Location: at the helm

posted 11/07/2009 10:05 AM

It's the fisherman not the tackle.

Sam
"You can't fix stupid."

reelworks

Joined: 01/07/2009
Posts: 33

posted 11/08/2009 10:32 PM

How about the guy that soaks his tackle in oil, or washes it down with car wash or dish soap after every trip out? Can't certain chemicals contaminate some tackle by adding an unwanted scent?

I know one guy that runs his reels through the dishwasher after every trip, then sprays them down with some sort of corrosion inhibitor he got when in the miliatary 50 years ago.

jcjigs
Noreast.com Club Member

Joined: 12/06/2008
Posts: 194
Location: Indiana, PA.

posted 11/08/2009 11:12 PM

reelworks wrote:
with some sort of corrosion inhibitor he got when in the miliatary 50 years ago.

Only corrosion inhibitor I remember from that time was called Cosmoline, and that was some pretty thick stuff

JC JIGS fishing lures, You may find as good, however no better.

AxBeetle
Noreast.com Club Member

Joined: 06/07/2008
Posts: 849
Location: Staten Island

posted 11/09/2009 12:32 AM

reelworks wrote:
How about the guy that soaks his tackle in oil, or washes it down with car wash or dish soap after every trip out? Can't certain chemicals contaminate some tackle by adding an unwanted scent?

I know one guy that runs his reels through the dishwasher after every trip, then sprays them down with some sort of corrosion inhibitor he got when in the miliatary 50 years ago.

I don't do it, but I have heard people say that oils make a sheen in the water and sometimes the fish are drawn to it. Gulp may do something like this.

I still don't know why you would put that sticker on the stop sign at walgreens???

crackedglass

Joined: 01/11/2009
Posts: 42

posted 11/09/2009 02:43 AM

I've got a few buddies that swear WD40 attracts fish. They spray it all over their lines and tackle boxes. They don't get any corrosion but I don't suppose it's much good for the line.
I would think that maybe some oils could attract fish, but whether or not they'd bite because of I can't say. I'd also think that certain silicones and less organic lubes might do the opposite.

I know more than one fisherman who refuse to wash their tackle and swear it catches more fish.

On the flip side, I've repainted several lures which got so full of tooth marks the color was gone. They smelled like fresh paint for a year but still caught fish. Yet I've got a few plugs which have never even seen a hit, others that I gave up on years ago, and now they work very well after about 5 years in my old tackle box.

I do find it hard to believe that fish, who often are leader shy, and can no doubt smell bait, won't be suspicious of a lure or line that smells like chemicals instead of food.