Hello Everybody,

So I had to take a leave of absence for a while... moved out to western/mid mass for 2 years. Haven't been out at all in that time. Been an overall bad time. But I am back by the water again. On the north shore now, a whole bunch of new spots I'm excited about.

Any way.. let's pretend for a second that I'm not the worst/unluckiest striper fishermen ever to grace these boards (I know how hard that is to do :hihi:). I've been having a pretty terrible season so far, in spots that make me drool. I've had one fish take, and I lost it. I've tossed everything I have in my bag at em. nothin... Tomorrow night I'm resorting to eels.

That being said.. I have a feeling that my lack of luck this year is due to all my gear sitting in my basement untouched for 2 years. I feel like they reek of basement stench. Gas burner, laundry, cleaning chemicals were all down there with them. My plug bag was even little mildewy cause it's a really damp basement. (plus i started smoking again, so that probably isn't helping) I think I'd be doing a lot better if I minimized the bad smells, and covered them up with something yummy. I checked around the local shops today, planning to buy whatever they had. They of course had nothing. So now I will be ordering online and have a whole world of options open to me. If you remember me, you know how overwhelmed I get when I have choices. I just want to chose the most effective one.

What should I go with?

I was looking at the "pro-cure" scent line, a whole bunch of options for stink and I couldn't decide on one. at $6.60 for 2oz I can't really afford to invest in every scent right now, so does anyone have any experience with them? What is the best all around "flavor" that I could use on everything?

What else are you guys using for scents these days? I remember some discussion "way back" about scent sticks, I think? Any suggestions that you guys have with scents is appreciated.

I was also thinking about buying some bunker, or macks or whatever and just tossing all my plugs in with them for a few hours.

p.s.- good to see some familiar names still posting on these boards.

p.p.s. - I did look at the scent thread in the how to's. Just wondering if anything new is out.

I think you're just in a funk and that if you keep getting out there you're odds will change. I respect tossing the plugs with the bunker and macs though.

Chris is that you?? Welcome back!:)

Hey Larry, it tis I. How have you been? Hope the yak is treating ya well.

And Iceman... I've been in a funk with stripers for the past 15 years. lol. :smash:

This year is really bad though. I can't even get a bump. I'm putting myself on rocks that I only dreamed about on the south shore. Nothing. You're probably right, it might be all in my head, but I have a feeling that my never stunk up plugs are a contributor to my problems.

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Doing good Chris nice to see you back! Have faith and have fun when you go out there! Choose high water and drift some eels! Be patient and it will pay off but just enjoy being out there!:uhuh:

Haha good one sandman.

Good to hear Larry. You know I always enjoy it, wouldn't stand out there for hours with 0 results if i didn't. I wish eels were an everyday choice. Money is scarce these days, so the $20 for a dozen eels every other night just can't happen. I shouldn't even be buying them tomorrow night, but I need a fish soon. Been far too long. Really need to figure out my plug problems. Couldn't even get them to bump your prey swimmer. That thing is always good for a few strikes at least. I just can't afford to drop money on bait/eels every time I go out this year. Gotta get these plugs working for me. How hard can it be? lol

Yeah I would use some eels, the fish are there, you just gotta entice them!

Also keep moving, I know I used to spend way too much time in a spot if I thought it looked good when looking back I should have been moving around a lot more.

I like Gulp Herring scent when I throw soft body shads in the Canal. I know that it make a huge difference. I have had days when the guys right next to me were getting skunked and I was hooking up. I gave them the spray and they started hooking up also. It's not that expensive either. $8.00 and it will last at least the rest of this season.

Thanks piemma that's along the lines of what I was looking for.

Many years back (15 or so) I had a bottle of spray on "saltwater" scent, that I sprayed on everything, and nailed them everyday. I cant for the life of me remember what was in it though. Killed them in freshwater too. There is no doubt in my mind scent makes a huge difference. I'm just cautious now, because a few years back I soaked everything in bunker oil, and still nothing. A wasted $15 that was. Can't afford to be tossing money around left and right on hunches this year.

I am by no means an expert but maybe try soaking gear in something non-chemical/deodorizing like baking soda first? rinse and set in the sun a few days to kill off any mildew? Then try scenting after? Just a thought here but thinking throwing scent over stinky gear might be like lighting a match in the can.....now it's going to smell like someone lit a crap on fire!:fart2:

Good luck and cheer up...it could be worse! You could be a working-all-the-time-fool in W.Mass who doesnt have the time to go fishing at all! :smash:

Thanks Jenn, that's a good idea. I was fairly concerned with that myself, but I was unsure of how I should go about it. Any ideas on cleaning plugs would be nice. I know I've had trips where I've gotten insect repellent, or sunscreen or something on them and thought "uggg, just ruined that one".

Also I'm thinking.. Tomorrow night when I go out with the eels, thinking of rubbing the goo all over my needles.

You'll get them Chris, keep at it. I would rinse all the plugs in fresh water, let them dry in the sun, then apply the scent. Just a matter of time. Are you mixing up your selection? Like Big Swimmers, Small Swimmers, Needles, Danny's, soft plastics, tin. Like I said, I think you're just in a funk and once you break the seal the flood gates will open. Best of luck. If money's tight no need to buy a dozen eels each time out. Buy a few each night and you'll know if the fish are there.

I use scent in the sweetwater for both stripers and others. When I start hitting the salt, I don't use it. Maybe I should??? Anyway, it can't hurt. The only problem with that stuff is it can make certain knots slip with certain braided line out there. Make sure you check your knot. I keep all of my lures hanging in the cellar every year. I don't think that matters. But who knows????

Smelly Jelly. Small bottle lasts forever. The stuff really stays on the plug.
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My grandfather sprayed WD40 on those yellow mops we trolled. He used it for years and we caught bass & blues. Plus the hooks never rusted.
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Fish and they will come, just give it a chance

i'm switching it up alright iceman. thrown everything i've got in my bag.. which is like 2 of every thing. broke the seal just now. mid 20s in. have i mentioned how much i love those slimey wiggly little buggers?? theyre magic for breaking funks. first fish in 3 years. first north shore fish.i'm happy. 2 more hours out tonight. lets see how lucky i can get, after driving all the way up here for a job interview the guy never showed up for.
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