scents on ice

[md22]

Anybody use scents while ice fishing ? I'm thinking about trying a little scent this year on my swimming jigs, and would like to hear if anyone thinks it makes a difference or not. I've heard that in cold water a fishes sense of smell increases, so I'm thinking it could make the difference by either covering up human scent or imitating baitfish scent. Any thoughts?

[Northlander]

DR.Juice Bass scent works ok. Im still not sure about scents all that much. I havent found a bottled scent that really caught me more fish. I have had power baits work good at times though so I think scent will play a role at times. Threw the ice Im not sure how cold water and scents work. Anyone know for sure?

[IceHawk]

I'm a big believer in useing scents for winter cat's through the ice. I always implement them in my aresenal when targeting catfish through the ice. I have tried numerous scents on other gamefish and I really haven't noticed a difference. Some of the scents I use are Dr juice,pro-cure and Baitmates gamefish.

[CrappieJohn]

I looked back for a couple old pposts about scents and ice....no go.

What I have done in past years is to put a drop of scent in a small box of waxies the day before fishing. Give the box a shake and let them set until you hit the ice. These guys will absorb whatever scent you use. Be careful and not do this to a large tub though, many of the scents are oil based and will smother the waxies.

I will put a drop of cod liver oil on waxies if I think they need some extra zip. Ain't nothing more natural and environment freindly than cod liver oil. Don't put it in more than a half dozen waxies at a time though because this stuff will really coat them up and they'll die.

Another little trick is to use a food grade food coloring and dope up some minnows. I put a handful of minnows in a gallon of water in a seperate pail and add twenty drops of coloring or so three or four days before fishing them. Yellow is a good color as is orange (mix red and yellow). Blue can be pretty hot.

There are lots of tricks that will help you get into better bites, but be thinking when you do some of these so you don't get too much of any scent in the bugs....they can be sensitive to the additives.