Anise Oil and Salt on Plastics--Dislike

[bob75]

After washing some Net Bait Paca craws to get rid of the Anise oil (?) and external salt on some plastics I decided to make this post.

I see no benefit of oil or salt. I've been washing soft plastics ever since they started that trend as I don't like to get oil or salt on my hands and then everything else I touch in the boat. Yes I've got a towel.

So, I feel better now after complaining. Do others feel the same or am I an outlier?

[smalljaw]

Plastic worms or creatures, especially ones made with high quality plastic tend to stick together and will defor pretty easily without the worm oil. I don't like the external salt either but it serves the same purpose, and that is to keep the aits for sticking together so I'm ok with it but I do agree that it kind of gets irritating when you rig up before leaving and you have to wash your hands as salt and oil are now all over your fingers and you haven't even fished yet.

[Scott F]

External salt on baits is a big selling feature. I read an article a few years ago that said visibly salted baits outsold baits without salt by a wide margin.

[Quillback]

I always wondered about the visible salt, seems useless to me as it will dissolve as soon as the bait hits the water. I don't mind getting the salt or residue on my hands, that's not nearly as messy as bass slime. And if I ain't getting slimed, I'm having a bad day.

[ppFishing]

I wouldn't mind them so much had they come in a bag that doesn't leak.

[uljersey]

I remember reading somewhere the external salt is used as a packaging aid to prevent the baits from clinging to the plastic bag while filling it. Someone than put a marketing spin to it and here we are.

Personally, I see no benefit to scent of any kind. I don't care if it's on there or not, but I think it's more to catch the fisherman than the fish. I don't even care if I get bug spray or sunscreen on my hands/baits, makes no difference to my catch ratio IMO.

Oil/ paste type scents can be beneficial on plastics fished in heavy vegetation - it will help keep tails and appendages from clinging to plant stem and leaves.

Funny how we apply our human sense of what tastes/smells good or offensive and think fish perceive it the same way
I don't think there is garlic or anise flavored anything in the underwater world.

[Tokugawa]

I don't think there is garlic or anise flavored anything in the underwater world.

I don't know. I've had garlic flavored crawdads before.

[Fbass]

Oil based scents are useless since oil doesn't dissolve in water. Bass won't care about anise or garlic because they are rigged to smell meat.
They can't taste salt either but salt is used to make baits denser and softer.
And I agree some manufacturer put way too much oil in the bags to the point where rigging becomes difficult due to bait slipping away.

[uljersey]

I don't think there is garlic or anise flavored anything in the underwater world.

I don't know. I've had garlic flavored crawdads before.

Now you went and did it. I haven't had crawdads in years. Now I won't rest until I have a huge pile of empty shells in front of me. It's not easy to get quality 'dads in New Jersey thank you very much

[angry john]

I dont mind the oil as much as the external salt. I like to rig up before i hit the water and i have to wash the bait in the sink so i dont get it all over my rod and reel. I think that sent is most important on plastics that are sitting still or moving slowly. Spraying a crankbait is a waste IMO. Some people swear buy it, but those same people most likely fork out for the fish noise maker.

[Pegasus]

I hate that Anise smell I stopped using Wave Tiki Bamboo sticks because of it
I bought bag of Hard Nose jelly worms man the bag was full of oil I soaked them in water and then rinsed them out nice worm bad oil feel same for the Sasuteki Crawl bag was drenched with oil.

[btune]

If you don't like the Anise smell rinse them off and add a little bacon grease. It works just as well and will remind you of breakfast!
One thing is grease will spoil over time so just a bit will do it.

[vinnieb729]

I too despise external salt and avoid baits loaded with it. I like just enough oil in the bags to keep everything from sticking. I tried Smelly Jelly once to see if it helped the plastics slip through the pads/weeds better but I could never tell a difference.

[FrankW]

I have some worms soaked in Anise oil from the early 70s and they are in excellent shape. It seems to keep worms soft indefinitely.

Frank

[Teal101]

I love the smell of Net Baits. I'm going to get slimy anyways because I catch fish, who cares if I get a little anise on me? I always have a hand towel to wipe off on.