WD40

[new2titicus]

I stopped by Bob's on Saturday and was advised that some anglers like to use WD40 on their plastic lures, does anybody have any experience with this?

-Paul

[KenH]

I know some people swear by WD40 as a fish attractant. Personally I don't buy it.
For one thing it's petroleum based. If you ever want to go trout fishing and not catch
anything get some gasoline or motor oil on your hands before you go. Fish will refuse to
hit a lure, and will quickly drop a mouthed baitfish when they pick up that scent. I learned
this the hard way decades ago. Secondly, being petroleum based is it really a good idea to
be using this stuff in the reservoirs which supply drinking water?
Anyway, I think that if WD40 has any value, it probably masks human and other scents. But
the same can be achieved with the numerous safe fish attractants and scents on the market.
But I do use WD40 sometimes when cleaning up my reels in the winter.

Ken

[Tom]

Paul,
I don't use wd 40 as a fish attractant. There is a product called herring oil that I know attracts fish. If you can't find it, buy a can of anchovies in oil and save the oil as a good attractant. I have found the Anchovy oil to work as well as the more expensive Herring oil. Anchovy oil is cheap, readily available, and will not harm the environment ... and you get to enjoy some anchovies if you are brave enough to try them Sicilian style over pasta! Tom

[VinnyH]

I was lucky to be at Bob's and meet Paul and be part of the conversation. Personally I use a spray can of crawfish scent at times and I think it may help if the fish doesn't spit out my plastic bait right away. That millisecond extra may help with my hookset. I trust John's experience but I also think if you ask 20 anglers you may get 20 different answers. There's logic to most scents, especially masking the human scent as we tie lures and hook bait.

I don't think we'll have a definitive answer... ever.

Best to All,
Vinny

[phishahn]

WD is used in the winter to keep guides from freezing, usually steelhead fishing, Somehow it got out that people were catching fish while using this on their guides,my 2 cents.Phish.

[KenH]

Most sensible explanation I've heard yet on the subject.

[dodgeguy]

you should never use wd40 as a fish scent.why on earth would you want to pollute the water?it's things like this that give the people who want to stop us from fishing ammuntion for their arguements.the guy AT BOBS SHOULD NEVER HAVE SUGGESTED IT.

[Batroun]

1. WD40 is a pollutant.
2. If you want to do something like that--even spraying guides--use Pam cooking spray.
Personally I think both are a bit off-base, but let's agree that we ought not put WD-40 in our pristine waters.

[phishahn]

Wow, little extreme fellas, so, when mother nature calls, your way out in the boat, what are you doing?

[bobssandt]

I am sorry if I have struck a cord with some users here but according to a DEP fisheries biologist you would have to dump a tanker full of pollutant into the res. to do any significant damage, not just a spray of WD-40! Also it was just a suggestion, I was taught this technique by a few of my old school customers who have had great success with it in the past! Sorry again to those who don't approve! 

[VinnyH]

I appreciate all of the conversation. It goes back to my theory that 10 fishermen will give you 10 different answers. Consider all of them and make your best choice.

Back to the beginning, I prefer a craw scent on my plastics. I bought a spray can of it but don't have the name handy. I wash my hands in the lake water after I have a sandwich or snack to hide the oils that may get transferred to the bait. I'm guessing that if my lure tastes or smells like Hai Karate it may affect my hookups. 

Best to All,
Vinny

[oilgorg]

I pee in a bottle, never use WD 40 but occasionally hock a lugie. No sh*t, sometimes into a bass mouth. Price he has to pay before I let him go.

[striperman13]

If you take a charter boat out on lake Ontario they all use wd40 on there lures.I do not use it myself because of polluting the water.

[phishahn]

I pee in a bottle, never use WD 40 but occasionally hock a lugie. No sh*t, sometimes into a bass mouth. Price he has to pay before I let him go.

    Ok, so what do u do w/bottle of pee?

[phishahn]

If you take a charter boat out on lake Ontario they all use wd40 on there lures.I do not use it myself because of polluting the water.

   Seriously, we are worried about wd40 mist, when these charter boats are running 150hp plus motors and kickers?C'mon, what's next, electric only?