5 Smells that Attract Fish (How Effective Is It, Really?)

1. Fish Guts

It’s no secret that many fish include other fish as a central part of their diet. In fact, if they sense that injured prey is nearby, fish will go out of their way to investigate where the scent is coming from. While some people report that this scent doesn’t make a difference for them when it comes to the amount of fish they catch, others endorse it entirely. Among all scents that have the potential to attract fish, fish guts is one that makes the most sense. Most animals are food-motivated. If the possibility of a meal presents itself, chances are they’ll take the bait.

2. Garlic

Although this might seem like an odd choice, many people believe garlic to be an effective scent for catching fish. It’s hard to say for certain why using this scent has become such a popular tactic, but some people believe that the strong smell that garlic emanates helps mask other smells that may repel fish. For example, fish tend to shy away from scents such as human sweat, gasoline, sunscreen, and bug spray. In addition, some fish may release a scent after being caught and released that deters other fish from the area. If those are detectable in the water, garlic might just cover them up.

3. Aniseed

When it comes to smells that fishermen swear by, aniseed is among the most popular. In fact, anglers generally state that garlic and aniseed are the two surefire methods to draw fish in from a wide radius. But why is this? Because anise is a foreign object in the ocean, many fishermen question the validity of using it as an attractant. However, others seem to believe that this seed is able to mimic the scent of common elements in the water. Some people state that anise is similar to the scent emanated by their prey, but other people chalk it up to anise covering the foreign smells that your rod and bait can have. It’s unclear why anise works, but many people cite this scent as one of the best.

4. Coffee

Yes, you read that right. Believe it or not, some anglers have discovered that the scent of coffee is attractive to certain types of fish. Sprinkling some over your hands before handling your rod, bait and other fishing equipment can be a game changer. In addition to attracting fish, this smell may also neutralize certain human smells that fish find unpleasant. Whether or not this is situational evidence or if coffee really works is difficult to say. However, many people believe that the smell of coffee isn’t an active fish repellent, so there’s really no risk in trying it out.

5. Salt

Although it might be surprising, salt is a popular fish attractant. In fact, this is usually one of the first ingredients used in bait along with garlic. However, not all types of salt are equally as effective. According to Angling Times, “The reality is that the rock salt has to be the correct stuff, and as with most bait additives and bait edges, the real secret is knowing which type to get! The rock salt that is simply devastating is the one that is mined in an underlying clay-based soil that includes a chemical within it that carp use for vitality, growth, and repair.”

In essence, it’s difficult to say whether or not any of these scents are more effective than the other at luring fish. Some people find them to be invaluable tools while others don’t notice a difference one way or the other. Unfortunately, there isn’t easily accessible empirical evidence to suggest that these scents work or not. The general consensus is that certain smells attract certain fish, while some fish may not be enticed by scents at all. Despite this, it doesn’t hurt to get out on the water and try. There really isn’t much to lose by experimenting with different scents!