tubes

[bassfisherman32]

has anyone heard of putting cotton balls in a tube to hold alot of scent? i tried it and it held scent for about 15 minutes but the hook keeps gettin stuck in the cotton balls. does anyone know a way to fix that?

[Fish On]

I heard about using ear plugs.

[Patrick Krueger, Jr.]

I've tried both cotton and earplugs with no noticeable increase in bites. I put chunks of Gulp! chartreuse sinking minnows inside tubes, since the color wasn't working out, with an unbelievable increase in bites. I could throw them without weight and just whack the clear water bass in Lake Michigan.

[KH.]

put them in first maybe

[Patrick Krueger, Jr.]

Yeah, KH, it probably had more to do with the generic scent I was using and the bullet weight, than the cotton or earplugs.

[Mac3]

In my opinion, it's probably best to scent the tube itself. If you scent the tube, you are adding taste as well and when the fish grabs on, the flavor probably has as much or more effect than the smell. I like to use a water based garlic and salt spray. The water base actually penetrates the plastic carrying the scent and taste with it. I know oils help the lure get through the weeds, but once scented with a water base scent, the lure maintains the results well, and the oil scent can be applied in the boat when needed to slip weeds. I have some old lures that still carry the scent of a good pizza, even after several years. Good fishing, Mac

[Patrick Krueger, Jr.]

There isn't any advice I can give on the cotton getting stuck in the barb of the hook beyond taking a lighter to the hook, which is a risky endeavor. Burn too long and you can weaken the hook.