By: Leo Watson
Not to very long ago few anglers knew that the black bass even had a
nose, let alone used it. Only recently has any attention been given to the bass
sense of smell. How good is it? Research biologists are still testing but the fishing
industry has introduced a host of effective bass scents. Bass fishermen just like us buy
loads of them.
It has been reported that annual scent sales are in the neighborhood of $40-$50 million.
More than 50 manufacturers have at one time or another been marketing scent products.
Scientific Bass Products, Berkley, Normark and other manufacturers have jumped into the
very lucrative market. Each has numerous testimonials from biologists, professional
anglers, and weekend anglers who swear by their favorite scent. This anglers choice of
scent is Kickn BassŪ. It is in this pros opinion the best on the market bar
none! You are invited to read this authors testimonial for Kickn Bass at www.kicknbass.com. It is testimonial #99 in the
professional anglers section. While a great deal of research has been conducted on
the olfactory systems (sense of smell) of salmon and catfish, comparatively little has
been done on bass until recently. We do know that a bass sense of smell is not as
keen as that of a salmon or catfish, but it is much better than previously thought. It has
been noted that bass discriminate scent much better than even the best bird dog. Any
discussion of the bass sense of smell should consider how they use it, i.e., for
foraging or protection and when. Bass use their full range of senses especially when
visibility is limited. Smell becomes increasingly important in low light or muddy
water situations. The bass preyfish are composed of amino acids, the building blocks
of all protein and flesh. Each preyfish contains differing proportions of amino acids. The
injury of a preyfish and release of amino acids into the water elicits a searching
behavior from the bass. This is one reason why scent products with amino acids are
attractive to bass. Tests by bass researcher Dr. Loren Hill show that bass can
detect a preyfish odor source at a distance of 25 feet. Only the bass sense of
hearing (which is my next article) is capable of greater range under normal water clarity
conditions. Dr. Hill also points out that the bass exhibit a snakelike swimming action
when honing in on an odor source. A bass has a pair of nostrils, or nares, on each side of
its head between the eyes and upper lip. Each nostril has two openings separated by a
bridge of skin. Water does circulate continuously through these short passages where
microscopic, hair like cilia detect odors. The water passes through the nostrils without
entering the throat. As a bass swims about, water movement is enhanced and the nostrils
are constantly in use. A membrane tissue, called the olfactory epithelium, consists of
complex folds that line the nostrils. This membrane greatly increases the total surface
area and the bass receptive scenting powers. Within the epithelium odor
molecules activate millions of olfactory receptor nerve cells, these send a message to the
olfactory centers of the bass brain where the odor is interpreted. As a bass
ages and grows larger, the number of olfactory folds increases. It has been found that
young 4 to 6 inch largemouth bass have 5 or 6 folds. A 12 inch bass may have 10 folds
while one 20 inches in length may have as many as 20 folds. It has also been found that
the diameter of the olfactory organ itself grows with age. Most scientists conclude that
older bass have a better developed sense of smell.
In concluding this article anglers must realize that to catch bass you must appeal to
their senses. Their primary sense is sight however, if they cant rely on their
sight we must be prepared to appeal to their other senses. The successful angler will use
scents to his advantage to appeal to their sense of smell as well as to cover up human
odor. One tactic I do use with the scent to mask my human odor is to apply scent to my
fingers and rub it directly to the first 4 or 5 feet of my fishing line. This is
especially effective when flipping or pitching. This is the second in an ongoing
series of articles to help you better understand how the bass senses work. The
greater your knowledge of a bass senses become, the better your chances are of
boating more fish. Keep checking back on this web site for my next article the Sense Of
Hearing. If you have any questions or comments about this article please feel free to
contact me. Remember always take a kid fishing. You are helping to ensure the great sport
of bass fishing.
Good luck, Leo Watson, Pro Staff - Contact me with your questions or comments at leo.watson@bassonhook.com Leo's Articles
are also published at http://www.bassonhook.com