Scent(s) that repel fish???

[IRL]

Ok I am new and have many questions....

I can't help but wonder everytime I put on insect repelant whether fish can smell it. Ever wonder what scents are on the fly after you tie it and wing it to them for (hopefully) a hookup? Do fish have a very acute sense of smell? I know this sounds like a ridiculous question but it is one I wonder about everytime I handle my tackle. Anyone else?

Thank you

[Smcdermott]

I believe smell can have a serious effect on your lure/fly's ability to catch fish. I recall reading fish can smell particles/million or something to that effect, much more sensitive than you and I. There is a book by Dr. David Ross called "The Fisherman's Ocean" which I believe can give you the exact science. That being said I apply sun block and repellants at the beginning of the day and stick my hand in the sand/mud and wash off in the water to try and remove any reminince. I then wear sun gloves for protection. This may be excessive but I think every little bit helps.

Sean

[teflon_jones]

fish can definitely taste/smell sunscreen and bug repellants on your flies. they can also create tiny little oil slicks around the fly, even if you can't see them. this may not be as big a deal for fish that really hit flies hard, but for trout that are gently sipping flies off the surface, they'll spit them out faster than you can say "boo"! :) and if you're a trout fisherman, you already know that a trout will spit out a fly faster than you can blink, so adding a bad taste/smell to the fly certainly isn't going to help you chances of hooking one!

personally, i wash my hands after apply bug spray and sunscreen. i also don't really touch my trout flies when i tie them on. i take them out of the case with my forceps and use the forceps to hold the fly the entire time i tie it on. this also helps to prevent damage to the fly from clumsy fingers. :)

[Mark Dougherty]

.....and nicotine......if you smoke keep flies and tying materials covered....and rinse hands after smoking on the water..... :-%
I have witnessed some guides on Andros get a little "concerned" when
smokes were lit.....and not just cause I was sitting on the gas can --126-3-

[Mark Cahill]

That's interesting. When I wade, I tear the filter off my butts and stick it in my pants pocket, so as not to pollute. Hence, my pants always reek of nicotine.

Another reason I should quit.

[detra]

never touch the flies... use of sun gloves... I thought I'd heard everything!

That being said, DEET will eat most plastics, and it DOES taste terrible so I do rinse my hands in the water.

[16Mohawk]

I agree with SMCDERMOTT. I try not to use repellant but, when I do I always spray it on away from my canoe and tackle. Before I handle my tackle, I wash my hands in saltwater and mud. I believe it makes a big difference.

[Guy]

Another fish turn off is gasoline..... Always bothers me, anyways, when the guide wants to rummage through my fly box after monkeying with the gas line filter to unclog it so the engine will start.......Now with that said - there are those who believe some petrochemicals such as WD 40 actually turn fish on! I have my doubts but better anglers than me swear by it!!!

Guy