smallmouth's Full Review: Berkley Powerbait Attractant (Bass)
I am surprised that some tournament and weekend anglers still are not sure whether scents make a difference when Bass fishing. Berkley Power Bait was one of the first scent additives I tried and I was amazed at how it worked over a decade ago. I have to admit I was skeptical at first when reading the test results produced by Berkley Labs showing how much longer a bass would hold onto a soft plastic bait that was treated or scented with their special PowerBait formula. But as a competitive fisherman, I am always looking for an advantage over competitors. If there is something on the market that keeps a fish on a lure for even a split second longer before a hook set, than I better have it. Sometimes the difference between a succesful and unsuccessful hookset can be the difference between a paycheck or pounding sand. -------What is It?:-------
Berkley PowerBait is a goopy substance. I guess it would be considered a liquid but it is very thick and odoriferous. My guess is that it is made from fish, crawfish, worms and anything else discarded from a baitshop, ground down, and made into a pasty liquid. It's a scent attractant to predatory fish made to entice them into biting an artificial lure. It is hard to explain the smell because I have never encountered anything else like it. I have used scents such as anise, garlic, and even coffee flavored lures but PowerBait is the real deal, made from things that Bass eat.
-------How to Apply it:-------
This is an important section if you are not familiar with PowerBait. It comes in a tube with a flip top opening and small hole. Squeezing the tube will extrude the slimy stinky substance. It is a little bit sticky but if you just dab it on a lure and make a cast, most of it will be air bound and separate itself from the lure long before it gets in front of a fish. I like to actually squeeze a shot of it into the plastic bag that the soft plastic lures come in and smear it all around. The soft plastic lures will take it in and hold the scent much better that way. I shoot it ino the bag the night before I go fishing and let it soak overnight. It will hold to a hard bodied lure but not very well and must be applied often. If you don't mind getting it on your hands, rub it all over the lure, if it bothers you then use either a towel or a soft plastic lure bag and just dip the hard bodied lure inside. With jigs, spinnerbaits, and other skirted lures, I just rub it in by shooting a squirt into a bag and squishing the skirt around. I have found that it holds to the skirted lures exceptionally well. It is an excellent attractant for jigs. Hollow bodied baits are perfect for PowerBait. With Tube baits or Gitzits, just push the applicator inside the hollow body and squeeze the tube until it is full. Be careful that you don't cover your fishing partner with a shot of it on your first cast as some is always apt to come out, especially with a whippy cast.
-------Does it Really Work:-------
I think it really works. I can never be sure if the fish hits the lure just because of the scent. I would have to ask the fish that question and they never answer. Who knows, would it have hit the lure without it on. But one thing that I am sure of is that when they hit a lure, they hold on much longer when the PowerBait has been applied. This is especially important when finesses fishing, Carolina Rigging, and Jig fishing. All techniques where the lure sits in front of the bass and is not moving. The fish actually sucks in the bait and chews on the lure indicating the strike for the fisherman. A slow hook set usually misses a fish and every instant is very important. With this attractant and scent, they hold on giving the fisherman all the more time to set the hook. I have found it to last pretty well. It last much longer than the scents that are applied by aerosol but not quite as long as the jelly or petroleum based scents. When jig fishing, I re-apply every ten minutes or so. With soft plastic lures maybe a little bit longer.
-------Price and Availability:-------
When this first came out about a decade ago it was very popular and easy to find. Now it is still available but not so easily available. I find it in the larger Sporting Goods stores such as Dick's, Bass Pro Shops, Cabelas, and such. I sometimes find it at Wal-Mart. The 8 ounce bottles are usually around $4-$4.50 per tube.
Increase any bait's fishcatching power. Add the exclusive liquid scent and flavor formula of PowerBait Attractant to strategically disperse and form a...More at Cabela's
Berkley's PowerBait Attractant's exclusive liquid scent and flavor formula strategically disperses to create a ''smell path'' to attract fish. Helps t...More at Bass Pro Shops
Berkley's PowerBait Attractant's exclusive liquid scent and flavor formula strategically disperses to create a ''smell path'' to attract fish. Helps t...More at Bass Pro Shops
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