REVIEW: FishSticks Bring the Funk

Take a stroll down the tackle aisle at your local outdoor retailer and you'll find no shortage of pungent potions that claim to be "fish attractants". There are sprays, oils, gels, high-tech synthetic formulations and goopy concoctions loaded with bits of baitfish. 

I've never been a guy that uses scents to "attract" fish. However, I do believe adding a little stink to your artificial lure helps mask all those nasty human odors that fish find offensive. I also gain a little confidence boost from knowing that when a fish inhales my lure it's getting a taste and smell of something it would usually eat, instead of the bitter taste of hard or soft plastic. Go ahead, take one of your favorite plastic worms or swimbaits and chow down. Does that taste like something you'd want to keep in your mouth for very long? I don't think so. 

I've used just about every type of scent on the market. The oil-based aerosol sprays don't last more than a couple casts. The gel scents adhere to your baits a little better, but they're a bit messy. And I've had issues with the gel applicators oozing out in my tackle bag. That's never fun to clean up. 

My experiences with scents aren't unique. Most of the anglers I've talked to will tell you they believe scent can help trigger strikes from gamefish, but in the end, they feel it's just not worth the effort to re-apply the scent dozens of times a day or deal with the hassel and mess that comes along with using oils and gels. 

If the paragraph above describes your love-hate relationship with fish attractants, listen up, because I came across a product at the recent ICAST show in Las Vegas that's changed my mind about using scent with artificial baits. It's a product called FishSticks Lure Enhancer, and frankly, it just works.

FishSticks isn't new to the market, but I'm just now getting around to trying it, and I'm kicking myself for not getting my hands on this stuff a couple years ago.

I'll be honest, when I stopped by the FishSticks booth at ICAST I was doggedly skeptical. Like I said, I've tried just about every form of stinky stuff on the market, and I've yet to be completely satisfied. I was ready to find a flaw with the FishSticks, but once I actually put them to the test, I was pleasantly surprised.

The best way to describe the FishSticks consistency and application method is like a tube of lip balm. The scent is a waxy substance contained in a capped tube, so you never have to worry about leaks or drips. 

That's all good, but how does the stuff actually work? Here's the rundown...

> I applied the FishSticks scent to a soft-plastic (a small swimbait on a jighead) and a hard bait (a topwater). I fished the baits for 7 straight hours while targeting redfish and speckled trout in Galveston Bay. I applied the scent once in the morning, and then two more times throughout the day just to keep it fresh. I gave each bait the sniff test every hour or so, and the scent stayed strong all day. In fact, the smell lingered for several days on each bait, even after being rinsed with fresh water after the trip. This stuff definitely has staying power.

Here's a quick tip for using the FishSticks with a jighead and soft-plastic rig. Try smearing the paste on the shank of the hook before sliding the plastic up the head. The waxy substance will stay put for hours if you do it this way. This method works great on bass jigs, too.

> The FishSticks applicator is compact and completely leak-proof. I dropped the tube in my shirt pocket and was able to quickly and easily re-apply the scent throughout the day. It definitely beat having to dig through my tackle bag for a spray can or gel bottle every time I wanted to get my stink on.

> The scent is insanely strong. I was fishing out of an 18-foot poling skiff and casting on the front deck, while my fishing buddy was poling from the stern. When I applied the scent he could smell it at the back of the boat. Crazy!

> I tested the FishSticks on a sunny, still, mid-July day in Texas. In other words, it was hot. I expected the FishSticks to turn to mush, but they retained their consistency, even in the scorching heat.

> You don't have to glob the FishSticks scent on your bait for it to be effective, but if you do, it actually bonds to the lure better after getting wet. The water turns the wax into a paste-like substance. The picture below shows a FishSticks-treated plastic after getting wet. Notice the pasty glaze.

Bottom line: I'm impressed. The only downside I can find to the FishSticks stink is that it's so strong it tends to linger on your hands for a while. But that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make for a scent that I don't have to slather on my lure every 5 minutes. 

If you're fed up with the filthy sprays, oils and gels, you need to give FishSticks a chance. If you try them out, make sure you come back here and tell me if your experience lines up with mine. If you're already using FishSticks, drop us a line in the comments section and tell us what you think.

Details:

> FishSticks come in four different scents for both freshwater and inshore species. You can take your pick from crawfish, shad, shrimp and mullet formulations. The crawfish is definitely the strongest of the bunch. 

> A tube of FishSticks will cost you about $8.50. I know that sounds pricey, but a single tube will last you quite a while. 

> Six-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam endorses FishSticks.

> For more information about FishSticks, check out www.FishSticksLureEnhancer.com.

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