By: Tyler Uteg
All fishermen crave the opportunity to find that one object or substance that gives them the edge over their competition. It doesn’t matter whether it’s in a tournament or any particular outing. Whether it’s a secret lure or a technique that’s been honed over years of practice, there’s nothing more special of a feeling like figuring something out that allows a fisherman the ability to accomplish his goal of catching the biggest fish out there.
Bass fishing is my passion. I constantly try to improve and refine my abilities through learning new techniques, and trying new products. Lures, colors and techniques are all very important to me, but one thing that’s often overlooked is scent. It’s a big driver for feeding bass, especially in dingy water, or when conditions aren’t optimal for eating.
Over the past few years, I’ve become a huge fan of Stankx Bait Company, and the products they roll out. The colors and custom capabilities are always top notch. But the one thing that will always keep me and the fish coming back is their scent.
The scent they currently choose to use in their plastics is called CB’s Hawg Sauce. It’s available in a variety of flavors and textures. The following scents are offered in spray bottles: Oil Base Garlic, Oil Base Crawfish and Oil Base Shad. There are also 3 masterful brew’s delivered in a gel form: Garlic, Crawfish and Shad. All of these scents can be utilized on and off the water with both hard and soft baits. One of my personal favorites is the Water Base Garlic spray as I prefer to soak my plastics in a big bag of it the night before I head out on the water.
If you’re familiar with using scents to enhance your probability of hooking into some big girls, then you know some of the important ingredients when it comes to scents; One of the main ones being garlic. CB’s is no different, and some might say they go above and beyond with the generous use of these ingredients. All I have to say is this stuff stinks – and I mean STINKS… awful smell and all. Whenever I go out fishing, I triple bag the bottle, but it doesn’t matter. I can still smell it. I point this out, because I think it’s one of the most important things about a good scent. Many of the other scents I’ve tried on baits over the years wash off after one dunk in the lake, but this stuff will keep your baits covered in smelly goodness for multiple trips. I promise.
Still don’t believe me? The proof is in the pictures. CB’s Hawg Sauce played a major role in my personal best largemouth bass in February 2012. The fish was on a bed, and I truly believe that CB’s gave me the edge to get a shot at her.
I also spilled half a bottle in my car 2 years ago, and after several trips to the detailer, I can still detect a faint smell. It only serves to remind me of the quality of this stuff when it’s in the water, whether I’m in a tournament or out fishing for fun. It embeds itself to whatever you put it on, and it won’t wash off for a long time.
Personally, I always prefer to find new products through what is sometimes defined as “indy tackle companies” – mainly companies that are in their early stages and outside of the mainstream tackle conglomerates. It’s another one of the reasons that I’m a big advocate of CB’s. It’s been brewed in North Carolina since 2000, and hasn’t yet taken on a massive following. In my opinion, there’s no reason to use anything else.
This stuff will stick to crankbaits, spinnerbaits, worms and jigs. It will also help you on the water when you’re trying to stick some pigs.
Now stop thinking about it, and get some CB’s to try for yourself.
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About Tyler Uteg
Tyler Uteg, 28, a media producer from Chicago Illinois, has been fishing for about 25 years and loves everything about bass fishing, and being out on the water. A member of CAST CREW, his favorite waters are centered in the northern portions of Illinois where he chases largemouth and smallmouth bass. Tyler is a bass tackle aficionado and enjoys supporting and endorsing small, independent tackle manufacturers that specialize in hand-crafted and customized products.
