Here's another topic that has come up recently. What I am going to tell you is based on personal experiences while trolling and ice fishing.
It started about ten years ago when I saw a trial pack of Dr. Juice scents. It consisted of 2 oz. bottles of Lake Trout scent, Steelhead scent and Salmon scent. I bought that pack and the rest is history.
What happened was almost unbelievable. I went west out of the Salmon River and stopped when I hit 250 ft of water. It was July 4, 1991. We were marking fish 40 ft and 60 ft down. I had my father with me and he thought scents were a gimmick. Anyway, we each set two rods with identical lures at the same depth. I ran the scent and he did not. I ran a dodger/squid down 60 ft and an NK28 down 40 ft. Well, eleven lakers and two kings later, with three other lost fish, I was convinced. So was my father, he was still waiting for this first release. I have this one on video tape to prove it. I have run it ever since, with the same results. I have also won ice fishng derbies with it. Friends fishing next to me did not have half the flags that I was getting. More proof for the non-believers.
There are a lot of scents out there, but I stuck with Dr. Juice Salmon scent. After all, if it isn't broke, don't fix it. However, all things change, and I have too. I started using Herring and Smelt gel from Mike's Salmon Egg Co. (PO Box 608, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538) and found this worked better due to it being a gel, it stayed on longer. I put the scent on the lures, cutbait, the downrigger ball, and just about anything else that is in the water. I've even gone as far as to tie a rag on the downrigger ball and soak it with the scent of choice.
In conclusion, I think if one believes and has faith in something, it will work. But this sounds good in theory also. Common sense would say if it smells like bait more fish are going to hit it. Add this to new colors coming out, and the flashers and cutbait, which look like a meal and you just might swing the odds in your favor.
Team Total Chaos