Old timer told me about useing WD 40 on his soft baits as an attractent.
Anyone else hear of this ?

Yep, but never heard of using it for BASS...around here they use it for CATFISH.  

My dad and uncle have been spraying their soft plastics with WD 40 since before I was around

I've heard of using WD 40 for Stripedbass and Bluefish. I've heard they spray it on bunker (menhaden) chunks. I guess it leaves a better trail of oil and scent in the water, good for chumming. I've never tried it, so I can't say it works or doesn't. Any little thing to get that extra advantage over the next guy...lol. My old platoon sgt once said "If you aint cheat'n, you aint tryin!!" lol

A well respected guide told me about using WD-40 for walleye but I have never heard of anyone using it for other species. I do know that you need to keep it away from mono line.

It sounds like WD-40 will attract any fish that swims!  

Not so sure about WD40 for bass but I know for a fact it works well on salmon. When I used to fish in salt water I sprayed my herring with it and would be catching salmon when no one else was. The only scent I use for bass is smelly jelly.

This is an old fishermans tail. WD40  has no fish attracting qualities . You would get the same results as spraying your lure or bait with gasoline. Check out this MYTH first hand at the website for WD40.

www.wd40.com/about-us/myths-legends-fun-facts/

Posted By Wifisher on 10 Nov 2011 07:23 PM
This is an old fishermans tail. WD40  has no fish attracting qualities . You would get the same results as spraying your lure or bait with gasoline. Check out this MYTH first hand at the website for WD40.

www.wd40.com/about-us/myths-legends-fun-facts/

I checked out the link...it says WD40 contains no fish oil, and they don't recommend it as an attractant. That doesn't mean it doesn't draw fish. I know guys who SWEAR by the stuff.

I wonder how that misconception about WD containing "fish oil" got started. The only non-food product I know of that advertises fish oil as an ingredient is Rust-Oleum and while you might use t to paint a lure, I don't see any attraction there!

Posted By Pegsguy on 11 Nov 2011 09:50 AM
I wonder how that misconception about WD containing "fish oil" got started. The only non-food product I know of that advertises fish oil as an ingredient is Rust-Oleum and while you might use t to paint a lure, I don't see any attraction there!

I had never heard about the fish oil(or a lot of these other things) before this thread started. The only thing I heard here in southern Ohio is how good it works for catfish. All I can tell you now, is I WILL be spraying something down with it next spring!
                                                                                                                                                                   

mo65 just don't get caught as it's illegal to use petrolem prouducts in the water and it's also a poison to the fish!!

Two things that are FACTS: 1- WD 40 is an oil, oil is lighter than water. 2- WD 40 has a scent/odor. When you have those two qualities, it's like chumming the water. You create a slick in the water that will flow out with the current. If predator fish come accross the slick, they MIGHT follow it, eventually ending up in the vicinity of you boat and baits.

Posted By retired-psg on 11 Nov 2011 02:15 PM
mo65 just don't get caught as it's illegal to use petrolem prouducts in the water and it's also a poison to the fish!!

Get caught? I haven't even tried it yet...what about all these guys on my shoulders who said they use it ALL THE TIME?! 

Mo...the ex Deputy Sheriff is still on duty...lol
He's watchinig you!

I'm not sure if it is illegal or not but i have seen so boats on the water that puts out more gas and oil then a little shot of wd-40 ( lol ) i never heard of people using it on lures, dose it really work or is it just one of those old fishing tails ?? JOHN

I have used WD-40 in the past and it seemed to make a great difference sometimes. I do also remember a book called the ED-40 story and there was a comment about fish oils keepeng rust down, that came from well, old time commercial fishermen (if I am remembering this right). However, over the years, there have been many changes in the product as they kept sending out changes in their MSDS sheets as the formula was changed. I remember Rustolem selling its own "Thinner", a phenolic fish oil, fish oil being part of the paint mix. Do they do that now?, no idea.

As far as I know fish oils (or any other oil) will help to control rust. The oil keeps out oxygen and without it there is no rust. This is why so often you will see artifacts that have been raised from really deep water that are almost completely rust free. Can't speak to the current Rust-Oleum formula but in the past they advertised fish oil as the basis of their formula.

My father in-law swears by wd-40 LOL if he forgets it, we have to stop and get a can.
But I still out fish him tho, don't get me wrong he does catch fish using wd

WD 40 may work for whatever reason (although i am not convinced) but it seems like it would be bad for the environment (polluting the water) not to mention is can cause severe damage or even blindness if it gets in your eyes and also it is not even supposed to make contact with the skin! It can cause burns! Read the label! No thanks WD40, i'll stick with scents that have been proven effective and are less harmful!