Although the process of making homemade fish attractant is a relatively easy one, you can easily tweak it in many different ways. Most fish attractants require an oil-based product such as olive oil, cod liver oil, anise oil or any other type of fish oil product, as well as something to soak up attractant mixture such as dry dog food or hotdog pieces. After you assemble the basic components, the process becomes a matter of trying different additives. Bass really seem to like garlic, along with other species of fish. Typically commercial fish attractants have some form of smelly additive such as garlic in them.
Items you will need
One package cheap hotdogs
Cheap dry dog food, preferably in large bites
Anise oil
Jaw of raw chopped garlic
Cod liver oil
Garlic-infused olive oil
Fresh cloves of garlic
Container of plain sardines in oil or any container with plain fish oil
Homemade Fish Attractant Recipe Ideas and Tips
Step 1
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Chop hotdogs in chunks, approximately 3/4 inch thick—large enough that the chunk doesn't come off the hook easily after it soaks up the attractant mixture. If you use dry dog food, keep it in big bites; sometimes the dog food comes sized to large breeds which means larger bites.
Step 2
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Mix the oil product in a container with the garlic additive; a mixture of anise oil and one jar of crushed garlic seems provides an effective scent combination. However, you may want to try several different combinations so you have many different attractants to choose from.
Allow the attractant mixture to soak for a good amount of time, usually overnight works fine. The hotdogs will soak up the scent of the oil and garlic and will make your attractant a big hit with the fish.
Step 3
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Mix the ingredients well, and completely cover the hotdog chunks or dry dog food with the oil mixture. The chunks will swell when soaking up the attractant mixture.
Step 4
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When you place the chunk of hotdog on the hook, attach it firmly so it doesn't slip off; however, you do not have to attach any of the garlic bits on the hook. The oil will have soaked into the hotdog and infused it with the hearty, robust scent of garlic.
Step 5
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For an added effect, you may choose to throw some of the soaked dog food bites in the area you choose to fish, such as around the boat or in the water just upstream from the creek bank. This practice may attract more fish to the general area you are fishing.
Tips
- Have your fishing license on you whenever you're fishing; you can receive a fine even if you have just left it in your truck.
- Bring proper containers for storing caught fish that you plan on keeping.
- Practice proper catch-and-release techniques when the fish are too small to eat.
References
Tips
- Have your fishing license on you whenever you're fishing; you can receive a fine even if you have just left it in your truck.
- Bring proper containers for storing caught fish that you plan on keeping.
- Practice proper catch-and-release techniques when the fish are too small to eat.
Writer Bio
Kimberly Cummings has been a nurse for more than 28 years and has worked in almost every department in the medical field. She's done legal work and is a nonfiction writer. She has worked in business administration for more than 15 years, been in the military and freelanced for Associated Content as a featured health and wellness contributor as well as a featured travel contributor.
