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April 2016 • COAST • www.coast-magazine.com • 31 rising to the surface. When you place an oil-based scent on a fly and cast it into a long, deep pool, the oil will separate from the fly or lure and rise in the wa- ter column where it is sinking, which makes it tough for the salmon to detect if it is 30 feet downstream. This is the nature of oil-based scents. It isn’t that fish don’t like it; they may never have a chance to detect much of it to trigger a strike. In nature, fish release a variety of scents that include oils and water-soluble amino acids. The molecules of these substances can be like a forest fire: There are fine molecules of smoke, and larger pieces of ash and glowing cinder caught in the heat convection. Some parts, like smoke, get broader dispersion than larger flecks of ash. With scents, oils have long hydrocarbon chains, and fish don’t have the right sensory tools on their tongue, skin and olfactory receptors to detect long-chain molecules. Prochnow’s example of oil vs. water-soluble scents explains it best: “Think of oil as a square peg, and fish receptors are circular, as are water-soluble scents. It’s hard to fit that square peg of oil into a circular receptor hole, so the fish can identify the scent and respond. It’s much faster and easier for the round, water-soluble scent to fit into the circular fish receptor, which prompts the fish to respond faster. But some oil scents can be too large, like a basketball trying to fit into a circular receptor hole the size of a golf ball.” In summary, there are instances where oil-based scents work best, others where water-soluable scents work best, and others where a combination of the two are preferred. When determining which scents are most effective, scientists like Prochnow break down the scents into complex formulas that attract fish. With today’s molecular and genetic technology, such formu- las are winners among anglers and competitors of other scents. Prochnow said he has to disguise the molecular signature of Berkley scents to keep the competition from copying Berkley’s proprietary formulas. Fish scent is a multimillion-dollar industry, and scents that catch fish on a regular basis, in a variety of conditions, are winners with anglers, and money-makers for the companies who manufacture them. The Alaska marketplace has a variety of scents preferred by an- glers. Some of the best I’ve used include Gulp! Alive!, Atlas Mike’s Herring Oil, Salmon Egg Oil, and Pautzke’s Liquid Krill. Each has its own place and purpose in an Alaska angler’s tackle box. Like anything in fishing, scent is merely a tool to help you catch more fish. I still fish dries for grayling and salmon flies without scent more times than not, because I enjoy the thrill of seeing fish respond to visual stimuli alone. But not always. When you only have one day out of a busy weekend to fish, and fish are not cooperating, and you need a salmon for the family outing, remember that scent can enhance the effectiveness of any fly or lure. I’m betting that if you try scent on your next fishing trip, you’ll soon be breathing deeply the scent of barbecued king salmon on the grill. For me, that is one of the best scents to start the Alaska summer. Portions of the above column were excerpted from “Chemical Communication in Salmon Fishing,” a chapter in Chris Batin’s just- released new book, “Advanced Alaska Fishing Techniques.” This book offers a wide selection of color underwater photos, illustrations and instructions on advanced tactics for fly and spin anglers. For a limited time during the month of April, Alaska Coast readers can purchase a personalized, autographed copy from the author at www.AlaskaAn- gler.com or write him at ChrisBatin@AlaskaAngler.com.