Why do mothballs smell sooo bad? Don't they ever shower?

Seriously my guess is no self-respecting fish will go near those lures. But, that said, last summer we accidentally got a halibut bait into some spilled diesel. We put it out anyway and it immediately was eaten. Of course you might argue that halibut aren't the worlds smartest fish.

I know Clancy Holt will not fish an egg cluster that touches the floor of the boat.