I honestly believe that nothing beats the real thing- bait. but if you run out, then it is nice to have some scent as back-up in your vest:

last weekend I ran out of eggs, so I looped up some EZ-eggs and dripped Pro Cure's shrimp/ prawn oil all over them... next cast and thump-thump-thump "FISH ON!" suprising that I had worked the entire hole with REAL bait and was just about at the VERY VERY end of the tailout. murky visibility and high water could have been the result of this one.

for plunking, I always use Mike's Glo-Scent, sand-shrimp flavor. the left-over smell of that stuff always reminds me of fishing (ie. left over sandshrimp piss smell?)

I also like Pro Cure's squid oil.

people used to use WD-40 on plugs and stuff.
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release wild steelhead