How To MAKE Your Own "FISH ATTRACTANT" Like Berkley GULP Uses . . .
I did some research, a while back, about the Patent information for the attractant(s) used by Berkley . . .
Here is what I found, accompanied by images of U.S. Patent 5827551 ( below text )
Tight Lines !!!
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Fish Attractant
WO 1997039625 A1
Composition containing a stable water-in-oil emulsion of petrolatum jelly, a water soluble delivery agent, a thickening agent, and a water soluble fish attractant.
Claims(1)
1. A fish attractant composition comprising a stable water-in-oil emulsion made of petrolatum jelly, a water soluble delivery agent, a thickening agent, and a water soluble fish attractant.
2. A fish attractant composition according to claim 1 wherein said water soluble delivery agent is selected from the group consisting of glycerine and propylene glycol.
3. A fish attractant composition according to claim 1 wherein said thickening agent is selected from the group consisting of ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, polyethylene wax, and silica.
4. A fish attractant composition according to claim 1 comprising petrolatum, propylene glycol, and silica.
DESCRIPTION
FISH ATTRACTANT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a formulation for delivering fish attractants that sustains the release time as well as provides high coating power.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fish attractants must be water soluble to be effective. Unfortunately, water soluble attractants are quickly removed from a lure when applied as a surface coating.
It would be desirable to have a formulation for releasing water soluble fish attractants that would stick well as a surface coating yet provide a controlled release of the material into the surrounding water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a formulation for water soluble fish attractants that sticks well to bait surfaces and which controls the rate of release.
In accordance with this and other objectives that will become apparent from the description herein, attractant formulations according to the invention comprise a stable water-in-oil emulsion made of petrolatum jelly, a water soluble delivery agent, a thickening agent, and a water soluble fish attractant. Formulations according to the invention stick well to the exterior surface of artificial lures while allowing the active attractant ingredient to leach slowly into the water.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Fish attractant formulations according to the invention are a water-in-oil emulsion of petrolatum mineral jelly or wax, a water soluble delivery agent, a thickening agent, and a water soluble fish attractant. The petrolatum provides an oil-based carrier that adheres well to the external surfaces of artificial lures. The remaining ingredients form a stable emulsion with good shelf stability that releases the active attractant slowly when immersed in water. Unless otherwise stated, all percentages are by weight. Water soluble delivery agents useful in the invention are water soluble, able to dissolve the attractant, immiscible in the petrolatum, nontoxic, and environmentally acceptable.
Particularly preferred delivery agents include propylene glycol and glycerine. Thickening agents useful in the invention are those materials that will thicken the petrolatum sufficiently to stabilize the emulsion without prohibiting release of the attractant. Suitable thickening agents are solid, semi-solid, and liquid at room temperature. Preferred thickening agents include ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers, polyethylene waxes, and silica (e.g., Cab-O-Sil™).
The attractant to be incorporated into the present formulation may be any water soluble material or combination of materials which attract or stimulate aquatic life, such as fish and crustaceans, to feed. A wide variety of attractants, including those cited in the background prior art discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,245,420; 4,826,691; and 5,089,277, (the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference) have been found to be suitable. Examples include powdered bone meal, powdered food solids, powdered anise, rhodinyl acetate, dehydrated fish meal, dried slaughterhouse waste products, powdered fish, egg, dried milk products, sodium chloride, molasses, fish powders and synthetic spices having a smell similar to that of fish meal, fish oil, stale fish, shell fish, krill powder, pulverized dried sardine, spray dried inactivated and/or autolyzed yeast, powdered squid, borax, wood flour, bentonite, pulp fibers, and cellulosic materials, dicarboxylic amino acids and other amino acids, such as glutamic and aspartic acids, betaine, glycine, alanine, taurine, tryptamine, and tyramine. Academic study of fish behavior relating to chemoreception describes a wide variety of attractant materials suitable for use in the present formulation. Very useful attractant are disclosed in the following publications, the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference: a. Hara, Toshiaki J., "Chemoreception," Fish Physiology. Vol. 5, 1971, pp.
79-120, Academic Press Inc. b. Hara, Toshiaki J., "Olfaction in Fish," Progress in Neurobiology. Vol. 5, Part 4, 1975, pp.271-335, Pergamon Press. c. Hara, Toshiaki J. (Ed.).
"Chemoreception in Fishes," Developments in Aquaculture and Fisheries Science. 8, 1982, Elsevier Scientific Publishing
Co. d. Pitcher, Tony J. (Ed.), "The Role of Olfaction in Fish Behavior," The Behavior of Teleost Fishes, 1986, pp. 152-176. The Johns Hopkins University Press.
The percentage of attractant in the present formulation is determined primarily by the nature of the specific attractant material. Certain attractants, which have an extremely concentrated attractive effect on aquatic life, may be used in the present formulation in amounts as low as between about 0.1-10% of the total formulation. When bulky or general attractants, such as powdered fish meal, are used in the present formulation, they are generally present in an amount of at least about 5% of the total formulation. Broadly, formulation of the present invention containing amounts of attractant in the range of between about 0.1-80% of the total formulation have been found to be effective in luring aquatic life.
Preferred formulations for the present fish attractants comprise about 50-80% petrolatum, 10-30% water soluble delivery agent, 1-10% thickening agent, and 0.01-20% attractant, and 0-20% auxiliary agents. Particularly preferred formulations include 60- 65% petrolatum jelly, 20% water soluble dispensing agent, 3-5% thickening agent, and 10-12% water soluble attractants and other ingredients.
The particular ingredients of the attractant formulation can be blended in any manner that produces a stable water-in-oil emulsion. If the thickening agent is a solid at room temperature and meltable, that component may be heated until a liquid and mixed with the other components at high speed until a creamy, stable emulsion is formed.
Generally, the components are mixed at room temperature by hand or with a mechanical mixer until the mixture changes from a dry, stiff mix into a smooth, creamy paste that can be readily applied to the exterior of a bait or artificial lure.
Interesting Dave. I read a long time ago how anise is an attractant in all wildlife when I used to deer hunt. I am a fan of Good & Plenty candy and used to eat it to keep my stomach calm on bouncy days. I took to spitting on my bait with anise laced saliva and found out it works. Dominick
I have heard of Anise being used as a fish attractant.
Maybe the next time I go to the beach, I should bring some Good & Plenty.
There used to be two characters I worked with that earned that nickname. :D
One of my Uncle's friends worked for Berkley at Spirit Lake, IA, and was heavily involved with the early development of scent attractants. He used to send us early saltwater prototypes before they were mass produced to test. Our method of testing involved chuming an area heavily, jumping in the water with scuba gear, and releasing the scent to gauge the reaction of the fish. Basically we found any attractant that contained mackerel oil seemed to work the best.
Quote from: Shark Hunter on November 12, 2015, 12:14:51 AM
There used to be two characters I worked with that earned that nickname. :D
There were two girls in the old neighborhood that also earned those names. :D ;D :D Dominick
:D
Quote from: Shark Hunter on November 12, 2015, 12:14:51 AM
I have heard of Anise being used as a fish attractant.
Maybe the next time I go to the beach, I should bring some Good & Plenty.
There used to be two characters I worked with that earned that nickname. :D
My friend I just spit my beer when I read that...
Quote from: Tightlines666 on November 12, 2015, 12:21:47 AMOne of my Uncle's friends worked for Berkley at Spirit Lake, IA, and was heavily involved with the early development of scent attractants. He used to send us early saltwater prototypes before they were mass produced to test. Our method of testing involved chumming an area heavily, jumping in the water with scuba gear, and releasing the scent to gauge the reaction of the fish. Basically we found any attractant that contained mackerel oil seemed to work the best.
Any chance of getting him to glance over that Patent information and "narrow it down" a little more for us as to specific percentages, etc ?
Tight Lines !
I also found info on making the lure bodies, too, along with some additional data on the attractant . . .
More data . . .
The thing Gulp bought to the table is the plastic body that slowly leaches attractant into the water then coming up with shelf-stable attractant.
You can make attractant with some raw fish or shellfish and a kitchen blender. It is not shelf-stable but can be frozen for later use. You can add some extra fish oil if desired. Delivering the attractant so that it leaches out of the bait over hours instead of seconds is the hard part. I once tied some jigs with a body made out kitchen sponge. I would soak the sponge in raw fish puree and then cast. Sort of worked but it was messy and the sponge body was really difficult to cast. Went back to tipping the jig with a sliver of fresh bait.
-steve
EDIT: sorry for dredging up an old thread. Thought I was on the "unread posts since last visit" list
Quote from: oc1 on January 19, 2016, 09:06:03 AM
The thing Gulp bought to the table is the plastic body that slowly leaches attractant into the water then coming up with shelf-stable attractant.
You can make attractant with some raw fish or shellfish and a kitchen blender. It is not shelf-stable but can be frozen for later use. You can add some extra fish oil if desired. Delivering the attractant so that it leaches out of the bait over hours instead of seconds is the hard part. I once tied some jigs with a body made out kitchen sponge. I would soak the sponge in raw fish puree and then cast. Sort of worked but it was messy and the sponge body was really difficult to cast. Went back to tipping the jig with a sliver of fresh bait.
-steve
EDIT: sorry for dredging up an old thread. Thought I was on the "unread posts since last visit" list
No problem, especially since I started it . . . LOL ! ! !
After re-reading the thread and the newer posts, an IDEA popped into my head, about the "Slow Release" process.
I wonder if mixing the "ingredients of choice" with Vegetable Shortening ( aka "Crisco" ) would serve that purpose ?
It should dissolve slowly, especially if used in a "Chum Pot" or other dispenser . . . THOUGHTS ???
Tight Lines !!!
Quote from: oc1 on January 19, 2016, 09:06:03 AMWent back to tipping the jig with a sliver of fresh bait.
That brings up an interesting question . . .
Is a "Tipped Jig" a "Visual Attractant" with "Added Scent" or is it a a "Bait" with an added "Visual Attractant" ???
Tight Lines !
Speculating that Crisco would be nasty to work with in the water. The attractant could be gelatinized with Knox gelatin from the grocery store but it might not last as long.
I guess if you are working a jig to make it look alive then it is a visual attractant. If the jig is lying on the bottom while you pick put a backlash then it is a baited hook.
-steve
Bait shop in Seward experimented with using the oil absorbing cloth used to cleaning up fuel spill for soaking in herring oil and tipping a lure. He just cut out small fish shapes to put on the hook. I used them but cannot say if they worked any better or worse than other scent methods but it stands to reason that they would leach oil slower since they were designed to absorb it. As long as they catch a fisherman they are an successful product. Ken
Quote from: AlasKen on January 19, 2016, 08:28:57 PM
As long as they catch a fisherman they are an successful product. Ken
Bingo! Dominick
in the rivers in the PNW I used to cut out a piece of moleskin, its sticky back holds to skin so it holds to a metal or plastic lure very well, then I could saturate the moleskin with attractant, mostly Anise oil. The results were inconclusive, sometimes they worked great other times not at all. Just like using the lures without any attractant. I still use the method to this day and Im still not sure it helps, but everytime I get hooked up when I use it I will swear it is because of the attractant. If I dont then the fish just aren't biting.
I don't use attractants because of the smell and mess they make on my lures, tackle box, boat and me. But, if your looking for more of a paste type of scent try Smelly Jelly, it sticks on the lures for a good period of time and has the consistency like Vasoline but it must be water soluble by law to use here in California. Also people that do use this type of stuff around here swear by Uni Butter but this needs to be reapplied every 4-5 casts.
Pro-Cure super gel scents made from combining real bait, fish, etc. with sticky gel. I used squid, anchovy, threadfin shad.
Can't say that they made that much of a difference catching fish.
http://pro-cure.com/store/bait-scent-products/scents/super-gels.html