Does Cigarette Smoking Affect Catching Fish

I would think the the stink on a persons hands from hold the cigarette gets on all the equipment and the flies.
 
I would think the the stink on a persons hands from hold the cigarette gets on all the equipment and the flie
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Why would that mean diddly squat to a fish?
Did they learn that in a classroom ?
Think its worse than the stinking muck at the bottom?
 
I often smoke a pipe.

I don't catch many fish though. However, that seems to be true whether I'm clenching my pipe or not.
 
Fade,

That second article was very informative. It is not the act of smoking that repels fish, but having the tobacco/nicotine on your hands when you touch the fly. Just like a bug spray or sunblock would also leave a scent. Makes sense (or scents?) to me.
 
I think it works both ways, sometimes helping you catch more fish and sometimes causing you catch less...

For example, back when I smoked, I burned a fly line in half when I absently set my cigarette down on it while I was adding tippet material. This severely reduced the number of fish I caught that day.

Other times, it helps.. When there are clouds of biting gnats swarming around your head on the stream, your concentration can suffer and you'll miss takes. But if you light up a nice Marsh Wheeling cigar (advertising slogan - "The more you smoke it, the longer it gets..") most of the gnats, having more sense than any of us, will flee. As a result, your concentration is enhanced and you catch more fish.

Other than that, I don't put any stock in the odor question. Sounds like somebody producing studies for the sake of wringing the last few dollars out of a NIH grant before it expires..
 
I think odors on the hand, transferring to the fly, could have an effect. The effect is likely small enough to ignore for the average every day Joe who is fishing for enjoyment. If skipping that cigar catches me 23 instead of the 21 I caught as is, well, I might consider the enjoyment of the cigar to be worth 2 fish!

If I were in a tournament or something I might reconsider. But as it is, I'll enjoy myself as I see fit, thank you very much.

And any effect would likely be overwhelmed by how those chemicals affect YOU. Do they increase or decrease your concentration? Do they make you more or less likely to stay on the stream longer? Do you wait until the cigarette is finished, thus freeing up a hand, before changing your fly, adding weight, or lengthening your tippet?
 
For example, back when I smoked, I burned a fly line in half when I absently set my cigarette down on it while I was adding tippet material. This severely reduced the number of fish I caught that day.
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I can 2nd that although mine was touching a cigar to a mono shooting line-very few could match the distance that cast went.No spare-about 15 minutes into the fishing,turn around and go home.lol
 
Cant say for sure that smoking makes a big difference,but i work in a garage and oil and fuels make a big difference that i have noticed even waterless hand cleaners.so i would say yes.
 
I used to smoke all the time on the stream and often wondered whether or not it affected my success, but now that I've quit I don't notice any difference. I do think the fish can smell the scents from tobacco and other things, but like others have mentioned, I don't think they care enough to snub the flies.
 
I'm not given up my Stogie...It stays in my mouth and I don't like my flies.

I guess if your were a chain smoker and had nicotene stained fingers.
Handled your flies alot tying them on you might tranfer a little scent to the fly. But seems like that would be the extreme.
 
So take your nymphs and smush them in some stream vegitation before you fish them.


Also, most mayfllies stink. Go to Penns during the drakes and kill a couple, they reek.

So maybe the smell thing works the opposite way everyone thinks. That your dry flies don't smell like the natural (which is putting off ferimones to mate).?.?
 
I Know and fish with someone (he's on this board) and he smokes ALOT. He also catches more trout than anyone I know. I don't think it makes a difference at all.
 
I'll smoke anything on the stream and catch as much or if not more than a non-smoker. This has no affect in my opinion. I'm sure your dry fly would smell more like floatent than smoke. This is just my opinion....The theory is HOGWASH!
 
Fade,

I floated with you and the Prof. I smoked a few cloves and chewed some Beechnut. For years, I'd use chew spit to wet my nymphs before casting them for the first time. I'm not going to come on here an tell you that I catch tons of fish but I do catch some. I don't think the smoking thing = less fish is valid argument.
 
No for trout in moving water... I've witnessed them eat cig butts for crying out loud.
 
Don't fish near The Prof simple as that. Jay L, from one smoker to another, HECK YEAH man!!! I hear ya. And bam is right too. I'm always checking the contents of the stomachs of the stockies I keep and a cig butt is always a possibility.
 
Just reminder for the cigarette smokers fishing out there, including myself: if you could break off the filter and keep them in your pack/vest pocket and properly dispose of later, it would be most appreicated. Makes that pocket smell like s%&t but better than being in the water. Thanks.
 
giantsjim wrote:
Just reminder for the cigarette smokers fishing out there, including myself: if you could break off the filter and keep them in your pack/vest pocket and properly dispose of later, it would be most appreicated. Makes that pocket smell like s%&t but better than being in the water. Thanks.
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+1
everytime I see a smoker throw down a butt, step on it and walk away I want to bash them over their F-ing head. pure ignorance and laziness.
 
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