Another time and another place I wrote about this idea, however, I think it deserves a review. 
Right now with first ice, the panfish bite is hot and you don’t really need too many new tricks. However, as the season wears on, the fish get finicky and down right shy. When that time comes, I like to buy my waxworms a couple days before going fishing and I treat them. No, I don’t take them to McDonalds and then a movie, rather, I treat them with fish scent. 
I get a tub of 250, then I will take some panfish scent and drop about 20 drops in the tub and gently roll it around. No need to drown them or soak them, just get the scent on them. This scent adheres to their flesh and releases slowly when fishing them. 
While site fishing we have compared treated waxies with untreated and the treated ones will out produce. Panfish will suck both in and then blow them out if the hook is not set quick enough, however, we have seen them hold the scented waxie in their mouth a couple seconds longer. 
Treating them has no ill effects and they will keep as long as unscented waxies as long as you keep them cool, somewhere between 50 and 60 degrees. Warmer is not good and too cold also not good. Ever notice how you can have waxies on top of the saw dust, then by the end of the day they have crawled down to the botton. Well in order for this scent to keep rubbing off on them, just roll the tub over and let them start their descent all over again, thus crawling through the juice and getting it on them some more. Some have said that you can use cod liver oil and this produces the same result, however, while it works, it is generic and I prefer a specific panfish scent as it has a few more additives that target that species. Dr. Juice is one brand that I have used with excellent results. 
So next time you buy waxies, why not treat them. 
December 29, 2004 at 8:53 pm
#1317245
They glow but i wonder if they will take the cold water? 
Troy 
