A crappie is considered a sight feeding fish, but just because he can see your bait doesn't mean he's going to take it.  There are many things to consider while you are fishing to help keep the odds in your favor. One of them is learning to keep unnatural or offensive smells away from your baits and  lures.

Some fish such as sharks, rays, eels, and salmon can detect chemical levels in water as low as 1 part per billion.  It has also been said that Catfish can smell some compounds at one part to 10 billion parts of water!  I don't know where a crappie's nose rates compared to these other fish, but I do know offensive odors are more easily detected in water than air.  If you can smell gasoline on your hands just think of how that is multiplied underwater!

If a fish tastes or smells certain compounds in the water or on your bait, feeding activities may cease. These compounds include such things as gasoline and certain ingredients in sunscreen, hand lotion, perfume, deodorant, tobacco, or insect repellent. You'll catch more fish if you can minimize or avoid contact with such materials as much as possible, or at least keep it from your baits.

I have added one simple item to my "list of things to take fishing" recently, something I'll be taking with me every time I go fishing from here on out.  I had stopped at the local auto parts store to buy outboard oil and I remembered the small crack in my gas line that I was going to fix before heading to the lake.  No problem!  All I had to do was pick up a small hose clamp, I already had tools on the boat to do the job when I got to the boat ramp.  Then it hit me, "oh no!"  I knew when I cut the fuel line that my hands would be covered with gas and there was no way around it.  I asked the salesman if I could buy a pair of disposable type gloves, but of course he said they only sell them "by the box."  To my surprise the "whole  box" price was only a few dollars for the 100 gloves and so far has been the best money I have spent in a long time!  I have been amazed at how many times my trusty little box of gloves has come in handy already.  You may get a funny look or two pumping gas or applying sunscreen with rubber gloves on but one thing is for sure, the fish you catch will never know the difference!