While you were giggling at my Wintergreen-Spearmint fly floatant and head cement, making me the butt of parking lot humor, you may want to know why – so you can backpedal frantically …
There are a number of compounds that can be used to effectively sedate fishes, including compounds commonly found in human foods (e.g., eugenol and similar compounds found in clove, wintergreen, spearmint and other essential oils) and over-the-counter oral pain relievers (e.g., benzocaine).
-via the American Fisheries Society
The first couple of casts disperses precious oils into the current above my quarry, soothing that rush of “fight or flight” endorphins my pear shaped shadow and thunderous feet have invoked. Depending on size and depth, a couple lifesavers plunked into the fast water above ensures everything below enjoys complete serenity as they lift off the bottom to inhale my artificial with obvious relish …
Over time recreational use gives way to addiction, and a stick of Doublemint and the saliva lingering on your clinch knot brings anything of heft upstream at a fast trot.
Just don’t mention it to your kid, he’s still willing to smoke anything.
I think I’m going to pass on throwing Life Savers to drug the trout. Takes all the fun out of the chase.
Mark
I don’t know Mark…digging a caddis puppa into your palm and noodling for trout beneath the ice sounds like an Extreme sport to me. With sponorship concerned with your success and fresh breath.
don’t forget good old fashioned ethanol as a fish sedative. But I suppose pouring one for your homeys would constitute alcohol abuse to the consummate brownliner.