Fish Attractants

[Dave E]

I was told that on catch and release rivers one should not use fish attractants because the trout swallow the fly making the release part very difficult. Any thoughts?

I don't necessarily by that premise, it presupposes that the angler is not a witting participant to the take and set. This is fly fishing where we normally use one closely attended rod at a time. Not two rods, in rod holders plunged into the bankline with bells on their tips and a load of Captian America Cheese Whiz gobbed on a treble hook.

As an aside, many of the scents sold, are masking agents and not fish attractants as advertised.

Depending on where you happen to be standing at the moment, Catch & Release waters can have many meanings. In some jurisdictions what are commonly referred to as catch and release waters might be officially listed as " Single Barbless, Artificials Only and Zero Limit ". In some cases the use of an attractant on a fly in an area like that, could get some unwanted attention from a state employee whose there to check your license and flies for barbs, who then will be asking for your autograph.
Read your Regs and ask questions of the local wardens, they're happier answering questions than writing citations.

Best, Dave