I agree with Rob and I'll expand on this a little more. We all rely on our senses and bass are no different. You will increase your chances and put the odds of success more in your favor by using attractants. The sight of your offering will attract a bass, the taste/smell sense is their next sense that comes into play. I read recently about a study on striped bass that concluded they have taste sensery glands outside their mouths (the small holes around the outside of the mouth). So they are basically tasteing/smelling it before they actually have your offering in their mouth for feel, which is the last sense to come into play. Now if that offering is a soft plastic (surf hog, real eel,
slug-go) you can understand how the smell/taste of an attractant on a soft rubber bait can increase your chances of success.