Here is how you test the liquid smoke. Take a stick and soak it in Liquid smoke and place it on the trail about 7 feet from the bait. If the bear hits the stick and smells it, then you know it was the liquid smoke that helped you bring that bruin into you. I am a big fan of snow cone syrup in Cherry Flavor. My favorite reasons for this syrup is the smell is really good, it is really really sticky and gets onto the bears paws when he hits the baits he creates a trail heading out from the bait that creates a sign post for the next bear that crosses that track. Oil and Grease tend to do the same thing. Pretty soon you have a ton of tracks coming in and out of a particular bait.

If you really want to bait your own baits then have fun.

I also really like Sweet Oats(horse feed). A good bag of Oats works great, just divid the bag up for 5 equal portions and bring it into the stand each day in a 5 gallon bucket... Leave 1/2 of it when you leave the stand each night..

Hope this helps you get a really great bear, please remember to take pictures and share them with all of us.