Is it normal for lures and baits to have an ammonia smell to them? If this isn't normal can you fix it?

Normal? Yes and no. It is semi common and really causes no harm to the bait or lure in my opinion.

Ammonia is so volatile it will quickly disapate once placed at the set.

isn't that stuff flammable?

ammonia is normal. if you open the cap it should vent off. if it smells like a septic tank then its bad. but ammonia will dissipate.

lol ... you spelled dissipate correctly and I didn't! lol

Is this a gland lure? Such as Red Fox gland? If so the urine may have been old that they used in their formulation. Does that mean the lure is no good? Not really but it could mean the lure is poorly made too. Ask a few trapper friends, better yet ask the animal it was intended for...there is where the truth lies!

I would assume a lure with an amonia odor has a lot of urine in its formulation. This does not harm the effect as has already been said it will dissipate upon application and probably wouldn't matter if it did or not. Actually, when urine dissipates all its amonia content one has a weak, flat smelling product left. This is why urines should be stored in glass bottles between seasons as plastic is porous and allows the amonia to escape through the pores. Ace

Great info Asa. I was hoping you would share your insight!

Asa, someone posted the other day they considered "penned" urine better than bladder urine, being as bladder urine has not been naturally voided. Thoughts?
(not trying to change the post, but this theory sort of goes hand and hand with the ammonia post)

Coop:
I have experimented with fresh from the bladder urine, ordinary pen urine, light color, dark color and real aged urine and I could never isolate one iota of difference. I think for an animal to be that fussy they would had to have a bad experience with a certain odor to avoid it or not respond to there own nature. Whats important to me is that the urine be clean, collected in the Winter months and strained of food particles so it doesn't smell or turn putrid. A well processed urine by a reputable supplier will remain effective for years if stored in glass in a cool dark place.
Ace

Kinda what I thought, we (trappers) sometimes make it harder than it needs to be.

Maybe we would call it a simple program for complicated people Coop, LOL! Seriously though, I always admire trappers who strive to keep learning. Ace