If you’re a fisherman, you know how important it is to have the right bait. Soft plastic baits are some of the most popular baits on the market, and there’s a good reason for that.
They are versatile and can be used in a variety of situations. This blog post will discuss how long soft plastic baits last and how you can make them last longer.
What is Plastic Baits?
Plastic bait is an artificial fishing lure that’s used to catch fish. They are made from various materials, including PVC, vinyl, and rubber.
Soft plastics can be molded into different shapes, such as worms or crayfish-like creatures with legs called “swimbaits.” The soft nature of these kinds of baits makes them very popular with fish.
How Long Do Soft Plastic Baits Last?
A few factors will determine how long your soft plastic bait will last. The type of material the bait is made from, how you store it, and how often you use it all play a role in how long they’ll last.
Generally speaking, soft plastic baits will last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. However, there are some cases where they can last up to several months with proper care.
Did you know how long do soft plastic baits last? If you fish often, the answer to this question will have a major impact on how much money you spend.
It’s not uncommon for anglers to throw away entire bags of old worms without realizing how much they are wasting. The truth is that several factors determine how long soft plastic baits last.
We’ll get into how you can make them last longer, but first, let’s talk about how they break down at all. The most common reason these lures break down is exposure to heat and sunlight over time (like any other material).
The second reason they break down is how you use them – if you keep your soft bait in a water-filled container all day long, it will start to rot away faster than if kept dry.
How do I make my soft plastic baits last longer? The first step is finding the right spot for storage: ideally somewhere cool and dry.
A tackle box or storage container is perfect for this – make sure it’s not in direct sunlight.
If you have to keep your bait in the water, try to limit how long it’s submerged. If you can change the water every few hours, that will help preserve them longer.
Another way to lengthen their lifespan is using a preservative like Pro-Cure Liquid Saltwater Preservative.
If you want to ensure how long soft plastic baits last, storing them in the refrigerator or freezer is also an option. You can use Ziploc bags and keep your plastics cold but not frozen. This will help slow down any degradation process.
How to Make Soft Plastic Baits Last Longer
There are a few things you can do to make your soft plastic bait last longer:
- Store them in an airtight container, like a Ziploc bag or Tupperware container.
- Make sure there’s no moisture inside the storage unit so mold doesn’t grow on them.
- If possible, store your soft plastic bait in a cool place (not hot water). This will help prevent the melting and warping of the material.
- If possible, store your soft plastic bait in a dark place (not light). This will help prevent discoloration from sunlight exposure.
How to Store Soft Plastic Baits
Soft plastic baits should be stored in an airtight container like Tupperware or Ziploc bags/containers.
Ensure there’s no moisture inside the storage unit, so mold doesn’t grow on them. If possible, store your soft plastic bait in a cool place (not hot water) and a dark place (not light).
How Artificial Bait Is Made
The manufacturing process of artificial bait is relatively simple. The main ingredients are polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and plasticizers.
PVC is a thermoplastic polymer that can be melted down and formed into any shape. It is used to create the hard body of the bait, while the plasticizers are used to make it flexible.
The PVC is poured into a mold and then set for about thirty minutes. Once the bait has been shaped, it goes through the curing process, which takes between five to fifteen days depending on how large or how many baits are being cured at one time.
At this point, they can be painted with color if desired. A relatively new process is to inject color into the bait during production. This allows for a more natural look.
Dry baits are not scented, but some contain salt or other ingredients that give them added weight and make them sink faster in water.
This is how they differ from wet baits, which have been injected with an attractant.
The attractants used in soft plastic baits are fish oils and amino acids. This makes them effective at catching bass, pike, trout, and other gamefish.
Once the bait has been scented and colored, it is ready for packaging. Most companies use resealable plastic containers to use the bait repeatedly.
The Best Soft Plastic Baits For Bass
There are many different soft plastic baits on the market today, but some stand out above others when catching largemouth or smallmouth bass.
While they all have a similar design and purpose, each is designed for a specific situation or how you want to fish it.
For example, there are soft plastic shad baits that mimic the action of panfish and other small baitfish. These work well when the bass feeds on schooling minnows in open water.
There are also soft plastic craw baits that look like crayfish. These are more effective when bass feeds on crawfish in the shallows or understructure such as docks and rocks.
Finally, a soft plastic worm looks like an earthworm and can be fished in many ways by either casting it out and letting it sink to the bottom or using it as a jig bait.
These soft plastic baits are available in various colors and scents that will help you catch more bass. Experiment with them until you find the ones that work best for your fish conditions.
The lifespan of artificial bait is directly related to how it is used. For example, soft plastic baits exposed to UV light and oxygen will break down faster.
One way to extend the life of your soft plastic baits is by keeping them in a resealable plastic bag or container when you are not using them.
This will prevent sunlight from reaching them, and it will also keep air away from them, which will help slow down the breakdown process.
Another way to keep your artificial bait in good condition is by using a fish attractant. Again, many different brands on the market, but they all work the same way.
The attractant is sprayed or injected into the bait, and it makes them smell and taste better than bass.
This will not only make your baits last longer, but it will also help you to catch more fish.
Can Plastic Bait Go Bad?
The short answer is yes, plastic bait can go bad. The reason for this is that the plastic will start to degrade over time, which will cause the bait to become less effective.
How quickly this happens depends on several factors, such as the type of plastic used and how it’s stored. This article will discuss how long plastic baits last and how to store them properly.
How to Maximize the Life of Your Plastic Bait
There are a few things you can do to extend the life of your soft plastic baits. The main thing is to store them properly, which will keep them from deteriorating prematurely.
- Store in a cool, dry place
- Keep out of direct sunlight
- Don’t store near heat sources or appliances
- Rinse off any dirt or debris after fishing
- Dry baits before storing in a plastic bag, container, or dry box (if they’re wet when put away they will mold and deteriorate quickly)
Conclusion
You can now see how to extend the life of your soft plastics by storing them correctly and how long they last.
Now you know how long do soft plastic baits last before using them for fishing; it’s time to start building a tackle box full of baits.
When choosing which ones to buy from the multitude available on our shelves, it can be hard to make a decision. We hope this guide has made the process easier.