Soft Plastics + Hot Vehicle = ?

[SudburyBasser]

Howdy all:

 

I just completed by every day carry shore fishing kit -- never know when you're going to drive by a lake and feel the urge to drop a line -- and I had a question about plastics and heat. I was planning to keep the tackle bag in my Jeep all the time so that I wouldn't forget it but it occurred to me that heat and soft plastic were rarely friends.

 

I have a bunch of soft plastics in a Plano box. Now air temperatures can hit up to 35C/95F during summer so I suppose you could tack on another 10 or 15 degrees for inside the vehicle. Is this going to be enough to actually melt the plastics and make them unusable? Would keeping the plastics in the Jeep for extended periods of time render them unusable?

[Stingray23]

I dont think the heat will make them unusable, but it will start to melt them and leave a melted plastic smell. If you have no choice, atleast keep them out of the sun. Underneath the seats or covered would atleast help alittle. Also, maybe leaving the windows slightly open will help with ventilation.

[smalljaw67]

You may end up with the box warping but the baits should be ok unless you have the 3X or Z-Man elaztec , those will melt and they react to other plastics not just heat so as long as you don't have any of that you'll be fine.

[NWI-Bassin']

I keep some tackle in my dads truck. I put them in a cooler and a ice pack. It keeps them cool. Even after the ice pack wore off.

[TNBassin']

Melted a ton of baits and jig skirts this past summer. I would advise against it.

[gallowaypt]

I have had soft plastics melt in the car. I would advise against putting them in the Plano box because the box will melt them much quicker than just leaving them in their bags.

[Darren.]

Have to agree with the warnings, have had plenty of plastics melt to tackle boxes. But also agree with using some sort of insulated carrier like a cooler. That'll help a lot.

[SudburyBasser]

Hmmm, so unless I get rid of the soft plastics or live with the risk that they might combine and create a new super plastic it looks like I'm not just leaving this in the back. Well, thanks for the responses gents.

[TiNuts]

I've left plastics in the trunk of my car in 110* heat all summer with no problem.  But I'm sure the trunk stays a bit cooler than the cab of your Jeep will.

[SirSnookalot]

I keep a few bags in my trunk, being as they aren't used much some have been there for 2 years or more, no problems with zoom flukes or senkos.

[LuckyHandsINC.]

Summers around here may not be crazy hot, but it does get into the 90's and occasionally hit 100 or so. I leave my bag in the car all season and never had anything melt. I keep them all in original bags aside from rage draws which I keep in my jig box. The bags of plastics are also in a Plano organizer bag. Usually keep them on the floor of my car sometimes on the back seat.

[tholmes]

I've left plastics in the trunk of my car in 110* heat all summer with no problem.  But I'm sure the trunk stays a bit cooler than the cab of your Jeep will.

 

 

I've left soft plastics in a tackle box in the cab of my pickup with no problems at all. I cover the tackle box to keep direct sunlight off of it, but I'm sure the temps reach well over 100 degrees. Never had anything melt.

 

Tom

[Fishes in trees]

Living in Canada where you do, I really doubt that you're going to have any issues with plastics melting in your truck.  I've met some guys from Houston and keeping plastics in their trucks during the summer time is a different story.

[run23]

instead of a full kit, i would create more of a 'car kit' that had some essentials and a variety of plastics. that way, if they melt...meh. no big deal. a planned fishing trip is just that. you know you're going fishing so you can plan accordingly. 

[SudburyBasser]

Living in Canada where you do, I really doubt that you're going to have any issues with plastics melting in your truck.  I've met some guys from Houston and keeping plastics in their trucks during the summer time is a different story.

 

You'd be surprised. Although we don't (usually) have extended insane heat streaks up here, it's not unknown to have a couple of weeks were the temperature can touch the low 90s for a while. But I think you're right, it shouldn't be too much an issue.

 

instead of a full kit, i would create more of a 'car kit' that had some essentials and a variety of plastics. that way, if they melt...meh. no big deal. a planned fishing trip is just that. you know you're going fishing so you can plan accordingly. 

 

Yeah, that's about what I did. A small Plano bag with two boxes -- one terminal gear, the other some spinnerbaits, inline spinners, crankbaits -- lipless and otherwise. I decided to put the plastics back in their individual bags to minimize any potential issues.

 

Now I just have to wait for the snow to go. Sigh.

[Jig Meister]

Zero problems with my tackle in the car in the summer here in Ohio, where it gets up into the 90's more of the summer. I use majority of zoom baits. Certain skirts will melt to the plano boxes, so be careful of that.

 

I have had issues with baits melting in the past, but that was a long time ago