What Can You Do To Prolong The Life Of Living Rubber?

[craww]

Recently came across a bunch of my favorite jigs, which feature rubber skirts. Other than keeping them out of extreme heat, is there anything else I can do?

[MacP]

Keep them sealed up. 

[Nice_Bass]

Recently came across a bunch of my favorite jigs, which feature rubber skirts. Other than keeping them out of extreme heat, is there anything else I can do?

What exactly happened to them?

I think I have had some for years actually that are still in good shape, just have not got around to re-sharpening a hook to get back in rotations. 

[craww]

Often the living rubber on frog legs, jigs, etc. "melts". Leaves a mess. The jigs I bought are fine, but I've had plenty of baits decompose in my boxes. Especially spro frogs and mop jigs. I just bought enough of the Alton Jones A jigs to last me for a long, long time. Just wondering if anyone had any tricks. I suppose I'll just store them in the closet (stays about 70 degrees) until I use each one.

[smalljaw67]

If the rubber is clumped up or melted it is junk, that is the problem with living rubber. The best way to store it for long periods of time is to place in a bag with unscented talc and one of those moisture absorbing packs is also helpful. The talc helps keep moisture from building up as well as it keeps the rubber from clumping together, if you are going to have the rubber in storage for a while like over a winter well then give the bag with the rubber and talc a shake or two every couple of weeks.

[Nice_Bass]

Often the living rubber on frog legs, jigs, etc. "melts". Leaves a mess. The jigs I bought are fine, but I've had plenty of baits decompose in my boxes. Especially spro frogs and mop jigs. I just bought enough of the Alton Jones A jigs to last me for a long, long time. Just wondering if anyone had any tricks. I suppose I'll just store them in the closet (stays about 70 degrees) until I use each one.

I see- I have had silicone like materials go bad- but I don't think I have ever had living rubber from jigs ever go bad, possibly some color fading, but never a melt- stored in the boat, in the garage year round.

 

edit- frogs, with the thinner rubber than jigs, I have used line and lure conditioner on now that I think about it.  Works if if it is not melted, but not quite right.

Edited October 1, 2013 by Nice_Bass

[Catt]

Baby Powder

[Avalonjohn44]

I've used a piece of white school chalk to keep moisture down in my tackleboxes. Saw the tip in an old Bassmasters mag.

[River Rat316]

the rubber in jigs is different than the rubber on frogs, just keep it out of extreme heat and do not store them in direct light and you will be fine, rubber doesn't have uv protectors like silicone and will fade in direct light

[CWB]

Only problem I've had is the collar rots and the skirts fall apart. solved that by putting on a tiny wire tie and cinching it up around the skirt. Any hardware store has em. Put em on all new jigs, spinnerbaits etc. with rubber collars.

[river-rat]

I've used corn starch to store rubber skirts for jigs and spinnerbait for as long as I can remember. It doesn't have any scent or chemicals. Although baby powder will work also.

 

I've got some Arkie jigs with the living rubber skirts I bought back in the 80's that are stil like new.

[slonezp]

Certain baits stored with other certain baits causes some type of chemical reaction making the rubber or plastic to melt. Do not mix baits in your storage boxes.