How Long Do Soft Plastics Stay Good?

[dtruesdell24]

I want to take advantage of the Bass Pro Spring sale. But before I do, I want to know how long do soft plastics stay good? Like keep their scent and not rip easier than they already do. Or will it not matter?

[Todd2]

Keep them in the original package and out of extreme heat and they should last for years.

[Maxximus Redneckus]

I have some over 20 yrs old out of package still soft and like new

[RoLo]

Keep them in their original packaging

and they'll still be there when you're pushing daisies.

 

Roger

[Maxximus Redneckus]

Like todd said i think extreme heat will mess them up ( like a tin shed) 140 degrees in summer.never did this but not tryin

[ww2farmer]

  On 3/30/2014 at 10:25 PM, RoLo said:

Keep them in their original packaging

and they'll still be there when you're pushing daisies.

 

Roger

What he said.....also avoid getting them wet, especialy salty stuff like GYCB.

[CWB]

I like Rogers post. Mine stay good till a fish tears it up

[PondHopper96]

My dad has a bunch of the original gene larew craws which are older that me and I'm 17 and they have caught me many bass! Still smell nice and funky too!

[Shane J]

Forever if not exposed to extremes constantly. The worst thing for them, is moisture.

[Raul]

The worst thing for a salt impregnated bait is moisture ! salt is higroscopic, meaning it traps waters, a salt impregnated bait has salt mixed with the plastic, salt will trap water and bubble up the bait. Non salt impregnated baits last for decades, I have a good ammount of soft plastic bait bags I purchased more than 20 years ago.

[Shane J]

Right, good point.

[Felix77]

I have had Gulp products not last me a season because they dry up.  I found keeping them in their package and then that in a zip-loc tends to make them last much much longer.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

Mine last a long time,i have a bag of senkos for about 8,years now and there fine.

[frogflogger]

  On 3/31/2014 at 2:01 PM, Felix77 said:

I have had Gulp products not last me a season because they dry up.  I found keeping them in their package and then that in a zip-loc tends to make them last much much longer.

I think gulp does better in a jar -

[Stlbob]

same here have a bunch of Manns Jelly worms fron the mid 80's still work just fine.

[roadwarrior]

If properly stored, virtually forever.

 

 

 

[FrankW]

I have plastic worms bought around 1970. They are 100ct bags with Anise oil in the bag. They are still good. I tried fishing them but they are way lighter than the worms today that have salt. Back then they didn't make worms with salt. They still have their color, texture and seem to be just as flexible. These have been stored in garages in Arizona and Florida so not so sure the heat bothers them too much.

Frank

[WRB]

Put the original plastic bags in Zip lock bags unopened and they will last for decades. Some original worm bags break down and fall apart. Don't add bass attractant scents to the worm bags, the chemicals can affect the soft plastics. Pure anise oil is OK, better off not opening the original bags.

I have a few DeLong worms from the 60's that are stiff and soften them by placing in boiling water for a few minutes and they are softer than they were originally!

Tom