Service Life Of Soft Plastics....????

[Crow Horse]

Once a package is opened, how long will the soft plastics last?  I have some older soft plastics that are 3-4 years old and I was curious how long they'll be effective being that they were opened. Most if not all plastics have some form of scent and I'm sure they don't last indefinitely. Any thoughts on this?

 

** Should there be a manufacturers note on the package stating "Best served  before 12/2021"?

 

 

[David 7]

Don’t know about the scent aspect but I imagine that their shelf life would outlive their owner. 

[Bankc]

Keep it sealed in the package and it'll last at least a decade (from experience).  The scent might fade a bit, but not enough that I've noticed.  Though I don't have a good sniffer, so I may not be the most reliable source when it comes to things that smell.

[DitchPanda]

I've got some packs of Berkley havoc stuff which I bought several years before they were discontinued in 2017 I believe so some of the bags are 6-10 years old and are still as good as the say I bought them. As long as you keep them out of sunlight, extreme heat and reseal the bags they will last...I don't know..forever? Longer than you will need them to last. If you find a package that's popped or won't seal just throw the baits in a Ziploc. 

Case in point..I remember my dad taking me to a garage sale when I was in 5th grade when we lived in Illinois. The guy running it had a worm bar set up for stuff that he made and bought in bulk...standard curl tail worms,old craw worms...you know cool 80s stuff. We picked up a bunch and when I visited my dad a few weeks ago he still had some. I was like I said in 5th grade at the time so I was 10...I'm 38 now. So even if he poured it that day for the sale its still pushing 3 decades.

[Cgolf]

I have a bunch of plastics that are 15-20 years old in Plano boxes. Used some 15 year old BPS tender tubes this summer and they fished like new. 

[rtwvumtneer6]

I bought these "vintage" bags of Gambler BB Crickets last week.  Not sure how old they actually are but it's the first I've seen that style of packaging.  Research is showing me maybe 7ish years?

 

Anyway the baits themselves were in perfect shape.  I would suspect this would be the case as long as they aren't stored in extreme hot or cold.  The scent was non-existent but I suppose it could have been manufactured pre-Bite scent.

[Crow Horse]

What about a plastic you used and then returned to the original package? Do you think it would last as long ?

[Fishlegs]

I recently found some worms that had been hidden away in an old tackle box since the 1990’s. They were in a Plano type box, unsealed for over 20 years. I used them, and caught fish. I expect that they would’ve outlasted me if I hadn’t found them and used them up.

[Smells like fish]

I also have mid 90’s soft plastics I bought as a kid. Look and feel fine. 

[DitchPanda]

20 minutes ago, Crow Horse said:

What about a plastic you used and then returned to the original package? Do you think it would last as long ?

As long as it wasn't a biodegradable and packaged wet I think it would last like the other ones. It would get back into the bag get coated in the oil they come in and be like normal minus the wear and tear from use.

[Tatsu Dave]

TW sells spray oil called Bang fish attractor, comes in anise-garlic-shad or crawfish. Says right on bottle it oils and lubricates plastic lures. Pick a smell that you like and give them all a spritz when you feel they are drying out. Little goes a long way............

[BrianMDTX]

Last year I caught a 3 lb bass on a 7” plastic worm I bought in the 70s. So it was a 50 year-old bait, and still fished perfectly fine. 

[Scott F]

I almost never keep plastic baits in their original bags except for Zman Elaztech baits. I have several plastics that are 30 years old and some that are 50 years old with no sign of deterioration..

[MN Fisher]

13 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

Last year I caught a 3 lb bass on a 7” plastic worm I bought in the 70s. So it was a 50 year-old bait, and still fished perfectly fine. 

The only Berkley Worms I have are from the early 80s...still work fine.

 

7 minutes ago, Scott F said:

I almost never keep plastic baits in their original bags except for Zman Elaztech baits. I have several plastics that are 30 years old and some that are 50 years old with no sign of deterioration..

For me, depends on the bait.

I moved all my Stik-Os & Cabelas Action Tails (same thing really) and my Eco Pro Swing Shads to 4"x6"x4mm Plymor bags...then labeled them with name, length, color with my Brother label maker on the section above the zipper. Couple years now and no indication of any issues with them. May move more plastics to those...stores better in my 3607 boxes.

[schplurg]

I found a worm once that had seen better days. Kinda cracked and brittle. That sucker had awesome action though because of it. I'll fish a plastic worm until it falls apart or can't be rigged on a hook. Old worms rule!

[Catt]

@BrianMDTX & @Scott F

 

Apparently we have plastics older than most guys posting here!

[BrianMDTX]

14 minutes ago, Catt said:

@BrianMDTX & @Scott F

 

Apparently we have plastics older than most guys posting here!

S’ok. Old things still work. Just a slower and more deliberate pace! 

[gim]

I prefer to keep mine in the original packaging.

 

The oldest plastics I still have are Berkley power tubes.  They are about 8-10 years old.  They definitely still catch fish and look virtually the same the day I bought them.

[NoShoes]

I’ve actually until recently kept them in planos, but after a recent move the boat (and now tackle) are in a large shop that doesn’t keep the humidity out as much as my old garage. Found a lot of my worms (black and Ol monsters in particular) were soaked wet in the plano and were starting to bubble up. I’m in the process of reorganizing with speed bags and keeping the worms in their original packaging. I suspect they’ll last forever there. 

[Crow Horse]

This is great info that has been shared. When I order plastics I tend to "bracket" a particularly successful one and many times they don't pulled into immediate service resulting in a growing inventory. It's good to know that there really isn't a shelf life of plastics.

[Spankey]

10 hours ago, Catt said:

@BrianMDTX & @Scott F

 

Apparently we have plastics older than most guys posting here!

For sure. I have my share of older obsolete worm, tubes and craws. In original bags for the most part or in a heavier zip-loc. 
 

I’ll throw them now and again. Shame they can’t be had anymore. 
 

But anyway I have some that have to be 20+ years. Ex. Guido bugs, Mr. T Silk Worms, Razor Worms. Still work but can’t get.