Q: Is it OK to leave flexible plastic baits out in the air for months +?

[Rolf Marsh]

I'm starting to get ready for Spring; as such, I would like to rig some of my rods now, just for something to do and get some practice. 

Q:  if I rig a chatterbait or neko rig, and rig my rods, will the air do some damage to the baits? or should I just wait until the season starts and do it then?

[Susky River Rat]

I never take any kind of grub, TRD or worm off the hook. I leave them rigged up unless I know it is going to touch plastic that it could “melt”. Just add some scent to them before you throw them. Heck sometimes I don’t even do that. I am also by no means an expert or fish catching king. I don’t sweat the small stuff like this though. To others it may be a big deal. Personally though if you for sure aren’t going to fish for awhile I would not bother.

[gim]

It is widely known that Zman elaztech can turn into a gooey mess if you leave it in the sun or heat for a prolonged period of time.  They tend to not play nice with other soft plastics too, which is why I leave them in their original packaging until I use them.

[Spankey]

A lot of soft plastics have salt in them. Steel hooks rust. I don’t want my hook points to rust. If it rusts it can’t be as sharp. 

[WRB]

Air temperature has a affect on soft plastics.

Leaving lures or terminal tackle tied on longer then 24 hours starts to weaken knot do to cold flow creep under pressure.

Leaving soft plastics rigged on hooks can cause corrosion If salt impregnated.

You can leave the rod, reel, line rigged, just retie knots before using.

Tom

[TnRiver46]

The salt will rust the hooks like others have said, happens nearly overnight in the southeastern rainforest jungles 

[Rolf Marsh]

Thanks everybody; I forgot about the salt issue... will wait until the night before, or day I go fishing.

[MN Fisher]

7 minutes ago, Rolf Marsh said:

Thanks everybody; I forgot about the salt issue... will wait until the night before, or day I go fishing.

If I'm going out in the morning, I'll tie on lures the night before...but plastics stay off until I'm ready to cast.

[Darth-Baiter]

I rusted out a few jackhammers. I sharpened the hooks so I’m good, but I can’t imagine long term stolid that. 

[Jig Man]

Once I rig them they stay on until I lose them no matter what season.

[WIGuide]

I would take them off for long term storage, but having them on for a little bit won't hurt anything. 

[Bankc]

I just leave my plastics on my rigs and hooks.  On the rare occasion, they will rust a hook.  But most of the time, they're fine.  And at the rate I lose lures, I don't worry too much about losing a couple a year to rust.  Most years, I don't lose any to rust, but it does happen on occasion.  

 

[Mike L]

16 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

If I'm going out in the morning, I'll tie on lures the night before...but plastics stay off until I'm ready to cast.

Ditto

 

 

 

 

Mike