Used Soft Plastic Lures?

[sthrnspd]

I was wondering what everyone does with their used soft plastic lures?

After you use them for a little while, fish hits them, drag them across the bottom, or you just pull them off to change colors they become damaged to where you won't use them again. So what do you do with them? I have seen plenty of people just throw them in the water, back in their tackle box, or in the trash. I know that these plastics do not break down naturally and stay in our rivers, lakes, oceans forever and can actually kill fish if they eat them. But if we are throwing them in the trash then they are just getting buried in some landfill which isn't much different than throwing them in the lake.

So being the conservationist that I am , I was thinking what if I collected everyones old, damaged, unwanted, and used soft plastic lures and remolded them into perfectly good lures that could be used again? Then possibly resell them as "100% recycled soft plastic lures" and use that money raised to put towards other conservation efforts in order to protect our waters.

The only problem is that I need used/old soft plastic baits...that is where you guys come in. In order for this to work I need to know if you would participate.

1)How many soft plastic lures do you tear up in a typical outing?

2) What do you do with your old plastic baits after you use them?

3) Would you be willing to save your old baits and then give them to me?

4) Would you be more likely to drop them in a "drop off bin" at your local bait store or mail them to me?

5) What would it take to get you to mail them to me? (free pack of remolded baits? discounts on recycled worms? beer ?)

6) How else could i collect the used baits?

7) Would you be willing to buy 100% recycled soft plastic baits if they were the same price as non recycled baits and basically the same design?

[Avalonjohn44]

Interesting post.

I save all of my torn up plastics and fix them with Mend-it. I rarely have a bait that is 'un-savable'. Whenever possible I retrieve any baits from the water as well. If I find one that isn't mine, I keep it too, repair it and use it again. Before mend it, I used a soldering iron...

Good luck.

[surfer]

I use about 5 per outing. I throw them away. I could save up a 100 of em and mail em to you for say 20 recycled ones in return. Sure I'd buy recycled if the price was the same, but I would be concerned about action and behavior begin the same too. I assume you would have trouble with colors due to tint already being in them. But i'll try em.

[maq88]

i just repair them,

plain n simple lol

[Ratherbfishing]

I like to keep my damaged plastics strewn randomly about the bottom of the boat until eventually I reach a state of acceptance and dispose of them.

Perhaps in the "old days" it would be easy to recycle soft plastics but with all the different colors, formulas, scents, etc. I don't know how feasible it is. But good luck to you.

[bassfisherjk]

I just toss them.

[dmac14]

It is a good thought, however the types of materials used for each different style bait varies, along with different brand names. Not to mention colors and scents.

I do like the idea of disposing of them properly rather than them sitting in a landfill, not sure if this type of plastic can be recycled for other uses or not.

[charbo]

I have a running bag of used T rigged worms that I'll reuse rigged wacky. Works great.

[ROCbass]

5) What would it take to get you to mail them to me? (free pack of remolded baits? discounts on recycled worms? beer ?)

I usually repair mine until they're completely unusable and then throw them away, but if you're willing to trade me beer for trash I might take you up on it. :lol:

[Hooligan]

I'd send my used baits to you, sure.

As inexpensive as plastics are, I don't bother fixing them, my time isn't worth saving a $3 bag of worms.

[BrianSnat]

I probably go through 4-5 per outing. Fewer if the fish ain't biting. I toss them in the trash when I'm done.

Never heard of Mend It but I certainly will check it out.

[grimlin]

I just toss them.

What I been doing this year,90% of the time My bait never comes back.Usually I reuse the bait till it's so beat up that it just flies off the hook after a head shake from a fish.

No point in investing in mend it for me...specially if the stuff dries out before I can even use it.

[Bankbeater]

I have a ziploc bag that they go in after they become too beat up. From there they get used as jig trailers.

[bweave09]

I eat mine.

[SausageFingers]

I have a ziploc bag that they go in after they become too beat up. From there they get used as jig trailers.

x 2. Beat up Space Monkeys make pretty solid trailers.