Discarded Soft Plastics

[Blue Streak]

There has been a lot written lately about the adverse effects of soft plastic baits which have been thrown into the lakes and streams. Seems that bass are eating these and it is blocking their digestive system and killing them. Some of the pros are campaigning to stop this so I guess it is not some crackpot theory. What are your opinions on this?

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Always stick the used ones that are too destroyed to fish anymore in my pockets and take em home. At which time they are either discarded, or forgotten about until my wife finds them in the washer or dryer. I'm telling you a woman unexpectedly confronted by a one arm ZOOM crawfish in the washer can be pretty darn viscous.

[Packard]

I have a feeling that we are soon going to see many lakes banning the use of soft plastic.

[IneedAnewScreenName-972354]

Having a adverse affect on Bass would be bad enough, but even if it doesn't it would still be littering our waterways.

My wife don't mind the plastic as much as the pack of crappie jigs stuck in all the clothes!

[Red]

I always toss em in my boat, then later when I clean out my boat my nephews collect the old ones and keep them in an old flower pot outside. A couple yeas ago I caught a small bass that had a 10 inch worm tail sticking out. I started pulling and it just kept coming up!! I got the whole thing out, probably saved its life!

[Fishing-Vol]

I only use custom made, so I take them home and use a lighter to melt them back together. That way I can catch another fish or two before they finally go into the trash. And many baits can be cut shorter and therefore be re-used too. Got to get all the life you can out of a really soft bait.

[Glenn]

It's not a crackpot theory. It's fact. Here's the article that started it all: http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/skinny-fish.html

[flippin and pitchin]

If it didn't come out of the lake, don't throw it in the lake.

[Hooligan]

It's not a crackpot theory. It's fact. Here's the article that started it all: http://www.bassresou...kinny-fish.html

Hadn't Lusk written on the topic prior to that one even? I seem to recall him having something from back in the early 2000 time range. I know that there have been other articles published on the topic as well, not just that one.

I don't expect that we will see lakes banning plastics, really, that's a drastic, drastic measure to take. A particularly large one because it would enrage 99% of the fishing public, and in doing so, be such a sweeping change that it would all but eliminate the #1 tactic across the US for recreational anglers; they're not even that dumb. (By they I mean the legislators...) I can see lead bands from time to time in areas, but plastics are a different story altogether.

[SausageFingers]

I take them home and dispose of them properly.

I've caught many trout that have had soft plastic crayfish baits lodged in their stomache.

[grimlin]

Hadn't Lusk written on the topic prior to that one even? I seem to recall him having something from back in the early 2000 time range. I know that there have been other articles published on the topic as well, not just that one.

I don't expect that we will see lakes banning plastics, really, that's a drastic, drastic measure to take. A particularly large one because it would enrage 99% of the fishing public, and in doing so, be such a sweeping change that it would all but eliminate the #1 tactic across the US for recreational anglers; they're not even that dumb. (By they I mean the legislators...) I can see lead bands from time to time in areas, but plastics are a different story altogether.

Very possible we could see some changes in the soft plastic as well.Possibly something that will break down faster? If they are banning lead,which is the start of things....we could very well see some changes coming into plastic baits as well. might be a little more down the future yet,but it could happen sooner or later.

[Jig Man]

I remelt mine and make them into new baits. Find a bait maker and see if he will take your old plastics and recycle them. Just don't save him any Gulp as they still stink even when recycled.

[Blue Streak]

That is a good article Glenn and I think I have read something else about this written by him also. Unbelievable the number of plastic baits they took out of that fish. Let's face it, the real solution is education. If the people doing it know that it is killing bass in their favorite waters maybe they will stop. The bottom of high pressured lakes must look like a landfill.

[Glenn]

Hadn't Lusk written on the topic prior to that one even? I seem to recall him having something from back in the early 2000 time range. I know that there have been other articles published on the topic as well, not just that one.

I don't expect that we will see lakes banning plastics, really, that's a drastic, drastic measure to take. A particularly large one because it would enrage 99% of the fishing public, and in doing so, be such a sweeping change that it would all but eliminate the #1 tactic across the US for recreational anglers; they're not even that dumb. (By they I mean the legislators...) I can see lead bands from time to time in areas, but plastics are a different story altogether.

That IS Lusk's article.

[J Francho]

That article pops up once a year in In-Fisherman. I have a plastics grave yard in my boat.

[NBR]

Raider Nation

Put them on her pillow or just under the covers. You might get beat up a little so stand back.

I put mine in a plastic bag. When I get home if I cant repair them they go in the garbage.

[bassh8er]

A guy on a local forum posted some pics last year of a trout he caugh out of a stock pond. The 14" trout had an undigested 3" section of a senko type bait in his stomach along with 2 other unidentified plastics. There's no telling how long this fish has had these plastics inside of him, but they didn't look like they were breaking down very well.

[Hooligan]

That IS Lusk's article.

I realize that, I thought that he'd written one prior to that one, even.

[Pete-K]

I also stock pile the used ones and melt them back down. Then pour some wild colors LOL But they still make more baits and saves cash along with keeping them out of the water ways..

Pete

[Bass Dude]

I think this thread should be closed before the law makers see it!!!!!

[River Rat316]

Never throw them back in the lake, its littering and unsightly. As far as the article goes the only studies I have seen always have fish in an controlled environment, tank, pond, or something of that nature. I doubt it is as prevelant in a natural lake or river, I think (or hope maybe) that their would be alot less chance for a bass to pick up plastics in a natural lake or river setting. If everyone discards there plastics after use, or recycles or whatever then the chance goes down even farther, its up to us to keep it out of the lawmakers hands, given the chance they would legislate against plastics, they need to justify their job afterall

[LgMouthGambler]

OK, so throwing your old baits into the water is just straight ignorance on your part. I mean come on, really? I have a plastic ziploc bag that I put all my old beatup plastics in, and then I empty them into another 1 gallon freezer bag. There is a guy in my fishing club (and Im sure there is at least 1 in all of them) that collects them from other members and makes baits out of them. Now I think Im gonna experiment with the whole using a lighter to try and mend the broken pieces, but I would also like to try and melt down and make my own baits. Some of you on this topic talk about making your own, so maybe you can give me a hint on what you use to do it. Whats the process to melting them, and what do you use to make a cast for the new baits. I was thinking about making a plaster molding of a bait that I already have, like my lizards, and then creating a mold out of it. I know its sort of copyrighting, but if your not gonna sell them....... Any ideas?

[J Francho]

I don't think littering is as big an issue as baits that fly off while playing the fish back to the boat.

[NCbassmaster4Life]

I don't think littering is as big an issue as baits that fly off while playing the fish back to the boat.

That and ones that will get hung up and sometimes the bass or preditoral fish will bite off a tail or leg...there is nothing to do about that just hopefully the fish

didn't swallow it. I myself have also caught fish with a line or the plastic still on the hook in the fishes mouth and discarded the hazard.

[LgMouthGambler]

That and ones that will get hung up and sometimes the bass or preditoral fish will bite off a tail or leg...there is nothing to do about that just hopefully the fish

didn't swallow it. I myself have also caught fish with a line or the plastic still on the hook in the fishes mouth and discarded the hazard.

At least these are not intentional. This thread is about the carelessness of intentional littering. Yes, I understand you will lose some in water through normal fishing, but its not that many. I still feel bad, but at least I have a clear concious after. I do understant your point though.