Salt And Pepper

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

I have a bag of the "scented" green speckled worms from either Gulp or Zoom. (I put them in a Ziplock bag for easy use so I do not have the original label) A friend of mine told me to put a bunch of salt and pepper in the bag, shake it up, and leave it in the bag in my tackle box for a few days to "marinate". I already did this about a week ago and am getting ready to try it out on Friday morning. Has anyone done / heard of this and if so, what bnefits if any does it do? Thanks!

- Joe

[Catt]

No benefits, it simply wash off unless it impregnated in the plastic

[grimlin]

No benefits, it simply wash off unless it impregnated in the plastic

yup,what catt said. Soon as it hit the water it's gone.Few big bait manufacturers put salt it their bags. For the life of me I can't figure out why they would waste salt like that. They should know better.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Cool thanks! I had a feeling it wash off. Just wanted to be sure though. :-)

[Bass Dude]

I use a little worm oil and salt when I bag them up so the baits don't stick together. For me is for asthetics, the baits look better packaged that way.

A friend of mine was told by a pro, and a very accomplished pro, (my friend fishing as a co-anlger) that bait companies put salt into their plastics so they get torn up faster. He didn't believe in any of theories that salt in plastics gives any advantage. I thought that was an interesting take and I tend to agree somewhat with that! I agree in that I don't think fish will or won't eat a bait because of the salt content. I feel the main purpose for salt, in my opinion, is to add weight to the bait, i.e Senkos and the like.

[eyedabassman]

I use a little worm oil and salt when I bag them up so the baits don't stick together. For me is for asthetics, the baits look better packaged that way.

A friend of mine was told by a pro, and a very accomplished pro, (my friend fishing as a co-anlger) that bait companies put salt into their plastics so they get torn up faster. He didn't believe in any of theories that salt in plastics gives any advantage. I thought that was an interesting take and I tend to agree somewhat with that! I agree in that I don't think fish will or won't eat a bait because of the salt content. I feel the main purpose for salt, in my opinion, is to add weight to the bait, i.e Senkos and the like.

I have never done this.But I have a few friends that fish the BFL and they put worms/craws in a bag with garlic chopped up and they say that makes a difference. To each there own!

[River Rat316]

The salt is in the bag to keep them from sticking together. The salt injected into the plastic adds weight and makes the plastic sink, this is why stick baits weigh so much and sink on their own. A byproduct of adding the salt is the baits do tear easier, and salt is way cheaper than plastisol so its a win win for the bait company. But to say the salt adds "no" value is wrong, it does allow you to throw plastics weightless and varies the sink rate of that weightless plastic, a senko would be a lifeless turd if it wasn't for the salt.

[grimlin]

The salt is in the bag to keep them from sticking together. The salt injected into the plastic adds weight and makes the plastic sink, this is why stick baits weigh so much and sink on their own. A byproduct of adding the salt is the baits do tear easier, and salt is way cheaper than plastisol so its a win win for the bait company. But to say the salt adds "no" value is wrong, it does allow you to throw plastics weightless and varies the sink rate of that weightless plastic, a senko would be a lifeless turd if it wasn't for the salt.

You just answered my question why big bait companies add salt into the bags. I never figured it that way.

I know they do get somewhat sticky when they come out done.But I've never had a bait that was so sticky that I had to put salt in a bag to keep them apart.then again I'm not producing 100's of baits either.

[Siebert Outdoors]

The salt is in the bag to keep them from sticking together. The salt injected into the plastic adds weight and makes the plastic sink, this is why stick baits weigh so much and sink on their own. A byproduct of adding the salt is the baits do tear easier, and salt is way cheaper than plastisol so its a win win for the bait company. But to say the salt adds "no" value is wrong, it does allow you to throw plastics weightless and varies the sink rate of that weightless plastic, a senko would be a lifeless turd if it wasn't for the salt.

To build upon what River Rat said. Salt makes the plastic stiffer. Thus to make it more flexible again you must add more softener. Once this happens the bait gets real soft and becomes more tear prone.

As for the sticky part. You can use salt, liquid scents, worm oil, etc. All will keep the baits from being sticky. Salt is the easiest and cheapest with the best benifits IMO.

[J Francho]

Those baits that don't have salt usually have some sort of oil to keep them from sticking.

[Catt]

Blood contains salt, bass hold salt impregnsted lures longer

[River Rat316]

Does fish blood contain salt though? I was thinking of this the other day when I was writing it, I know that most if not all living creatures need sodium at some level to survive and it ultimately ends up in their blood stream, but how do fresh water fish get salt into their blood stream? Especially bait fish, they don't eat land based prey, like a bass can eat a frog, lizard, bird, or whatever else that is more than likely have salt in their blood stream, but what would a minnow digest that would have salt in it? So is salt that common for fish to taste? Probably thinking way to deep on it, but was just wondering if that really is a added benefit?

[River Rat316]

forgot to add, that baits with salt already injected into them are pourus?(sp) so if you were a manufacturer and added a oil or scent to a salt injected bait it will eventually soak it up, leaving nothing to keep the baits from sticking together, this is why most bigger companies don't use scents or oils to keep there baits separated, that and salt is way cheaper

[J Francho]

Does fish blood contain salt though?

Seems like I recall something in biology....saltwater fish mostly expel salt, while freshwater fish retain salt, which is why most cannot withstand the osmotic differences in the opposite environments.

[Catt]

By nature fish blood is 0.5% salt solution

[River Rat316]

ahhh see ya learn something new every day!

[NBR]

Salt injected as a part of the molding process adds weight and the salt that has a part of its crystal on the surface no doubt adds a salty taste or slight scent trail.Whether that taste or scent trail makes a difference I don't really know but I think so. It also weakens the bait since the salt is a foreign material ( like a piece of grit in your eye) and acts as a stress riser and reduces the area of homogenous material thus the easy tear material in stick worms. The salt also has a higher specific gravity than the plastic so a bait with salt is heavier than a bait of the same size without salt. Thus casts farther and sinks faster.

I'm not sure what a stick worm would do if made from a material with no salt in the mixture. Three things certain though, 1.They wouldn't cast very well, 2.The sink rate would be much slower and although I'm not sure on 3. I don't think the fish would hold on as long.

There are many oils that can be added to polymers that bleed will bleed to the surface after molding so the surface is oily.

[Bass Dude]

The salt is in the bag to keep them from sticking together. The salt injected into the plastic adds weight and makes the plastic sink, this is why stick baits weigh so much and sink on their own. A byproduct of adding the salt is the baits do tear easier, and salt is way cheaper than plastisol so its a win win for the bait company. But to say the salt adds "no" value is wrong, it does allow you to throw plastics weightless and varies the sink rate of that weightless plastic, a senko would be a lifeless turd if it wasn't for the salt.

First...I didn't say it had "no" value...This was the opinion of the pro that he fished with. I also added that the major benefits of salt was to add weight to the bait.

[J Francho]

You quoted a pro, and agreed "somewhat" to use your terms. Two bait makers offered their viewpoints and information. No reason to get huffy. Leave it at that. Not everything has to be a debate. There can be some learning, too.

[Bass Dude]

You quoted a pro, and agreed "somewhat" to use your terms. Two bait makers offered their viewpoints and information. No reason to get huffy. Leave it at that. Not everything has to be a debate. There can be some learning, too.

I was just setting the record straight on my statement...not getting huffy. I also am a bait maker, and stated exactly what they said about the packaging and weight issue with salt.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I'm not sure what a stick worm would do if made from a material with no salt in the mixture. Three things certain though, 1.They wouldn't cast very well, 2.The sink rate would be much slower and although I'm not sure on 3. I don't think the fish would hold on as long.

There are many oils that can be added to polymers that bleed will bleed to the surface after molding so the surface is oily.

The brands of plastic I have used float with no salt added. They do cast about the same though. I make some floating senko style baits for shaky heads. This way if I'm fishing very slow the tail doesnt sink down. Sticks straight up and moves.

I've been messing around with some plastic that sinks with no salt. I haven't perfected the senko formula, but if I can I will offer a senko style that has less salt with a similar fall rate. I could make any type of molds I have out of a plastic that sinks with no salt. This will do two things. Give better color and better durability.

[SmokeRise1]

Does fish blood contain salt though? I was thinking of this the other day when I was writing it, I know that most if not all living creatures need sodium at some level to survive and it ultimately ends up in their blood stream, but how do fresh water fish get salt into their blood stream? Especially bait fish, they don't eat land based prey, like a bass can eat a frog, lizard, bird, or whatever else that is more than likely have salt in their blood stream, but what would a minnow digest that would have salt in it? So is salt that common for fish to taste? Probably thinking way to deep on it, but was just wondering if that really is a added benefit?

baitfish eat mostly bugs. maybe they get their rda of salt from bugs.