Plastics Lifespan

[ScottyDon't]

How long do plastics maintain their scent/taste? Do you guys toss them after so long or wait until they get stolen by a sneaky fish?

[JP]

If you keeo them in a sealed bag like a zip lock they have a very long shelf life. One thing you have to check if the scent is baked into the plastics like Wave worms and Power baits or if it is just a scent that is put on the paits after pooring is done. The baits that have it made into them last much longer out of the bag then others. You can always add scent to any plastic and there is so many to choose from so it is not much of a concern. the plastics will not rot unless it is gulp bait out of its package.

Hope this helps
JP

[B B]

I've been wondering a lot about what happens to the plastics that we lose and don't get eaten...what's the half life of one of these things underwater? Imagine how many pounds of plastics are left in the water annually? Additonally, do the fish digest them OK if they pick them up without hook?

BB

[JP]

The plastics are an Oil by product in most cases and will not break down like anything in nature. They stay a long time, years, many years. If an fish eats one, chances are it will go through its digestive tract and poop it out. I have had plastics sit in water in a storage bin for a year and it was the exact same as if it was right out of the pack. Some salt baits will fall appart if left in water but will not go away completely. Gulp by Berkley is the only soft plastic that will degrade that I am aware of.
JP

[SkeeterJohn]

There seems to be a few biodegradable products appearing.. i noticed another product at ed's last week that degrades in a similar way to gulp.. perhaps we'll see more of these 'green friendly' style baits once everyone has finished with the lead bans.