I'd Hate to be Cheap

[Don]

I'd hate to be cheap and find that it is costing fish. But how do you measure such things when it comes to plastic worms, creatures and tubes?
Every time I use rubber worms and tubes they ride home on the end of my rod. They usually appear whole and in good shape and they may sit there on the end of the rod for a couple days, weeks or months until that rod goes back into service. So do I use that same old plastic or should I chuck it and alway use fresh?
What do you do?

 

[Blackcat Outdoors]

I chuck them when I get home and start fresh. A lot of bates like that have some sort of scent on them and it's not going to hold up that long. Some start to break down fairly quickly too.

 

[Solitario Lupo]

I keep them on the hook and cut and put away or the older ones that are beaten up I’ll remelt it. Gotta start learning what kinda rubber it’s made from. Some will shrink and deteriorate if not kept right mostly the gulp live that needs to be kept in that juice. Would be one. I’ll use them until they can’t stay on a hook.

 

[truecrimson]

I leave them and keep reusing them. When I change baits I usually take off the hook with the bait on it and put it in a box I use for already rigged baits. I usually won't put a different plastic on that hook until the one on it falls apart.

 

[Don]

Wow. There is no conscenus. You folks are all over the lake on this. Should’ve know but it never hurts to ask peeps.

 

[HenryDavid]

I'm a miser. I save used worms in plastic zip bags so they don't dry out. Sometimes different colors bleed together which is fine also.

 

[Bootfoot]

I frequently, like every trip, leave rubber on my rods and fish the same rubber the next trip. fish don’t care. Now if it’s on there fora winter I’ll swap it out but otherwise there is no need to change out rubber simply because it got wet once.

 

[troutspinner]

I don’t remove the plastics on my jigs or chatter / spinbaits until they get ripped to shreds. I do apply scent to my jig trailers though with a marker application before using them. I do take the senkos off because they’re weak and expensive so I relieve any more stress on them other than fishing.

 

[truecrimson]

When I have removed baits in the past it has seemed to do a lot of damage to them. So have putting them back on.

 

[pabassman]

I don’t remove the plastics on my jigs or chatter / spinbaits until they get ripped to shreds. I do apply scent to my jig trailers though with a marker application before using them. I do take the senkos off because they’re weak and expensive so I relieve any more stress on them other than fishing.

I take a senko off. If I'm fishing again soon I leave trailers on but if not I remove them. Most of the plactics I use have a lot of salt. I never cut off a jig/jighead with a plastic on it and but it back in the box. The hook will rust fast.

 

[Melvinp]

If it’s in good enough shape I’ll take them off but usually pitch um most rubber is scented and they go bad after awhile and smell like plastic.

 

[troutspinner]

I take a senko off. If I'm fishing again soon I leave trailers on but if not I remove them. Most of the plactics I use have a lot of salt. I never cut off a jig/jighead with a plastic on it and but it back in the box. The hook will rust fast.

I’ve done pretty good with preventing rust. If I snip off a lure, plastic, whatever, I leave them on the deck of the boat. Kind of my reminder that’s what I’ve used so far and not working. Lol. But they get a chance to dry. I also use desiccant packets in all of my 3700 boxes. They have helped a lot, especially with my salt gear.

 

[MB3]

I prefer previously chewed worms. I only discard a worm when the tail action isn't there. That goes for new worms too, if they don't work they get replaced. Kind of how the work force was before things changed.

 

[Don M]

I think this takes us back to the conversation, do stink baits work. I'm a gulp alive guy, I save old juice and put the rubber in it, even my trout magnets. I catch a fair amount of fish, so if it's not broken keep working it.

 

[Solitario Lupo]

If it works. Why throw something away just because of a little hole in the back.

 

[Don]

Now there is a conscenus developing. That is to keep these baits. I you’re rich and can afford fish juice soak them before use.
Thanks.

 

[Melvinp]

I think this takes us back to the conversation, do stink baits work. I'm a gulp alive guy, I save old juice and put the rubber in it, even my trout magnets. I catch a fair amount of fish, so if it's not broken keep working it.

Yes it does work but not for everything I was once told a story were 2 kids dumped a whole bottle of attactent in a pond and a hour later it was loaded with fish but it was like they were all (do I dare say stoned) but first cast they all were gone a little bit yeah I lot no I my opinion of course