I'm mostly fishing with soft bait these days, so when something isn't working I change it out. I have a question for you guys that are changing out the baits as much as I do.

 

When you change out the bait, do you take the bait and put it back in the original packaging? I assuming if you are, you much be taking off the hook as well. With certain brands, the plastic isn't so durable, so you'll be ruining the bait more often than you want.

 

What I am currently doing is taking the bait and the hook and throwing them in a plastic tackle box. But the original packaging has the original scent and salt sealed in the package. Am I missing out on adding the salt/scent back into the bait by keeping it in a different box?

 

I also have a back pack that I keep everything in. Putting the bait with the hook still attached back into the packaging probably isn't the best idea. Last thing I need is someone accidentally sitting or leaning on my back pack and getting stabbed.

I do the same thing putting it bak in the package to me makes no difference. Taking the worm off te hook messes up the bait so I just keep em in.

I've taken out fresh worms out the pack and made numerous casts with no success go in my box tie on a used plastic, hook still in it, and catch something.

i'm lucky enough now to have a few rods for different soft plastics, but when i just fished with two rods i never removed the hook with the soft plastic bait, but most ribbon tail worms are pretty thin so what i did if it tore the worm up taking it off the hook is just bite some off the top when i go use it again so the hook pops out in a differnet spot. it does  shorten the worm some but you get about two uses out of it. i mainly throw strike king rage craws on an owner hook with a twist lock and if im not getting bites on them i've used the same craw numerous times and just  keep putting it back in the pack.

You can use a screw lock keeper for the head of the plastic. Then just unclip the screw lock and you're only pushing the hook through the belly. Doesn't tear them up as bad if you're switching alot

_{That's a good point jherm, I need to start experimenting with that. Taking the hook out from the mid-section still kills some of these less durable worms i'm sure.}

 

_{I'm all done when i'm using Palm Trees or Ikas. I have no other option but to leave them in.}

 

_{@ Paul I need to slowly start investing in more rods, I know thats the better way to go. I had to option early this spring to make that decision and went with two decent setups instead of one great one.}

I keep two Tupperware containers in the boat. One is for used soft plastics. The other has repaired soft plastics in it. I take an hour here or there on a rainy day or in the winter and repair the repairable used ones with "mend it". It's fun and the money saved easily covers the cost of the "mend it"