i was throwing some worms around today

Specifically a net bait worm

With salt and garlic Bla bla

And couldn't help but wonder

"How long does it last"

Is there a point when the exposed salt / scent is used up and your just throwing a worm without any allure

Of course there is.

That's why they make attractant.  But then they will still eat a plastic bait that has no scent if they react to it and eat it.  They just won't hold it as long.

  I make all my own plastics. You can mix the scent in with the plastic but it seems to lock it in and makes what I feel a weaker plastic. The most common way is put the plastic in a bag and put the scent on it. The plastic will soak it up to a point. But one would think that there is only so much there and can only last so long. I personally feel it's a gimmick to sell lures and scents to fisherman. But have no proof. I will say that it does seem that once you catch a fish on a bait it does seem to work better. Not sure if it's me thinking the bait is better or the fish smelling the other fish scent. I do know that there has been many many times that I go pre fishing and never spray any scent on my lure because it doesn't matter and have caught more fish then in the tournament.

Interesting

Another item in this query is

I will fish a plastic for a few hours and then pack it up and walk back to the house

Day or two later I'll have some time and I'll grab the gear and walk back down with the same plastic

I've always wondered if I should be swapping to new plastic

I've licked the plastic a few times and it tastes the same no matter if it's fresh or days old

I've licked the plastic a few times and it tastes the same no matter if it's fresh or days old

 

I dont know if thats a great test or not but it does show dedication.  As the salt comes out of the lure it will change the fall rate.  If you want a slower sink rate then the used plastic would be better.  I end up swapping out my plastic because i dont want it to disappear into the the water forever.  I change out trailers when a claw is missing.

What about used plastic

I'm sure people change size / shape / color

Regularly during a outing

Do you keep it

Or trash it

Take a bite- if it tastes disgusting to you then the bass will like it

Haha I gotta agree with Weld's on this one, biting off a piece of berkeley chigger craw to use as a jig trailer is nasty. But the jig usually gets thumped in the first few casts.