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Reusing Soft Plastics?

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Was talking to a buddy about this. If he rigs anything soft plastic and it is t working or moves to something else he throws it out. Won't put it back in the bag and reuse it if it's in good shape. I do reuse them lol. What do you guys do?

If they are in good shape of course I reuse them, why not?

I fish them until they won't stay on the hook anymore.

 

When I have enough ripped up baits, I melt them down and pour them into either my senko mold or my ika mold.

 

The ika bodies are cool, because they make a nice, meaty, and basic body upon which you can attach appendages and such - fluke tails, pit boss flappers, you name it.

 

It'd probably be easier to pick up some Mend It, but I love making new plastic out of old.

  • Global Moderator

Cheap baits get tossed in the bottom of the boat, expensive ones go back in the pack. How I decide which ones are cheap and which ones are expensive probably depends on how good the fishing is that day. 

  • Super User

If you're wacky rigging a bait, such as a senko, you can always save it once it gets worn out and texas-rig it. Same with t-rig/wacky.

Get some mend it and all your baits can be repaired! Just set them aside and glue them back together when you get home or while the fishing's slow. Stuff works really well and the repair is 100%, unlike a superglue or welded repair.

  • Super User

I go until it wont stay up on the hook anymore or until I can't skin the hook tip anymore. Usually I turn the bait a few times and even bite it down to "extend" the life of it. 

  • Author

Awesome guys! In the same way I turn the bait and use it long as possible. I dont get the folks I've met throwing them out

  • Super User

I always try to reuse them if I can.  When the nose on my roboworms get tattered, I bite it off and rig farther down until there isn't enough worm to do that- then sometimes I'll use the tail as a trailer on a snagless sally or something to give a little more action, etc.  

  • Super User

For me, all used plastics get thrown into the rear passenger corner of the boat.   Every few weeks, I will run into my buddy who is into remelting and molding plastics.  Then he gets a gallon zip lock bag half full of used plastics.  Some brands re-melt better than others, apparently.   A couple of times, in the parking lot over a beer he took the time to pick out all the power baits, saying that they didn't melt down well.   Other times he's just taken the bag without comment.

 

So, that's what I do with my used plastics, I recycle them, I just don't recycle them personally.

  • Super User

I reuse mine if they are in good shape.  If they are really beat up, I trim them down and use them as a jig trailer.

  • Super User

I use parasite clips. I can catch a lot more bass on one bait then I use too.

I use them till there worn out then trash'em why throw money away lol.

A bottle of mend it goes along way. I try to save used/torn plastics as much as possible. Fix em with mend it and throw them in a bag with some megastrike. The fish like them and I save a few bucks. Win/win!

  • Super User

I'm a master at pinning a worm together with a hook!

I reuse most times but I admit I think it's funny to put one on someone's shoulder when they aren't looking and see how long until they notice it.

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