Do powerbait soft plastics go bad? I just found some I had for years and they smell really funky. Not sure if I should toss them or not. Was just wondering if they go bad. 

I'm sure they do eventually, but if they still stink and there not melted I don't see why they wouldn't be any good?

The whole point of powerbait is that it smells funky, no?

I don't know...........They get too torn up from use too fast to tell. I keep my back stock in their original packs, but I always have some out of the pack, in plano boxes on the boat ready to use. They still have their "stank" when stored in boxes for weeks/months on end and work just fine.

I was given some bags that were probably 15-20 years old several years ago. They were 100 packs that I still have some of and they still catch fish today. 

I've only had power worms go bad once. They were on board when my boat sank a few years ago.  We recovered the boat then let it sit on blocks over the winter.  The next spring when I went threw the compartments I had a bunch of rusty hooks and moldy power worms.  The weird thing is it was just the power baits that molded other soft plastics were OK.  

Tyler

I have old ones that smell like Sour Milk...They probably work, but they no doubt smell different than they should...I have a bag that has to be 20 years old...

Regardless of age or current small - I'll say that if the baits designed shape & action remain intact - they'll produce.

Besides, whatever they smell like now, adding a little Megastrike to it will make it better. (even when they're new).

A-Jay

Soak them in clear jjs magic if you're concerned with smell. That stuff voud over power road kill on a 90 degree day.