When I was a kid, I ruined plenty of soft plastics, and made a mess of a couple tackle boxes by putting the soft plastics directly in the box. So I always keep my plastics in bags now. But the other day I saw a video with a guy showing off his ned rig box, and he had all the Elaztech TRDs just sitting in cells in his box.

 

Isn't that going to melt the box? Or has something changed with the plastic used for boxes and/or the lures themselves in the past 20-30 years that make this a non-issue these days? It sure would simplify my tackle storage.

I keep most of my plastic baits except for elaztech baits in plastic boxes and have done so for many years. 

Plano has been making “worm proof” tackle storage boxes for decades.

No experience Elaztec soft plastics but know not to mix with plastsol.

Tom

Elaztech will warp regular boxes.  Flambeau makes boxes that are impervious to Elaztech.

6 hours ago, Jig Man said:

Elaztech will warp regular boxes.  Flambeau makes boxes that are impervious to Elaztech.

They didn't bother my Plano Edge boxes.

All stay bagged. Some are in cardboard boxes, stashed, some are in tray less Plano plastic boxes, some are in a Kentucky lake, go fast backpack..

 

Different fish types are all separated from one another and this is further complicated with saltwater being involved. It’s never ending 🙉🙉

All my soft plastics stay bagged.

I don't mess around anymore plastics are always bagged even worn out discarded baits. Not just elaztech will mess stuff up, and things you don't always think about can be highly reactive. I recently had a discarded rapala mayor just tossed in my tackle bag before I could trash it eat all the soft touch rubber off my scale and completely melt into a BKK hook pack.

I keep my plastics in the bag and store them in different buzbe quik qubes. I don't want a plastic box on deck when I am fishing. I know that I will probably at some point in time knock it off with the top open and will have to sort out 100 plastic worms. 

In the original bags, in a bag 😆

 

 

Original bags or laminated bags from bait supply store....in boxes or bait-folders.

I store all of mine in boxes.  Of note, all my plastics are Yamamoto so I can’t vouch for any others.  In my 25 years with Yamamoto, they have never melted in a Plano.  There has been some color transfer if mixed.  

I have stored plastics in Plano boxes with no issues and that includes Z-man lures. I have some forty year old plastics in Plano type boxes with no problems. As in the above pics one of the pros is I could see all colors a once.

I have recently changed to individual bags sorted in plastic shoe box type boxes. Why did I change? I realized that I only used 3 or 4 colors of each type lure and just like the pics I had them completely full, plus no need to have 8 different colors. Changing has saved me quite a bit of space and weight. I have ADD so bad that who knows how I will store them next week.🤪

Original bags with all like baits in a 1 gallon freezer bag. This allows me to keep the most baits organized. Hardbaits I keep in plastic boxes. 

 

Allen 

I am not a tournament guy - so I basically bring lures with me that I will use that day or that weekend - I keep all of my soft plastics in the original bags except for those that I have pre-rigged onto a hook/jig - I have those pre-rigged ones in a Flambeau when on the boat, along with one or two extra of that soft plastic in the same tray - I do keep all Z-Man/Elastec/Elastomer in separate boxes and separate trays once they are on a hook/jig head (learned the hard way when a few things melted together) - otherwise they are in their original package and stored at home - If I run out of a lure/bait while I am on the water I just switch to something else - I have 80% Flambaau boxes with a few Plano boxes mixed in and have not had any problems with baits melting in/on to the box itself