What is this and how long before it happens to my bait?

i guess you must be talking about plastics. It take a long time to happen but if it does you must not be catching enough fish. The plastic if it is in the water too long will start to break down and become slimey and will increase in size.

It could also happen to a wooden bait if it gets the paint chipped bad and not sealed correctly. It can throw the bait off. It takes awhile but it does happen.

Will happen to boats, and people if the drain plug is opened ;D ;D ;D

Just make sure most of your lures don't stay in water over an extended amount of time... like if water gets into your tackle and the lure just sits in the water then the hooks will began to rust and lure my start to detererate..

Just make sure most of your lures don't stay in water over an extended amount of time... like if water gets into your tackle and the lure just sits in the water then the hooks will began to rust and lure my start to detererate..

good input