http://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/skinny-fish.html

This was some excellent information.  I had a bad habit of tossing used plastics overboard.  I will think twice from now on.

Very interesting.  I would of never thought of that.

Another reason I use ***, there are a lot fewer pieces of plastic at the bottom of our lake as they don't just "fly off" on a cast.

This yr, now that Stratosdadri is all set up to pour, we will be saving all our spent plastics for him to recycle.

Wow!

Isn't that interesting? Certainly something I have never considered.

Russ, is the plastic used by the manufacturer of *** all the same? I wonder how long it takes to dissolve and if there is a significant difference between soft and relative hard plastic formulas? When left in water, the Yamamoto formula swells and becomes mushy after a few days. I don't know whether they are more digestable, but it seems they might be.

We may have to start fishing GULP!

8-)

RW- same plastic (plastisol?) but like many baits, the recipe is different.  GYCB uses a larger grain salt which changes the fall rate but at the same time, makes it more "tear-able". ( a give/take relationship)

After this article, I will retire a torn bait when I would normally fish it till it catches or flies away, regardless of brand.

WOW, a real "eye opener". I usually don't throw any of my used soft plastics overboard but as everyone does, I normally loose a couple to snags every once in awhile. Maybe someone should create a collection site/drop address for all used plastics that can be recycled and those sending the used baits would get a reduced price on new ones??

WOW, a real "eye opener". I usually don't throw any of my used soft plastics overboard but as everyone does, I normally loose a couple to snags every once in awhile. Maybe someone should create a collection site/drop address for all used plastics that can be recycled and those sending the used baits would get a reduced price on new ones??

If you know anyone who pours their own, they'd be more than grateful for the used baits.

I never throw used plastics over. I always put them back in the pack and reuse later, then if they get too worn out I just either throw them away or try to remelt them.

Like Russ said I think all plastic is made out of plastisol, but the formula and the different types of additives make the different brands of plastics.

I normally throw mine in the cup holder of my boat and once I get home throw them out. I will start changing baits more often though.

Another reason I use ***, there are a lot fewer pieces of plastic at the bottom of our lake as they don't just "fly off" on a cast.

This yr, now that Stratosdadri is all set up to pour, we will be saving all our spent plastics for him to recycle.

Is there an address to send the used plastic to?

You could PM Stratosdadri, I'm sure he'll take them but surely there's someone near you that would be happy to take them off your hands, no?  

You could also put up a thread in tacklemaking and ask if there are any pourers near you

Nice gesture.  Both for the pourer and the environment

In my opinion,

I think in the future, 20 or 25 years down the road, all or most soft plastics will be biodegradable.

wow, I always just shake whats left into the lake NO MORE, thanks i never thought it was such an issue.

I always thought the Skinny Bass were the Ethiopian Strain

Family Secret Bait Co (Josh and Taylor) are very active in the "soft plastic recycling program"  Send us your plastic and we will send you some new ones....

I read somewhere, I don't know if it was Bassmaster, Outdoor Life, or where but they were talking about plastic.  They said now biodegradable plastics are going to be coming more poplar because the original plastic will always be in the water which isn't good for the fish and the new biodegradable plastics will be better for the environment.  Some last a year and some last only 3 weeks.

Thanks for posting that.  I can think of four people I am going to email this to right now!  

I'd be very interested to know what specific baits those were.

Right now there's a controversy in Colorado over salt impregnated baits -they are illegal in many waters here due to the concern that fish will ingest them too deeply.

I've found that bass can deeply ingest any soft plastic at times. But there appear to be differences in soft plastics. I used to fish for lake-run trout and steelhead and occasionally killed a fish or had them regurgitate. When Powerbait hit the market I began finding various Powerbait trout products in the trout stomachs. Interestingly, I never found a regular plastic egg, wiggler, worm, or hair or feather fly in a stomach.

Now trout have relatively small mouths and key on small baits in streams, so impacted stomachs are not likely to be an issue. But with bass, this is an issue.

Anyone know how to find out what baits these were? Regular plastics (if that even exists anymore), heavily salted (like a Senko), YUM, Moloko, Powerbait, Gulp!, ...? I wonder if they were all of the same formula. And how many other fish this was found in.

wow that is interesting. i usually fish my plastics to the death....i cant think of any time that i actually have had in my possesion a plastic bait that i couldnt rig up. usually they will fall off underwater or get thrown off by a fish or something along those lines.

when i was in South Carolina over the summer i caught a 21 inch bass that only weighed 2 and a half pounds. i wonder if it had plastics in its belly???? it sure did crush my risto rap though ;D

I have always left mine on the deck of the boat and thrown them away at the end of a day or weekend trip.