It seems more often than not I see posts concerning the durability of soft plastic baits. We need to face it, they are just plastic and fish swipe at them, they get slammed, smashed and chewed on, they are gonna get worn out at some point. It's just part of the game. With that said, there are ways to make baits last longer and work harder for you.

This past week I was reminded of just how long, one bait can last.

The photo above is a Rage Tail Eeliminator tipped with JJ's Magic and rigged on a hook with a spring lock. The bait never slipped down the hook like with a typical offset hook. It never slipped up the line when a fish was caught and this one bait was fished for two trips and landed more than 25 fish! You can see the chew marks on the bait and it was finally changed yesterday because it finally didn't want to swim right anymore.

This is just one example of making a bait last. I can also say that trying to cast a bait a half-mile when it only needs to go a quarter-mile will destroy baits prematurely.

Anyone else have something that will help make a bait last longer?

Couple questions; What type of spring lock are you using? How do you keep your nails that long?

Couple questions; What type of spring lock are you using? How do you keep your nails that long?

I'm headed to the Poconos for a week of fishing this Saturday. I plan on getting French tips and a complete pedicure before going....

On to the subject. Some plastics are a bit softer for better action, so durability suffers. Stiffer blends can be fine for 'do nothing' plastics like Slider worms and grubs. There's always a tradeoff. Pegging by either spring lock or old school toothpick through the head will help. I took advantage of a recent sale and am awaiting my first bottle of Mend It. I used to use Pro's Soft Bait glue, but it dried hard and crusty. I wasn't impressed. I stored it in the fridge as instructed but I still wasn't happy with the results. We'll see how the Mend It does while I'm away. That will be important as if I get on a hot bite with a particular plastic, I'll make it through the week. What are the odds of the local bait shop having that 'hot bait' ? Most of them (understandably) only stock the crowd pleasers.

I guess the answer is to have the ability to repair them at night while you drink a few cold ones, or have enough new ones to get you through the trip.

For senkos like baits, use them one way, then put the hook into the other end, then use it as a wacky senko.

Couple questions; What type of spring lock are you using? How do you keep your nails that long?

The spring locks are the typical everyday hitchhiker found on swimbait hooks. As for my nails, I borrow my wife's hands when I need nice nails, lol.

I'm headed to the Poconos for a week of fishing this Saturday. I plan on getting French tips and a complete pedicure before going....

On to the subject. Some plastics are a bit softer for better action, so durability suffers. Stiffer blends can be fine for 'do nothing' plastics like Slider worms and grubs. There's always a tradeoff. Pegging by either spring lock or old school toothpick through the head will help. I took advantage of a recent sale and am awaiting my first bottle of Mend It. I used to use Pro's Soft Bait glue, but it dried hard and crusty. I wasn't impressed. I stored it in the fridge as instructed but I still wasn't happy with the results. We'll see how the Mend It does while I'm away. That will be important as if I get on a hot bite with a particular plastic, I'll make it through the week. What are the odds of the local bait shop having that 'hot bait' ? Most of them (understandably) only stock the crowd pleasers.

I guess the answer is to have the ability to repair them at night while you drink a few cold ones, or have enough new ones to get you through the trip.

I'm not certain the mendit will do your French tips, let me know if it works. I know it works well for bait repairs though.

As for the Poconos, fishing and finding tackle, be sure and bring your own baits with you unless you want to take a drive to Gilbert, PA to visit the Wacky Worm tackle shop. WW is the only good bait shop around, he even has more than the usual crowd pleasers.

Bring a good supply of Rage Tails, the fish around here have developed a taste for them.

For senkos like baits, use them one way, then put the hook into the other end, then use it as a wacky senko.

You forgot the "bite off a 1/4 inch" part twice before wacky rigging, lol.

The spring locks are the typical everyday hitchhiker found on swimbait hooks. As for my nails, I borrow my wife's hands when I need nice nails, lol.

I'm not certain the mendit will do your French tips, let me know if it works. I know it works well for bait repairs though.

As for the Poconos, fishing and finding tackle, be sure and bring your own baits with you unless you want to take a drive to Gilbert, PA to visit the Wacky Worm tackle shop. WW is the only good bait shop around, he even has more than the usual crowd pleasers.

Bring a good supply of Rage Tails, the fish around here have developed a taste for them.

Thanks for the advice. In addition to my tacklebags being stocked up and ready to go, the duffel bag with the extra baits, line, etc. is probably as big as my suitcase...

The spring locks are the typical everyday hitchhiker found on swimbait hooks. As for my nails, I borrow my wife's hands when I need nice nails, lol.

The wedding band was a giveaway.

I fish a lot of plastics, mostly DOA or Mirror lure, Bass Assasin and Zoom used for my bass, snook and tarpon. All 3 fish pretty much strike the same way by inhaling the bait, they have no teeth. Some baits last but a fish, others I catch many fish before they need to be thrown away. Baits, hooks and jig heads are cheap, preservation is of no importance to me, catching is all that matters.