Here's a quote from the latest In-Fisherman.

"Bob Lusk, known as the Pond Boss for his expertise in pond management, autopsied a 21-inch bass that weighed less than 3 pounds, finding the stomach packed tight with softbaits in various degrees of digestion. The lures blocked the digestive system, leading to starvation. Paul Bracknell, owner of Dream Lake in Alabama, also has found large bass in similar condition, and says some heavily salted softbaits expand dramatically in a fish's gut, readily blocking it."

I almost always casually toss torn up soft plastics into the water before rigging a new bait.

I'm going to stop doing so, starting now.

I never throw my used/beat up baits in the water...They go in my pocket and in the trash at home.

Senkos can really swell up too....I haven't tested out any other baits and how bad they swell up,but i know senkos are pretty bad.

We've had that article up on our site for years now.

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

I've always done the same thing ghoti. I'm ashamed to say that I somehow thought they disinegrated. From now on, they'll go in my pockets. Thanks for posting this.

Glenn, after all the time I spent going through the articles on this site, you would think that this particular piece of information would have found a repository in my mind. LOL

They say memory is the second thing to go.

By some "Mend It" and keep fishin.....

This discussion comes up infrequently. I have a spot, called the "graveyard" in my boat for dead plastics. I started after I somehow hooked a Senko that had blown up to the size of a foot long Texas hot!

I have always tried to keep my plastics out of the waterways, though sometimes you will lose them through hang-ups, etc. I didn't realize they swelled to such large proportions though, but it makes sense now that I think about it.

I always throw my dead plastics in my cup holder. I also never throw line in the water. Best practice is not to throw anything in the lake except maybe a nagging wife!

Right. Do not throw your plastics in the water.

I have pulled a big finesse worm out of a bass' butt. I bet she felt a lot better!!!!

Plus the fact that it is pollution.

yah, save your plastics and throw them away, far from fishing waters.

I have pulled a big finesse worm out of a bass' butt. I bet she felt a lot better!!!!

Did you get flowers the next morning?