Do Plastic Fishing Baits Have A Shelf Life? Don’t Let Them Expire On You!

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I was born and raised in Chicago, but after working 12 years in the financial Industry regulating the futures and options markets at the CME/CBOT I decided to pursue my passion fishing professional tournaments and left my full time corporate job. At that point, I moved to Junction City, WI with my wife Sara and two boys Hank and Duke. I've been fishing professionally since 2011 and full-time since 2015. I've qualified for seven MLF Championships and won over a half million in tournament winnings at the professional level.

[@OriginalTailhunter]

Here is a few thoughts from someone who has been doing this for awhile. I have 800 plus bags of plastics. What I have found is this. I transfer all my plastics to quart and gallon zip lock freezer bags. Most of these baits are from the 90’s when I had sponsors. From Zoom to Guido bugs to Yamamoto and everything in between. They have been in 100+ degree weather and - 20 degree weather. I still use them and they are like new. Nothing has dried out. Nothing faded. Stored in tubs. I am so glad I don’t have to replace any at today’s prices. Stuff is so expensive. Although I do still buy new baits, I have an addiction, my wife just asks me “why?” 😂

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing your experience

[@OriginalTailhunter]

Thank you for taking time to share all of yours. It is easier to watch a video and gain knowledge, waiting 30+ years to test a hypothesis takes too long. 😊

[@JerryLynch-yt5fg]

I’m still using MANNS PLASTIC WORMS bought in the 70s. Yes they were stored for 30+ yrs in original packaging in a dark cool bag in my basement while I was “careering & traveling”. Pork trailers more times than not the bottle rusted and if not fully sealed they dried out. Never let plastics of other brands touch, it most likely will melt together, crank baits don’t like soft plastics! Some older baits work because the fish haven’t been exposed to them much.

[@jdnotariano]

My experience is that standard soft plastics are pretty durable. I have plastic worms that are in their original bags that are still good after 30 years.

[@MattStefanFishing]

sounds like you stored them well!

[@richardbumpuscjf347]

I found some 10” power worms that have to be 20 years old, in the bottom of my large worm box. Tied one on a C-rig and caught a nice one. They still had the good smell.

[@MattStefanFishing]

still stinky!

[@stevesmith7164]

Good video Matt, I still have a few creame tube worms and manns jellyworms from the 70s I still use😊

[@MattStefanFishing]

I love the jelly worms!

[@bluesinsation]

Good video. Way back in the day, we used to spread out a certain color of “new” with silver flake (glitter) worms on a baking sheet pan and place them on the home roof to fade them on purpose to make the flake brighter on 1 side and in effect make a laminate worm before real laminates were available. The fade on the roof in the Texas sun was pretty fast, just needed 1 day, maybe 2. Then into a zip lock bag with a squirt of scented worm oil. Was quite the deal in the early days on Conroe, Livingston, Houston County, and Fayette County. If the fade was too much or if we couldn’t get the color we wanted, then we’d fade all the color out leaving just the silver flake, then when we put them in the zip bag with the scent we’d add a couple drops of worm dye to get the certain color we needed.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@edwardcowan7012]

Interesting subject. I still have and fish Gator Tail Worms and hand pored Slug Go from the 80’s. Still good.

[@MattStefanFishing]

those gator tail are great!

[@All_is_Outdoors]

Nice video! I was always worried if I left them in my garage if freezing in the winter would hurt them. Over the years I have not seen where it has hut them. Thanks for sharing!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing

[@georgecisneroz597]

Good topic. I’m an old schooler and have baits from the 80s foreword. Original jelly worms twin t’s spider jigs etc. ( And yes I’m a tackle addict) All in great useable condition because as you mentioned, it’s all about storage a getting them out or the old school non zip lock bags and temps. Keep up the good info Matt.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good stuff

[@rickaurand5384]

Thanks Matt. Great video

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you liked it!

[@vernervanschalkwyk2280]

I agree with you Matt. I tried putting baits into a plastic container and found they lost their scent and colour compaired to the baits i left in the original plastic package. Another great and relevant video. Thanks Bud. I am waiting for the competition video between you boys, the Little's and the Bergers. Sure it will be a blast and lots of fun.

[@MattStefanFishing]

we would roll them and have extra snacks!

[@vernervanschalkwyk2280]

@@MattStefanFishing I would LOVE to watch that all the way from South Africa. My son and i went fishing this past Sunday on a farmer friends farm. Water still a bit cold but he caught 5 fish, biggest 2.2kg and i caught 2, biggest 2.7kg. Cannot wait for the spawn to start. Tight lines Matt and enjoy the time with your boys. Mine is 28 years old and i am blessed to have him stay close to us in our hometown so we hunt and fish together as much as possible. As a teacher i have quite a lot of time for these passions we share.

[@rodneygreen9968]

Thanks Matt for covering this topic. Way back in the day, anglers use to keep plastic worms in Anise Oil to keep them from drying out. I've seen old Plano tackle boxes that had old worms stored in them. The plastics were melted to the box compartments. YUCKY they were back then. Keep making great content like this in your future videos.👌👍👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

Interesting!

[@rodneygreen9968]

@@MattStefanFishing Yepper! It shows my age now. LOL

[@ericgamble5742]

That cool room for storage helps also not being stored in a hot dry area

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep

[@chipseiler1766]

Some of mine did go bad over time, but I still have some that I fish with today that are 35 years old. All stored in the same places over the past 35 years and 20 plus moves.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Interesting

[@JamesBondDZero7Mi6]

I still have Banjo Minnow plastics from the 90s that are like new. I also have Mister Twister grubs & Lunker City Slug-Gos from the 80s. I store most of my soft baits except for Z-Mans or other odd plastics in Plano boxes. Mineral oil is great for keeping soft plastics soft. Sun & UV light pulls the oils out of plastic so that's the worst environment you can store them in.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@ryanhostetler2840]

Never put ZMan products with any other soft plastic products, they’ll all melt together!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Fact

[@joshuagibson2520]

Berkeley gulp smelt powerbait too

[@Nate_Higgins]

That's for sure. I have a glob of discarded plastics in the little side pocket on my kayak. One little SMH worm turned my Trick Worms into a work of modern art.

[@13thworker45]

The only bait I’ve had trouble with is strike king zeros’. They bond together in a short amount of time. My old Berkeley ribbon tails in their Plano style box are still perfect from the late 90’s.

[@MattStefanFishing]

some plastics react poorly

[@kansasbass2478]

I'm starting to have some packages of Strike King ElazTech Zero baits melting together in an unopened pack. They have been hanging on a peg board for 4 or 5 years. They are still usable by tearing them apart but they are noticeably starting to break down.

[@MattStefanFishing]

dang

[@stevesteve4350]

Great show today. Just wanted to say thanks for the heads up on the 4.5 digger being discontinued yesterday. The key for me is to never just crank it. I make that thing totally spazz out during the retrieve. It will actually spin around on itself when throwing slack in the line. I'll buy more Core tackle products. Thanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

you bet!

[@garyplowman5838]

I did not know that plastics can expire I will have to go through my tackle and find out thanks Matt great tip 👍🏻

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad to help

[@donkimmel9375]

Since I started up fishing again, I was very concerned about what to do with the 100's of packs of baits I have. I still have original Berkley Power Bait Lizards from the 90's...I stored all my baits in a cool basement in my storage area inside of sealed Rubbermaid Totes...Thanks for the clarification Matt...That was a big help...

[@MattStefanFishing]

you bet!

[@rocknreelnrod]

On cooler mornings I will put a bag of zoom I'm using out of under my leg to warm them up . Zoom baits get really soft and oily in the sun . I think it helps get more bites on cool mornings using a warm bait , more lifelike when they pick it up .

[@MattStefanFishing]

good call!

[@TWC6724]

I keep mine in original package, but if I think they are drying out a little, I add a small amount of mineral oil to the package to revitalize them. Kind of similar to the worm oil that they come with originally.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Interesting

[@mondohoss1263]

I have some Davey Hite Bacon Rinds from the 1999 Classic…still in great shape

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome

[@MrJohnB-qs6dp]

Thanks for those great tips!!! 🤠👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet!

[@SpookyRedz]

Laminate bags are better than any ziplock , it helps keep the scent and the bait from drying out

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing

[@Nate_Higgins]

Ha! Of course you have a 30 year old bag of Senkos. That's freaking great..

[@MattStefanFishing]

Haha

[@erniebrightfishing]

Keep mine in the closet seperated in storage totes. I sepeate them according to style of bait. Craws, finnese worms, grubs, paddle tails, senkos, ole momsters etc etc. They stay cool and in the dark unless im getting something ojt of the closet. Every now and then ill add a couple drops of powerbait or bait fuel depending on the maker of the bait. Berkley, strike king, zoom, etc. So far no problems whatsoever. I did have some very very old plastics but i donated a lot of them to new anglers and trading for things i want. Also the baits i store in the totes are like files theyre not laying on top of each other single file type.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing

[@johnrayner5599]

I bought about a thousnd 10” power worms years ago that I got a price that I could not refuse and have kept them air tight and they have lasted twenty years and I still use them..

[@MattStefanFishing]

thats awesome!

[@NeilGraham.I.M.F]

I would also say don't put them in an attic or upstairs crawl space where it's just really hot all the time. Great topic. I remember the old spinner baits with the windbreaker like slit plastic skirts. I hated those. And it is probably still part of the reason I dislike spinnerbaits to this day

[@MattStefanFishing]

Agreed

[@HellaBass]

Thoughts on the old school BassTrix that just oooze oil, still good?

[@MattStefanFishing]

They still work for me but definitely are messy, although they do have a different action but still catch fish

[@DonnaKeffer]

I found out the hard way. I got a bag of gulp minnows that were in fluid. I poured out the fluid and the baits got hard as a rock. Oops, fluid was there for a rwason.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep they will dry out

[@shawnc1115]

Is there a recommdended additive oil we can add to the worms that have been sitting in boxes that helps retain their form and softness? I have totes full of boxes of worms that are 30 years old and still use them.

[@MattStefanFishing]

good question

[@jimrockford4309]

Anything with a skirt like frogs, blades, and jigs are the worst. Z man Elaztech is sketchy as well.

[@MattStefanFishing]

agreed

[@Carolinafishingtales]

Here's a question, Matt. : If you just did bank fishing, what would Matt Stefans tackle be in your tackle back pack to a multi use fishing rod ? Talk about too much , or too little tackle .

[@MattStefanFishing]

I know one thing. My bag would weigh 100 lbs haha

[@Carolinafishingtales]

@MattStefanFishing LOL. I understand the concept of keeping it simple to keep weight down, but at the same time for me I want my arsenal to be ready for given situations. Mine is kind of medium weight. I just thought it may help those who might be looking for ideas out there. Thanks Matt.

[@markriederer8896]

isit possible to bring back the dried out baits, by using gulp alive or some other scent.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good question

[@timtweet8149]

Be careful storing baits made from elastec, especially Am and. But I'm like you, store them in their original containers. The same if using baits that came in clam shell packages.

[@timtweet8149]

ZMAN

[@MattStefanFishing]

agreed

[@jessiepayne737]

Anyone remedy the old plastics and remold?

[@MattStefanFishing]

I know lots that do

[@dclark583]

Hey Matt can you let me know the brand of dry/ flotation case you use for your phone on the water?

[@MattStefanFishing]

ugowear

[@frankfarris6485]

Me Bad . Have to redo saft bails

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for watching

[@williamknight5142]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for watching!

[@johnm2617]

What's up with all the Robots in the comment section ?😮

[@MattStefanFishing]

i delete them every day

[@heinrichkellogg7563]

🍺👍.

[@MattStefanFishing]

cheers!