50 FISHING WITH SOFT PLASTICS
Fishing with Soft Plastics
Soft plastic lures are popular fishing tackle ; and just like all other equipment , it ’ s your responsibility to properly maintain and dispose of them . There is no doubt , discarding soft plastic lures on land or in the water is littering and poses environmental concerns . Over the years , discarded plastic lures have been improperly disposed of and have ended up on lake bottoms or in fish stomachs . Fish can ingest these lures off the bottom , and that can negatively impact their health .
Do your part to help keep Maine ’ s waters clean and fisheries healthy :
1 . ü Properly dispose of soft plastic lures
Dispose of used lures in a trash can or recycling canister – never toss used lures into the water or on land . Several Maine boat launches offer bait recycling canisters , and many local fishing clubs and retailers also offer bait recycling programs .
2 . ü Secure your lure
Secure your hook to help your lure stay where it belongs . Technology has come a long way since plastic lures were first introduced , and many on the market today are made with more durable materials for a longer lifespan and have built-in lure retention devices . If you are working with older lures , there are various products and methods available to extend their useful life , including but not limited to O-rings , zip ties , swimbait keepers , twist locks , bait stops , and super glue . Learn more at mefishwildlife . com / softplasticlures .
3 . ü Check your bait often
Soft plastic lures can wear out and get brittle , stretch , or rip , increasing the likelihood that they could fall off your hook . The best thing you can do to prevent that is inspect your soft plastic lure frequently , including every time you catch a fish . Remember , it is time to replace or repair your lure if :
• The lure keeps sliding down the hook
• The lure has a minor cut
• The plastic is stretched or brittle
• You have caught several fish and worked the lure over abrasive cover
O-rings and hooks with built-in retention devices such as twist locks and bait keepers help keep lures where they belong .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do soft plastic lures impact the health of a fish ?
Fish readily feed on discarded or lost soft plastic lures found on the bottom of Maine ’ s waters . Limited research indicates some fish like bass can regurgitate plastic lures , but other fish like brook trout may not and since soft plastic lures do not readily decompose in fish or in the water , and they also tend to swell over time , their accumulation in fish stomachs may alter feeding behaviors and adversely impact fish health .
I have never found a lure in the stomach of a fish , is this really a problem ? Anglers commonly report catching fish that contain soft plastic lures . Soft plastic lures are most often found in lakes with bass , since they are a popular lure for bass fishing . Bass are found primarily in the southern and coastal portion of the state . An examination of 18,000 stomachs from fish by MDIFW revealed on average only 2 % of the fish had soft plastic lures in their stomachs . However , some waters experience elevated rates of ingestion influenced by water clarity , bottom type , type of fish , and availability of other prey . Since soft plastic lures do not tend to decompose in water , they can accumulate .
What is MDIFW doing to protect the state ’ s fisheries from soft plastic lures ? The Department is committed to educating anglers on the environmental concerns related to soft plastic lures in the water and on the land , proper disposal of soft plastic lures , and steps to take to prevent unintentional loss while fishing . MDIFW ’ s goal is to significantly reduce the number of soft plastic lures ending up in Maine ’ s waters and land while keeping this popular fishing lure available to anglers .
Learn more at : mefishwildlife . com / softplasticlures . ■
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