Hey Jeff, as you may know I used to make a LOT of swimbaits. The ones that are flat on top are typically made from "plastisol" which is a liquid PVC.

A couple things that will cause messy swimbaits:

Storing in a container or bag made of an incompatible plastic. Some hard plastic organizers will "melt" with the swimbait. Same with some bags.

The supplier had an issue with the raw material. For example if the liquid sits for too long, the hardener will separate out. You're left with a flimsy product that can get gooey.

How were yours stored in the garage? Any chemical use next to them?

 

Mark, they are in the original packages they were bought in. Some have never been opened and some were left open (ziploc left open) and still they were the same. No chemicals in the garage. Just fuel in the boats.

 

Thanks for the reminder! Just ran out to my hot garage to move my EML brand swimbaits to the house

interestingly, only 1 of the 3 colors is greasy with the plastic smell. Green/glitter and clear. Purple black and blue white baits are unaffected

 

We use Berkley Gulp Saltwater soft bait for lings and when we stow them away for another day, the package can get putrid smelling! We have rinsed them off and used them again with success. Don't get me wrong, there's been times we throw the package away once we smell the toxicity!!!

 

I have had really good luck with matrix shad swimbaits. They hold up reallly well. The local makers I have tried including someone I bought some from that was at the sportsmans shows make junk swimbaits.

 

I've had the same issues. I need to buy some more. I like big hammer swim bait tails or those heavy duty Englunds tails. I use the big hammer tails when fish are skittish, then switch to the heavy duty Englunds ones when we start stacking.

 

Your friend is the refrigerator for this and also for 5200 and instant glues. The garage refrigerator has one door shelf that is mine. At one time the whole refrigerator was mine, but times have changed. I'm banned from any overnight bait going into the refrigerator.

 

Funny you say this as this suddenly was in my brain this morning as the solution! Will give it a try this year.

 

Jeff just saw your post, I sent you a message if anybody has any swim baits they are not happy with call me or send me an email will ship you out replacements at no charge. We buy the best liquid on the market by the barrels. Sometimes we get bad liquid from the manufacture. Also, there’s a lot of things in the manufacturing process that can affect the outcome of the swimbaits along with how they were stored on the customers end. whatever the reason we have 100% satisfaction, just ask Dick Crossly how he won the OTC two years in a row using our swimbaits. Pick up the phone and call me anytime and we will take care of all your needs.
503-302-8431, John

 

This is outstanding customer service!!!!!!!! Well done John
Orion

 

Don't get nobetter than that! Way to go MYRTLE BEE !

 

John - thanks for taking the initiative on this! If it looks like I abused them, don't worry about replacing them. I don't expect you to replace abuse!

Your top shelf sir!

 

Just to bring closure to this thread...... John from Eat-Me-Lures asked me to send back the product for a look. Sent me all new product and a little extra!

Absolutely top notch service and just in time to give them a go this Saturday for TUNA!

Thanks John!

 

So what’s the final word on recommended storage? I have a bunch of unopened packages I won’t get to this year.

 

Wow! You don’t very often find customer service like that.