Does artificial bait expire?

When I first started fishing I was pretty clueless as to what bait and rig and subsequently bought a bunch of stuff that I’m just getting around now to using. I’ve read various things but I’m honestly not quite sure. Some of the bait is soaked in attractant. Also, all of the bait was store in a warm environment for about three months.

Is this stuff still usable? If rather just use new stuff if it’s going to cost me a fish.

Most swim baits last for a long time if store properly.  The ones soak with attractant won't last as long and they become brittle when dried out.

That’s good to hear! Do the attractants “go bad” or become ineffective at all?

There’s one way to find out.

That’s good to hear! Do the attractants “go bad” or become ineffective at all?

Not sure which artificials you use but I use the Gulp brand quite a bit and although effective, they do tend to tear easily. I've reused old attractant and the fish don't seem to mind. I think as long as it doesn't go rancid, you're good. There's even some folks who have used dried up gulp sandworms to catch perch.

I have two packs of Gulp sandworms, some powerbait and some senko worms that are opened. I’m gonna try and catch some shiner perch sometime this week with the Gulp sand worms and I’ll post back on how it goes.

Just wanted to post an update. They do work but they're not as effective. I'm sure that if you store them properly they'd be fine. I was at the Old Pier at Port View Park and was fishing for smelt with a bobber. I progressively alternated shrimp and the cut Gulp sandworm and had more bites on the shrimp. There were also a bunch of shiner perch in the area, also caught on shrimp.

Just wanted to post an update. They do work but they're not as effective. I'm sure that if you store them properly they'd be fine. I was at the Old Pier at Port View Park and was fishing for smelt with a bobber. I progressively alternated shrimp and the cut Gulp sandworm and had more bites on the shrimp. There were also a bunch of shiner perch in the area, also caught on shrimp.

You can’t compare artificial bait to shrimp? What you thinking that’s like comparing  McDonald’s to a “real” steak house ( not them damn frozen food chain steak house) don’t get me started on “Outhouse Steakback”

To truly compare you need to use the used ones on one pole next to your fishing homie using a freshly opened identical bait. I have and my 6 month old used Burkley gulp minnows caught fish just as easy as the guy in the other kayaks newly opened bag.... but my bay rockfish was WAY bigger    he wouldn’t let me take a picture of his 9 inch copper. 

To prevent free regurgitated bait wash off, get an old drier lint screen
( the metal ones) cut it slightly bigger then the scupper hole and ”gently push it in the scupper hole”     


Unless your NOT a cheap azz like me then just buy some metal screen material at the hardware store and use that.

When it comes to rockfish and lingcod they will literally hit anything so I wouldn't be considered with the baits going bad. 

Typically the fish will destroy ur swimbaits before u have to worry about them going bad but if u have had bad luck with the fish and the lure just won't get lost then keep using it as long as it swims good and looks good. If it starts looking kinda gross or sliding down the hook easily then replace it.