problem with bending

[jfc32440]

ive begun making my own worms and have been catching fish but ive noticed that some of the worms have a slight bend from being in the bag over a period of time now putting them in hot water straightens them again but just wondering if anyone else have this problem ,I have left them out over night before putting them into the bag, is it my mixture of plastic or adding to much scent? any advice is grateful ,don't have this problem with commercial bought worms

[BareKnuckleJigs]

They need to cure after they're made.  My opinion on Curing Time...absolute dead minimum, 48 hours, set straight or hung, then bag after a 48-hour minimum.  I try for 72 hours minimum.  If you can cure longer, do.

Also, Hard/Saltwater plastic can get bent in the bag worse than Regular, and Regular can hold those irregularities worse than Soft.  These imperfections can set-in even after a good cure, but a good, long cure will help prevent the worst of it.  A little oil in the bag right before You bag baits will help them settle in, You just have to work them in.  I use Scent Oil in the bag for this.  I no longer cook scent in.

[BareKnuckleJigs]

Also, not all plastics (brands) are the same.  Some hold straightness better than others, after a good cure.  They all have to be cured, though.

[ctom]

You can try heating some water to boiling, turn the heat off and then put the plastics with the worst bends in it for about 5 minutes. When they are very hot and feel really soft, lay them out on a cookie sheet for the 48 hours. This works well on many baits/plastics, but give it a try using just a couple of the really bad bent baits to see if the hot water is going to be adverse to them first.

[biglewers]

Bare hit it on the head.  At least 48 hours.   I have some on my table that have been there for a week.  Not because I forgot about them but they are a little bigger than most.  I just want to make sure they are cured real good.

[ctom]

Curing rates[times] differ between plastics and the size of the baits. My frogs I leave for about a week during the summer months, maybe 5 days if I put them in a fridge. My 1.75" small frys I set out in the garage for 12 hours right now and they are good to go. My garage is currently 12 degrees. In the summer I let them set in a fridge 12 hours. I have smaller baits that I just lay straight for a couple hours and they're fine.

As much as possible I try to keep my bait pails out of the direct sun when its hot and I never leave my tackle toting stuff in a hot vehicle. More baits get twisted and bent up because of sun and heat exposure than anything. Some will take to the hot water trick, some won't.

If you pay attention to the plastics you have just shot and laid out, they will exude oil as they get into the end of their cure. Some get real greasy feeling while others don't seem to get as bad. If they slide on the surface you lay them on, chances are pretty fair that they are cured enough to prevent curling or bending but giving them a little longer won't harm a thing either.

[jfc32440]

thanks to all  for the advice ,its very much appreciated

[Wallyc14]

i let my baits cure for 2 weeks not had to many baits bend in the bag just dpends on how many i stuff in bag lol