Written by Bill Jennings, the New Zealand based chemist who has worked on developing the SLAM soft bait products. Article from magazine New Zealand Fishing Coast to Coast, issue 46 2008. |
There are essentially 2 types of soft bait lures, those made from plastic and those made from biodegradable materials. Unlike soft plastic fishing lures, SLAM soft baits are biodegradable and they are decomposed in the environment by bacteria, and fish are also able to digest it. SLAM soft baits have all the characteristics of soft plastics and the advantage of being biodegradable. SLAM is developed in New Zealand and tested in Australia and New Zealand for our conditions. Biodegradation occurs when under the right conditions the bacteria in the environment can break down materials and use them as a food source. It is a process that can take place in many environments including soils, compost sites, water treatment facilities, marine environments and even in the human body. During the biodegradation process carbon is converted into energy, water, carbon dioxide, biomass and mineral salts which maintains the life cycle. Any breakdown products released by the biodegradation are also expected to be non-toxic to the environment and redistributed through the carbon, nitrogen and sulphur cycles. Biodegradation can be measured in a number of ways. Various countries use slightly different test procedures and criteria for defining biodegradability. In simple terms, the commonly accepted ASTM test specifies at least 90% of the material is converted to carbon dioxide, water and biomass by bacterial breakdown at the same rate as natural materials and occurs within 6 months. This is how long it may take for some commonly used products to biodegrade: Banana peel, 2 – 10 days Cotton rags, 1 – 5 months Paper, 2 – 5 months Orange peels, 6 months Rope, 3 – 14 months Wool socks, 1 – 5 years Plastic bags, 10 – 20 years Nylon fabric, 30 – 40 years Plastic six-pack holder rings, 450 years Millions of soft plastic lures are sold every year. A large number are lost in the water, but plastic lures do not biodegrade in the environment. Some are swallowed by fish or other wildlife, but animals cannot digest plastic lures and they pass unchanged back into the ocean. Many of these plastic lures contain phthalates, which are added to the plastic to make it soft and flexible and these are potentially harmful chemicals. Because soft plastics don't degrade, they persist on the ocean bottom and inside fish. Their impact on rivers and lakes is a matter for debate. But the perception is growing that soft plastics are polluting the environment and probably damaging fisheries. Some European governments have already banned soft plastic baits. SLAM Soft Baits have been developed by Bitetime Baits in New Zealand as an extension of the Stimulate Ultrabite range. Ultrabite is a patented pheromone which is scientifically and environmentally tested by CEFAS and is certified as being both environmentally and ecologically friendly. Formulation development on the SLAM Soft Baits started in 2006 with the aim of producing a biodegradable lure based on natural ingredients and attractants and incorporating the patented Stimulate Ultrabite pheromones. Biodegradable materials in SLAM are environmentally friendly. The formulation is water based and allows the pheromone incorporated in the lure to permeate into the water to attract the fish. |
Remember back in ’88 when a new trout dough called PowerBait showed up? Know anyone that still swears by the original Power Worm? Well, John Prochnow (photo) developed them both, along with thousands of other scented plastics for Berkley. He is, you could say, the king of fish-friendly fragrance. Prochnow actually started his career developing scents for soap and shampoo and other things that your wife doesn’t mind, unlike the Gulp! juice I spilled in the closet the other day. Yes, Gulp! is Prochnow’s baby, too.
Last night I had a rare chance to sit and talk with him, and I wondered, given that he is the brains behind an innovative bait line that garners both high praise and skepticism, which questions anglers ask most about Gulp! So here are the queries you, the angling public, fire at Prochnow on a regular basis. - Joe Cermele
Q: Hey, is there really a difference between Gulp! and Gulp! Alive?
Q: OK. Then can I put regular Gulp! baits in my Gulp! Alive bucket?
Q: Should I just toss Gulps! that have dried to rock-hardness?
Q: You invented these things, what’s your favorite?
FizFisho wrote: thanks for that scuzz. i sure hope thats not the case with these lures. totally irresponsible if it is. i saw in another forum someone in the states was doing some research but didnt post the results. it would be totally different if they werent high consumption, ie metal slices etc. but dumping plastic in the ocean for the sake of "sport" is simply not right surely? |
FizFisho wrote: your welcome to your opinions o2. as stated softbaits are high consumption and are advertised as biodegradable. apples to durian fruit comparisons to defer focus doesnt make them similar. its a genuine concern. |
FizFisho wrote: yeah i totally agree o2. what im thinking about is this thread though about gulp firmness, if they do have a standard, i think from gulps perspective they are in between a rock and a hard place. do they make soft plastics so durable that they dont break down or do they make them so degradable that they all end up in the ocean and even then many get either eaten or spend 2 years in the ocean before breaking down. i think that might be whats driving the change in manufacturing if there is one. but it needs some studies behind it to see the real impact not the perceived one. however i personally would imagine a very firm soft bait (like zmans) would have less impact, one that can catch up to say 30 fish before needing to be put in the rubbish. of course ultimately bust offs will happen and some will get into the ecology, but im thinking minimal damage. |
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