I have some questions about reconditioning and dying soft plastic baits. I have some worms and lizards that I purchased out of the package and they feel dry. They aren't hard and dried out, they just don't have the oily feel that new plastics have right out of the package. I have seen worm oil for sale by different vendors such as Jann's Netcraft but would like to know if anybody here has used anything else like mineral oil or has any suggestions? I tried putting some of them into other bags of worms I have and it helped, but I have quite a few to refresh and I also don't want the colors to bleed together.
I also have a question about dying soft plastics. I am aware that there are commercially available products such as Spike-it dye, but at about $5.00 a bottle it could get expensive to do several colors. Has anybody here had any success using anything else to permanently dye soft plastic lures? I am thinking about experimenting with lake food coloring but am unsure if it might add a bad taste/smell that would turn off fish. Any input would be appreciated, thank you.

You won't know what works unless you try it. Fish can be incredibly sensitive to scent and even minor changes in water Ph. Remember theold saw about spiting on your bait? seems that fish have an adverse reaction to an acid Ph and spit tends to neutralise weak acids. I have found that most "old wives' tales" are based on some kind of truth. Tom

some folks use permanent markers . but some times the colour fades or blends after a while example black becomes purple.

I've limbered up dry worms with regular old vegetable oil for years and never had any bad reactions. As far as the food coloring, I don't know. Guess you'll just have to experiment.

TRY OIL OF ANISE, IT SMELLS LIKE LICORICE, BASS LOVE IT.