Rusty Jigs--what to do

[MN-HookSetter]

Just wondering how you all prevent rusty jigs and if you do get some what do you do with them??

[Dean]

I throw mine away if too rusted. I have noticed that fish do not hit as much on rusty lures and hooks. Maybe the fish can smell the rust/metal. I don't know, but I do notice hits are fewer on anything rusty...

[MUSIC MAN]

I USE W-D 40 ON MY JIGS WHEN I STORE THEM.

[Joah Hagemeister, Minnesota]

To prevent them, get a good water tight tackle box, it's the only way. Rust weakens hook and dulls the point of the hook, some rust is surface rust and can be wipped off. Throw the jigs away or melt them down and start over. Do not spray W-D 40 on them! It's polluting the lake at best, and you will catch less fish!

[C/B]

Make your jigs with gold hooks.They won't rust and I believe fish like them.Rusted ones,toss them.

[stewart]

After I've been out on a rainy day and my tackle boxes are damp I use a hairdryer to eliminate the moisture. It's either that or spread all the stuff out to dry. It took me a while and cost me a lot of hooks before I became disciplined about doing it. Now I'm in the process of learning not to leave plastic grubs mixed in with cranks or spoons ;).

[Capt.Keith Wils]

There is a product called Rustout that you can get at hardware stores that works great if your hooks are not real bad. You just dump them in a pait and put Rustout and water leave soak dry them good and then spray a light coat of WD-40 on them .
Capt.Keith Wils

[REW]

1. Dry the jigs of the day, after every days use.
I keep all of my jigs in plano plastic boxes. At the days end
I prop open the boxes, in which I have stored jigs that day.
By morning, all moisture has evaporated, and am ready to go
for the next day. In many instances, simply the temperature
changes that are experienced in a days fishing, and residual
spray etc. are enough to generate condensation in a box, that
needs to be aired out at the end of the day.

That is one of the reasons, that I never keep any tackle on board. I always take all fishing gear off the boat at days end -
to insure that it can be totally dried before the next days fishing.

2. Many folks use WD-40 as a scent killer on lures and hands - On the water experience has shown it to be a very effective scent killer, and definetly does not cut down on bites.

3. The amount of wd-40 sprayed on the jigs or lures would be little different than simply rubbing your hands with sun tan lotion, and then handling the jigs. In fact, you might find that sun tan lotion, would prevent rusting just as well as wd-40.

4. Actually, wd-40 was developed many years ago -- for the specific purpose of displacing moisture -- it is a great product, and used wisely, is an excellent choice to prevent rust.

5. In the end -- very rusted hooks are thrown, and replace with new, if on a crankbait -- if on a jig, the jig is pitched.

6. Gold or silver jig hooks are NOT the answer for rusting. Every gold or silver jig that I have recieved -- in fact has the plating all the way to the tip of the hook. However, because all parts of the hook are plated -- the hook is very dull. Before ever fishing with any hook -- especially plated hooks, I sharpen them. In the case of the gold and silver jigs -- it basically means filing off the plating in the area of the hook tip. Obviously, this then leaves the tip unprotected and subject to rusting. If you don't sharpen a gold or silver plated jig -- you will lose many fish, due to its dull nature. Howevr, after removing the plating by sharpening, the gold and silver hook tips will be subjected to the same rusting process as all of the rest of your hooks.

Take care

rEW

[Jack G]

I rarely have a problem with rusted jigs. I try to keep things as simple as possible.

On misty or rainy days when moisture gets into my tackle boxes I take them inside at the end of the day, open them up and allow everything to dry out. When spray, mist or rain is not a problem I throw wet lures on the dash of my boat and allow them to dry before I put them back into my tackle box. Most things dry in a very few minutes, some take much longer. Incidentally, I keep a non slip rubber mat on my dash so items do not slide around.

I just do not find that my jigs rust to any degree worth considering.

I think the key is to simply not store wet jigs in your tackle box and do not close up a wet tacklebox, at the end of the day, without drying it out.

Simple and it works.

Jack G

[GORD]

If they aren't rusted too badly, I keep mine and spray them with WD40 ( or coat them with an oil based fish scent ) to prevent further rusting. I put them aside and use them when drift jigging in strong currant over a rocky bottom, where i expect a lot of snags..... Most kids are happy to get some free jigs. They don't care if they are a little rusty. They can brag to their friends that they got your lucky jigs... Cut the hooks off and you have a pretty good weights even if they are badly rusted. I heard a guy say you could soak them in drano in a tin can for a short time then rinse them off, but i've never tried it.

[REW]

You bring up an interesting thought.
I haden't thought about using it before for jigs or crankbait hooks, but you might try rust a way.

This is a rust removing product that is available at any auto parts store that is part of a body shop repair kit - that is used prior to repairing rusty body panels. It is also used to remove rust from bumpers and other car parts.

I have used it befoe with great success - for these purposes, and see no reason, why it wouldn't take rust off hooks.

Simply dab on a bit of paste - let sit for a bit - then rinse off. Obviously if there has been a bit of rust on a hook for a while - there is going to be a divit. If the rust is on the tip of the hook the tip will be gone.

That is one of the main reasons, that I an not a big advocate of being concerned about very rusty hooks or jigs. I simply throw away the jigs, or replace the rusty crank bait hooks.

As several of the other postings suggest -- let everything dry out - and you really minimize the rusting problems.

Take care

REW

[delgue]

If you do not have waterproof tackle bins on your boat,try out the waterproof boxes with the rubbertype gasket. compare the hinges between the Plano and the Woodstream, The Woodstreams are very tough, i have both,and have had to gradually replace the Planos. i keep two soft bags with 5 gasket boxes each-one bag for cranks and one for all others. i took the time to change out all the crank hooks to triple grips or vmc trebles, i dont want to do it again for a long time. Airing out and drying your gear out is important. i have a place on the boat where i hang all changed out gear by the hooks until i know for sure they are dry, then store em--if the boxes ever do show condensation from the inside, air it out right away or guess what will happen in a few days. Good post-great replys

[AquaMan]

Like the others have said, throw away the rusty ones and spray the good ones with WD-40 every few trips. I also taped two large Sta-Dry bags to the inside of my tacle box to prevent dampness as well. Sta-Dry are the packets of Silica pellets that are in with most new electronics you buy. They are placed in the box at the factory to wick any humidity away from the components.

You can get them at most packaging stores and they come in different sizes. I get mine from the computers we get in every day.

I also keep a couple packs in my camera bag.

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~

--- "It all begins and ends at the water's edge"