rusty lures

[jdog]

well i just pulled out all of my ice lures and when i got sorting thru the walleye lures i find out all the hooks are rusted is there any way to save these or am i better off starting over im kinda hoping to get some sort of feed back because its not like these are cheep thanks

[Raider4ever]

If they are jigs, I don't think so. If they have trebles, you can just swap those out.

[chad austin]

I don't know about salvaging your current rusty lures but in the future put a small piece of copper in the same container as your lures and you won't have this issue again (I've always used pennies). I don't know why this works but I have always been told to do it and have never had any problem with rust.

[Jbotto]

Wipe the hooks off with some vinegar and then wash them off with baking soda and water. That will stop the vinegar from eating the metal away. Then touch up the hooks with a hook file.

I dealt with just one rusty lure today and it was a little Swedish Pimple. The treble only had too hooks left on it and figured it was time to replace anyways.

[Twins Guy]

the above tips sound pretty good.

as far as tackle storage i had never heard of the copper idea but don't doubt its efficacy. i use a couple of the flambeau zerust tackle boxes which have a rust inhibitor in the blue dividers. this is all for prevention of future rust.

[servocam]

I had this same problem, but only happened to the Lindy. None of my Northland, Swd Pimp's or Rapala.

[Hardyboy]

Trebles you can replace but jigs are gonna be harder if at all to save. The copper idea is good but also silica gel works well. I use the little packets that come with some of the things you buy. They absorb moisture and i throw one or two of the packets into my tackle packs and have never had a problem. Just switch em out every year or sooner if your boxes get wet often. I just use a mayonaise jar and drop all the little packets i collect thru the year in there so i have a ready supply when i need em. Good way to recycle the little silica packs and you get rust free tackle at no extra cost.

[WIMN]

As with many things, my guess is you could get by if you needed to. I found a Rapala taildancer in the Boundary Waters this year, and the treble hooks were super rusty but I threw it on the line and tried it out anyway. Hooked up with a big northern and the hook ended up snapping off of the lure from the rust. I really guess it depends on how rusty they are.

[otis]

I always just open everything up and let it dry out. But I really like the idea of the little packets in there. Gonna give it a try. Thanks

[Stick in Mud]

Great idea about the silica packets. I have this problem alot, especially when i'm out on long canoe trips, and the packets might make keeping lures from rusting up a lot easier. Thanks for sharing!

[DuckBlind]

Cabelas sells a small green box for keeping fly fishing lures, it opens up like a book... has white foam inside. Even if I put the jigs away wet they still do not rust. Had it for about 5 years and still have the same jigs, not one has rusted. Not sure about salvaging your old ones, might have to start a new collection.

[Scott M]

Love the silica packets idea. You might also look for a box that prevents rusting. I believe Flambeau sells boxes with Zerust compound that is supposed to prevent rusting.

As others have said, if its trebles, swap them out per manufacturer's specifications. If jigs, try to touch them up.

Good luck. A great thread to help others out.

[Piatu]

If hooks are badly rusty/broken in ends of balanced icejigs, luretype like in picture:

By piatu at 2011-11-27

You can cut these off and drill small hole and glue new hooks with 2-component epoxyglue.

[Down Deep]

This is a tip I received from a post on FM. Buy some CLR and soak them. CLR will dissolve the rust and cleanup the jig. Be sure to check the hooks because rust can seriously compromise their strength.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

This is a tip I received from a post on FM. Buy some CLR and soak them. CLR will dissolve the rust and cleanup the jig. Be sure to check the hooks because rust can seriously compromise their strength.

I've done this before. You need to watch it. If you leave them in for too long, you cang actually disolve and entire hook.

[jdog]

thanks for the tips i might have to try the CLR but im gonna go out and get a better box to put my lures in

[BrandonN]

I work for a company that makes foam strips specifically design to protect tools and lures from rust

[jcpmn82]

I work for a company that makes foam strips specifically design to protect tools and lures from rust

And?

[live4chrome]

next time you buy a package of jerky keep the silica packets and throw them in your box