Tip to Keep your Jig Hooks Rust Free

[Charlie Mason]

There is nothing worse than starting a new season with a bunch of rusty hooks on your ice jigs and spoons because at the end of the last season you put them away wet. Face it, per size, they cost more than the open water variety, so protect them! In some areas the ice season is starting to fade and thoughts are turning to spring. I know, some of you lucky folks will have another month to enjoy the hardwater, but this tip is for you too.

About 8 yrs ago I started saving the silica packets that come with the purchase of shoes, boots, optics and a variety of other items. I started putting them into the sleeves of my jig bags to control moisture build up. They work in any type of container that doesnt breathe and holds moisture.

Since then I put them in all my fishing gear, from crank boxes, spinnerbait and spoon boxes, to my big 3" trays of muskie lures.

For your really big gear, they also make rust blocker strips that work in big boxes of muskie cranks and inline spinners, but the silica works great for the ice sized spoons, jigs and swimbaits like the Salmo Darter, too.

[monstermoose78]

Awesome tip because we just toss them packets of silica away.

[Charlie Mason]

It really is because the packs come in everything these days

[Finlander]

I also put them in my gun safe!

[Charlie Mason]

thats a great idea, I have some in my pistol bag. I know they make some foot long strips that might work even better in the gun safes

[Kevan Paul]

Wow Great tip!!

[Charlie Mason]

thanks Kevan, its just something that has really worked well over the years, and those little walleye trolling spoons in the bottom pic make some really good walleye, and trout spoons too

[JordyED]

Charlie, what type of box is that you have your spoons in, in that bottom picture? and where can I pick one up?

That thing looks like a perfect ice fishing spoon storage system!

[Charlie Mason]

JordyED you busted me, that was going to be another topic, for another day. That's actually a box designed to hold bass styled spinnerbaits. I use them for EVERYTHING from pike/muskie spoons, pike/muskie inline spinners, ice spoons to my walleye (in the pic) trolling spoons.

Cripes here goes another secret out the door, those small 2,1/4 inch trolling spoons are a great walleye jigging spoon. Throw on a dropper, and you have a nice little perch rig. Because they are so lightweight, they have a really nice flutter to them on the drop while jigging. The larger 3 to 3.25" walleye/salmon spoons are good for pike and lakers through the ice when tipped a chunk or head of a cisco, smelt, or herring.

Now that is your Ice Team Pro MEGA tip of the season, dont tell anyone!