Lure Maintenance?

[nickniescior]

Do you guys do any work on your lures to keep them good, or are they able to just be left in the tackle box?

Thanks

[tcbass]

If a lot of lures in my tackle box get wet, when I get home I open them up so that the hooks don't rust.

[Bluebasser86]

Make sure not to put them away wet. I check them often to make sure the hooks are good and there's not rust forming on the hooks, hangers, or split rings. I'll change the hooks out pretty often as well. 

 

With soft baits I make sure there's no moisture inside the bags, that's about it though. 

[SirSnookalot]

I mainly fish saltwater and I do nothing, except carry a diamond file for a touch up and replace a hook if needed.  I don't worry about the longevity of lures, get cut off a lot or a fish has to be broken off, they don't last long enough to worry about.  Pretty much the only hard lure I'm using now are spoons, just about everything is a jig or jerk shad on a jig head.  My freshwater lures are just fine, don't seem to have a rust problem.

[Bankbeater]

I don't put my lures away wet, and I put bonnets on them so the paint doesn't get scratched by the hooks.

[Raul]

I do understand why Snook doesn´t pay much attention to his lures, fishing saltwater on a super regular basis surely reduces the chances of gear not lasting too much.

 

I do take extra care of my lures, after fishing I religioulsy clean the blades of spinnerbaits and inspect the skirt of spinnerbaits & jigs, clean crankbaits check hook sharpness and inspect hardware for signs of corrosión if it´s not perfect then it gets replaced. I never store wet stuff and my boxes have silica gel sachets to absorb moisture. Soft plastics if repairable are repaired, hooks removed and inspected, dullness represents it´s going to the trash. Tackle boxes are regularily washed.

[WRB]

How do you store your lures and what type of lures are you asking about?

Terminal tackle like hooks I keep in the small bags or boxes they come in and store them in 1 gallon or quart size freezer type zip lock bags. Storing hooks in Plano type boxes is convenient, the problem is getting them all wet during use in the rain.

Hard lures like crankbaits and hard jerk baits, get stored in the Plano type boxes in individual compartments and get put away dry. If they get wet from rain, I dry them after fishing.

Spinnerbaits go into hanging type spinnerbait storage boxes, keeps the shirts in good condition.

Jigs get stored in Plano type boxes like crankbaits, excepts 3 or 4 in one compartment by color and size.

Hudd swimbaits go into custom hanging storage boxes, about 12in each box.

Hard swimbaits go into plastic meat storage boxes with a plastic grid that prevents moisture touching the swimmers laying flat.

Soft plastic worm, creatures go into Plano type worm boxes and a worm organizer hanger system that clips the bags for the larger worms to keep them straight.

I check each hook before tying any lure on and touch up points as needed or replace a treble hook as needed.

Occasionally clean hard baits in warm with and baking soda solution. Wash my hair jigs in warm water and Joy liquids soap and blow dry. Replace any jig skirts if the materials are damaged and touch up jig heads with paint as needed.

Maintenance is a constant program and easier if you stay on top of it. Never put anything away wet. I use lure wraps during the time on the water to help prevent sharp hooks nicking my line, it's the little things add up.

Tom

[0119]

Lures are way too pricey to expensive to not take extra care of.  I use bread bag ties to secure trebles tight to the bodies to extend the life of the finish.  I always make sure they are dry for about a day before I put them with other lures.  Even then and in freshwater, hooks tend to rust.  Same goes for soft plastics hooks.  Quality ones are too expensive to not maintain both the edge and avoid rust.  They average over a buck a piece.

[primetime]

1. Bread bag ties....That is a good idea....Rubberbands used to work well for me until they melted one day, but those lures that were melted with rubber, were sanded and painted with a sharpie or I slapped on some flash tape, some I went to the craft store and used this glue with glitter etc....The fish never seemed to mind, but I did, as I like how they look when organized...But my favorite lures barely have any paint left anyhow....

Checking hooks is important, keeping them sharp....Rings....I check my go to lures b4 each trip,and I try to keep what I plan on using most in bags in shirt pockets, short pockets.....Hooks, Weights, Jig heads etc....Then I bring a few trays and I am good, and I leave the other half dozen suitcases home.