Rust

[Ghostshad]

How can i stop my swim jigs from rusting ? I have rust proof storage box's so they say,i leave everything i use out to dry before putting them up,i really have a big problem.And also does surface rust really matter when fishing for fun a good swim jig runs about $ 4.00. Thanks and God Bless  Romans 10 :9 Words to live by

[PersicoTrotaVA]

It happens.  Not all hooks are created equally.  I would just sand it off if its not bad.  If its a coated hook and its doing that, I would try a different Swim Jig.

[deep]

Do you leave trailers on jigs? Salted plastics cause rust pretty easy. I wash the jig and get the salt off before I dry it.

[J Francho]

Take trailers off your hooks, and use a vented storage bin.  I perforated all my plano boxes with little holes.  A soldering iron works best for making clean holes.  I've also been picking up a few Hydro Flo boxes to replace the old boxes.  It sounds counter-intuitive, but air flow is the key to eliminating rusty hooks.

[gulfcaptain]

Odds are most all the above posts are spot on with the problem.  Salt + water = rust.  Francho is spot on with the prevention method. So if your trailers are salt infused, take them off, rinse your jigs when you get home with freshwater and hang dry.  If you used some and they are in your box, open your box up and let it air dry as well and that will help a lot in preventing other jigs stored with them from rusting as well.

[OkobojiEagle]

does surface rust really matter when fishing

 

 

Not in my experience... rust will weaken the hook, more rust = weaker hook not prevent bites.  I'd suggest you have your tetanus shot up to date though...

 

 

oe

[hatrix]

Let it sit out before you toss it right back in the box. In the summer you can watch the condensation build up on the lid. Any ways though you can get some silica packets or fill a compartment with rice if your super worried about it and it will absorb the moisture. 

[tcbass]

I put everything right in the tackle box and go home, but when I get home I take the tackle boxes out of the storage locker, place them on my boats deck and open them up and let them dry out over night.

One poster made a good point stating that the Z-Rust and other rust inhibitive producfs eventually wear out.

[Montanaro]

Take trailers off your hooks, and use a vented storage bin. I perforated all my plano boxes with little holes. A soldering iron works best for making clean holes. I've also been picking up a few Hydro Flo boxes to replace the old boxes. It sounds counter-intuitive, but air flow is the key to eliminating rusty hooks.

Brilliant. I'm going to have to do that this weekend. Do you do holes on top and bottom?

[J Francho]

Yes and sides.

[SirSnookalot]

Fishing with only 2-3 lures at a time when I'm done they air dry on a table, no rust problems.  In SW different story as I keep my lures in small plastic lure boxes, the hooks (even perma steel) can rust pretty quick.  I carry a small diamond file for a quick touch up.

[OkobojiEagle]

Yes and sides.

 

Unless you're perforating the dividers as well I don't think you're getting much air flow through the tackle box.  Opening the lids over night (as suggested) is more efficient.  Using a small room fan blowing over the open boxes for a couple hours will increase air circulation and hasten drying.

 

 

oe

[Catch and Grease]

ouch, I sometimes leave trailers on my jigs from me just being lazy... never really thought about the fact the salt can help speed up rust formation

[J Francho]

Unless you're perforating the dividers as well I don't think you're getting much air flow through the tackle box.  Opening the lids over night (as suggested) is more efficient.  Using a small room fan blowing over the open boxes for a couple hours will increase air circulation and hasten drying.

 

 

oe

 

Not having to do a darn thing about it is the most efficient.

 

I had a huge rust problem.  Put holes in the boxes, problem gone.  And I mean disappeared.  Most guys that see it think I'm crazy.  "That will let water in!" they say.  Uh, you put them in the water to fish. Water isn't the problem. Air flow is.  That reduces condensation.  As far as the dividers go, there at lease three holes, mostly more, in each compartment.  Top, Bottom, and sides.  This is plenty.  There just needs to be enough to allow the damp air out, and not trap condensation in.  The Hydroflo boxes are expensive, but the holes are more plentiful, and much, much smaller.  Sometimes a hook pokes through the bigger holes on my home altered boxes.  They don't on the Planos.

[KDW96]

Not having to do a darn thing about it is the most efficient.

 

I had a huge rust problem.  Put holes in the boxes, problem gone.  And I mean disappeared.  Most guys that see it think I'm crazy.  "That will let water in!" they say.  Uh, you put them in the water to fish. Water isn't the problem. Air flow is.  That reduces condensation.  As far as the dividers go, there at lease three holes, mostly more, in each compartment.  Top, Bottom, and sides.  This is plenty.  There just needs to be enough to allow the damp air out, and not trap condensation in.  The Hydroflo boxes are expensive, but the holes are more plentiful, and much, much smaller.  Sometimes a hook pokes through the bigger holes on my home altered boxes.  They don't on the Planos.

 

I got 12 new waterproof 3700s at a steal of 2.00apiece. I really liked the 3 big latchs, But as JFrancho stated-not trapping condensation-will control the rust. I drilled holes in all dividers,and along all four sides of the boxes. To this day,no rust,

[tcbass]

I've always left plastics on hooks and never had a rust problem, however, I also open my tackle boxes after each trip.

 

 

 

Franco is right about holes and airflow.......Plano knows what they are doing.

[bigbill]

I talked here in the beginning when we were dressed in animal skins and carried clubs. Glenn here will remember. LOL

I always carried a tackle box of rusted lures eons ago. Now with spending hundreds of dollars in New lures this rust had to become a thing of the past. I hate rust.

One problem is wet salted plastics left on hooks. Don't leave salted plastics wet on hooks if you plan to reuse them. Desperate them and leave them out to dry.

Do not mix and store crankbaits, etc, with salted plastics in the same tackle box or container.

All my salted plastics are stored in seperate plastic bags. I keep the wet used salted plastics in a separate bag.

In fishing in the rain I keep my tackle boxes closed as much as possible. I leave the tackle boxes open when I get home so it can dry out.

I remove the really wet stuff so it can dry out better. Sometimes if my stuff is that wet I empty the whole box to wipe the box dry then let it air dry too.

Moisture and rust is our enemy. We need to do tackle box maintenance too. After every trip. Once we get into doing it, it will get easier.

One thing is to carry a smaller tackle box or tackle bag?

I hate leaving tackle at home. I rather put it in the car and not need it.

Once I separated the salted plastics to another tackle box it kind of stopped all of my rust along with leaving my box open.

[Montanaro]

I tried my small soldering iron on a small box nd it's sloppy and leaves a big hole. Is there trick or should I get a small drill bit and do it that way?

[hatrix]

Put some rice in a coffee filter and use a twist tie or something. Rice naturally absorbs moisture as do silica packets since that it exactly what they are made for. Or drill hole or whatever you want to do. Both methods will work.

[J Francho]

Montanaro, I just push straight in. Leaves a hole as big as the tip of the iron.

[J Francho]

Here's a pic.....

 

[Montanaro]

About the size of holes I was making. Going to look for thinner soldering tips to make a cleaner and smaller hole.