Protecting hardbait hooks during transport and storage?

[snake95]

Wondering if anyone has encountered wear from storing hardbaits in close contact in a tackle box or storage boxes, and if so, how do you deal with them?

Specifically, I am thinking about all the baits crammed together in tight compartments, and the potential effects of hooks and other hardware causing damage to each other.

I can accept the obvious consequence that there is going to be some scratching of plastic and paint.  

But I've been wondering if all that banging around of metal against metal in close quarters (e.g. from hooks and hardware) causes hooks to dull?  

Tangling can be a pain, so I sometimes get obsessive and use small elastics to help prevent tangles, as shown by Alex Keszler in a video on storing ice fishing cranks.

But I can never imagine using those little hook cover things.  Maybe this is a complete non-issue?  

[Wbeadlescomb]

You're creating a problem where there isn't one

[S. Sass]

2 hours ago, snake95 said:

non-issue

For me its a non-issue. I just cant say I have ever found a hook dull from being stored. Not dull in any way that is a scientifically measurable that could prove one way or another.  

[Jrob78]

Use hook bonnets or rubberbands if you're worried about it.

[BassThumb]

I just stuff them into Plano boxes, categorized by type and/or size. If they get tangled, I just shake the bait I want until it's free. Sometimes it takes a few seconds.

Sure, the baits might get a few minor scratches and scuff from this method of storage, but they still catch fish like they did when I bought them, and the hooks are still  just as sharp.

[Dye99]

Its a plastic lure that you plan on throwing as far as you can, to purposely bounce off rocks and tree stumps and hopefully find itself in a fishes mouth. Treat it as such. Non issue.

[0119]

9 hours ago, snake95 said:

Wondering if anyone has encountered wear from storing hardbaits in close contact in a tackle box or storage boxes, and if so, how do you deal with them?

Specifically, I am thinking about all the baits crammed together in tight compartments, and the potential effects of hooks and other hardware causing damage to each other.

Well like always....I disagree with everyone!   Hard baits, heck, all lures are way too expensive for what they are period.  I throw them against bridge pilings and concrete seawalls all day.  I got to live with the consequences of that but I don't have to live with the consequences of how I treat my hard earned money while it sits bouncing around in a box of plastic.  Spooks crack just looking at them. Pompadours come in the package with enough scratches already before you open them and they are from the almighty Jackall company!!!!!   My beloved yo-zuri's are 10 bucks a pop.  I went to Michaels Crafts Store, in the cake decorating section I bought in bulk a few packs of bread bag ties.  Each lure gets its hooks pressed against its belly and twist tied together.  It has worked with all my hardbaits except Pompadours and I get no more storage damage.  Hook Bonnets are usually red or chart. and after awhile the color bleeds into the clear coat of the lures. They added bulk and took away from how many baits I could pack in.  Rubber bands break in Fl. heat.  I get years out of my lures even catching toothy inshore fish. They always get repainted with nail polish, glitter, sharpies and model paint.  I don't cry when I lose one but I'll be darned if I don't squeeze every penny out of them.  Funny, my most expensive hard baits are wood and made by local or regional makers and finish never seems to be an issue with them like it is with the big companies.

[Wbeadlescomb]

25 minutes ago, 0119 said:

Well like always....I disagree with everyone!   Hard baits, heck, all lures are way too expensive for what they are period.  I throw them against bridge pilings and concrete seawalls all day.  I got to live with the consequences of that but I don't have to live with the consequences of how I treat my hard earned money while it sits bouncing around in a box of plastic.  Spooks crack just looking at them. Pompadours come in the package with enough scratches already before you open them and they are from the almighty Jackall company!!!!!   My beloved yo-zuri's are 10 bucks a pop.  I went to Michaels Crafts Store, in the cake decorating section I bought in bulk a few packs of bread bag ties.  Each lure gets its hooks pressed against its belly and twist tied together.  It has worked with all my hardbaits except Pompadours and I get no more storage damage.  Hook Bonnets are usually red or chart. and after awhile the color bleeds into the clear coat of the lures. They added bulk and took away from how many baits I could pack in.  Rubber bands break in Fl. heat.  I get years out of my lures even catching toothy inshore fish. They always get repainted with nail polish, glitter, sharpies and model paint.  I don't cry when I lose one but I'll be darned if I don't squeeze every penny out of them.  Funny, my most expensive hard baits are wood and made by local or regional makers and finish never seems to be an issue with them like it is with the big companies.

Are you dragging your tackle box behind the truck?

[0119]

Just now, Wbeadlescomb said:

Are you dragging your tackle box behind the truck?

It doesn't take bouncing down a dirt road for todays fancy nancy sharp hooks to scratch plastic.  

[blckshirt98]

In terms of hard bait organization and storage, the Owner Hook Safety Caps are the greatest invention ever.  I first just got a few to protect some of the pricier baits, but once I saw how easy they made it to move lures around, I got safety caps for almost all of my hard baits.  Nothing is more annoying that wanting a specific hardbait, pulling it out, and getting a chain of like 5 baits you need to untangle and the subsequent skin pricking.  Get some Owner Safety Caps and you'll kick yourself for not getting them sooner.

[fishwizzard]

I just started using treble hook caps and I could not be happier with them.  I hook a rock climbing chalk bag onto my belt to stick used lures into so they can dry before going back into their Plano and the hook covers make this so much less annoying. They do almost double the bulk of say small inline spinners but depending on how I am carrying them the trade off is worth it. 

[Neil McCauley]

My hardbaits get shredded from the hooks but not while stored, from getting used. Can see a clear wear pattern on the sides where the hook shanks vibrate against them and wear the paint through to the bare body material.

Biggest concern with storage for me is the hooks themselves and keeping them sharp. The tip of a very sharp hook is the most vulnerable spot to rust and obviously the most important for sharpness. Any moisture whatsoever and air exposed to tip will dull it, as will clanking against other hooks and lures. I put use moisture absorbing dessicant packets and blow dry the box with a hair dryer every trip. Store them with hook covers. Over the winter put a dab of grease on hooks that you didn't get to use much, replace the ones you did.

You will lose 100x more fish to slightly dull hooks than you will to an ugly color/finish.

[Maico1]

I like these .......easy treble guard #4 - Spro

 

[Jrob78]

51 minutes ago, Maico1 said:

I like these .......easy treble guard #4 - Spro

 

Those are cool.

[Bluebasser86]

I like it when my baits get scratched up, gives them mojo. 

[buzzed bait]

i use the owner hook covers, but not because of the hooks scratching the baits.  More about keeping my hardbaits organized and untangled.  Also helps me avoid a random hook in the hand, finger or clothing every now and again.  They can be slightly cumbersome at times, but i feel like i save time in the long run never having to untangle a pile of baits.

[Mezrebel outdoors]

I use hook bonnets I bought off amazon to protect my hooks, there is a hole that you can tie the two bonnets together with to keep the hooks tight against the body of the lure and my lures stay well protected. And they don’t really take up much space for my boxes.

[Riazuli]

I started using hook covers recently because I was tired of my hooks getting stuck in my rod sleeves while my lure is attached to the hook holder on the rod. The covers save me the headache of always having to work the hooks out of the sleeves, and prevents the sleeves from getting torn up... Not to mention the other week while getting my rods into my car before class, I hooked a 3/4 oz red eye shad that was attached to one of my rods through my pants... No way that hook was coming out without ripping the pants, so I had to cut the hook after struggling with the hook for way too long and subsequently being late to class for one of the few times since joining this program.  So, yeah, hook covers. 

[jtharris3]

Non-issue...

[mattkenzer]

I kept stabbing myself taking the hook covers off so none for me.

[waynegreen54]

I take an old senko or any old beat up soft plastic and cut a small piece and cover the hooks.Works for me!

[J Francho]

I would advise against mixing soft plastics with hard baits.  Ever.  Period.

 

As for the original question, it's a non issue.  If you're worried, there are hook covers.  The expensive rubber ones are easiest to deal with.

[Catt]

Wish I would have bought more than 2! ?

 

 

[A-Jay]

On 4/24/2016 at 9:34 PM, snake95 said:

Wondering if anyone has encountered wear from storing hardbaits in close contact in a tackle box or storage boxes, and if so, how do you deal with them?

Specifically, I am thinking about all the baits crammed together in tight compartments, and the potential effects of hooks and other hardware causing damage to each other.

I can accept the obvious consequence that there is going to be some scratching of plastic and paint.  

But I've been wondering if all that banging around of metal against metal in close quarters (e.g. from hooks and hardware) causes hooks to dull?  

Tangling can be a pain, so I sometimes get obsessive and use small elastics to help prevent tangles, as shown by Alex Keszler in a video on storing ice fishing cranks.

But I can never imagine using those little hook cover things.  Maybe this is a complete non-issue?  

@snake95 

Tired of pulling out a tangled mess of baits when I only want one, and looking for a way to protect baits & hook points, I have actually put the small rubber band deal into play.  The winter's long; I've got that kind of time.

Looking ahead, this will be the first season of actually using the system.

I'm hoping that the few seconds it may take to remove / replace the rubber bands will be far less frustrating than the alternative of tangled baits and prematurely worn treble hook points. 

We'll see. 

A-Jay

[snake95]

@Mezrebel outdoors thanks for reviving this thread. 

 

Two years have passed, and for me that has been a period of "exponential" growth as an angler. 

 

Back then, I threw out the question, because we seem to be pretty concerned about hook sharpness for good reason.

 

I deal with engineering materials and I am quite certain that when hooks and hardware from different baits bang together, there will be some loss of sharpness over some period of time.  The question is how much, and how fast that happens.  Could be a worthy science (more engineering) experiment for the guy that has been posting microscopic views of hook points.  (Kind of joking here, but I wouldn't fault anyone for testing this out).  The answer to this question I was really interested in, is basically, "not enough damage that it is considered an issue by more than a few anglers"

 

The tangling issue is a different story.  That's a true pain and the obvious solutions are smaller compartments, hook bonnets, and the elastic band trick.

 

With two years of hindsight, here are my thoughts:

• I'm certifiably OCD.  However, hook bonnets are just too over the top even for me.  To each his own.  

 

• I tried the rubber band trick.  It works well with most baits.  But it requires you to keep a stash of bands nearby.  I'm not going to do that reliably.  Also, the band eventually breaks down and melds into the side of the bait.  Bands go everywhere and baits get tossed back without bands, when in the real world and fishing hard.  After a while, I just gave up on this approach.

 

I just do nothing.

 

Interesting to see how A-Jay fares with this.