Hooks rusting out?

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

If you get water in your boxes from fishing in the rain etc. and close your boxes without letting them dry out, how long will it take for the hooks to rust to the point where you shouldn’t use them anymore? I know this depends on a lot of things, but what’s a rough estimate if you get a little bit of water in there? 
 

Also how to you tell if it’s just a layer of rust you can brush off or if it’s rusted to the point where you wouldn’t use it? I’m mainly asking about jig hooks, all my other hooks is just replace. 

Edited October 6, 2024 by August

[F14A-B]

Ok, I’m gonna ask, how long has this water been in your box?

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

19 minutes ago, F14A-B said:

Ok, I’m gonna ask, how long has this water been in your box?

Just a couple days so I doubt it will be too much of an issue, I’m mainly curious long long it would take. 

 

[king fisher]

The exact amount of time it takes to discover there is water in your box.

[10,000 lakes Bassin]

2 minutes ago, king fisher said:

The exact amount of time it takes to discover there is water in your box.

seems like it 😂

[GetFishorDieTryin]

It depends on the hook itself.  A higher quality hook will generally resist damage from corrosion longer than a hook that isnt plated, the dia of the hook matters too.  

Water in the box can turn into mess very fast if there's no ventilation.  I'm very careful not to put anything away wet, just a little condensation is enough to at least make a mess.  As I said earlier, plated hooks are fairly resistant in terms of integrity.  Keep in mind that corrosion doesn't just hurt the hooks strength, its really hard on the point of the of the hook.    

[Crow Horse]

My standard practice after fishing in the rain is on the next dry day, open all the boxes up and allow them to dry thoroughly. In all my Plano cases I use Zerust Plastabs (vapor corrosion inhibitor) to prevent any rust from forming. They work very well.

[MN Fisher]

^ What Crow said - but I put 3 packets of Silica Gel in each box to absorb any excess moisture 'on the fly'...I use the 5gm packets...100 of them is only $16 - and they're reusable.

[TnRiver46]

I live in a rainforest so it’s inevitable. Plano has one tackle box that is completely perforated 

[Smirak]

On 10/5/2024 at 10:55 PM, MN Fisher said:

^ What Crow said - but I put 3 packets of Silica Gel in each box to absorb any excess moisture 'on the fly'...I use the 5gm packets...100 of them is only $16 - and they're reusable.

That’s not a bad price at all. 5g packets are the perfect size for say a bowl of spaghetti. This is good info to know so I don’t have to go buy a pair of shoes just for the seasoning packet.  

[J Francho]

9 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I live in a rainforest so it’s inevitable. Plano has one tackle box that is completely perforated 

The perforated boxes absolutely, 100% work perfectly.  I've used them for over a decade, and still use them.  I've always resisted waterproof boxes, because I'm not sure you want water trapped in the box once it gets wet.  That said, I've been using an Edge terminal box for a few years now, and it does keep water out, and as long as you dry it out completely, no rust issues at all.  The best solution to rust is to do what you can to prevent it.  Knowing how long you can procrastinate taking care of your gear is just gonna lead to failure.  Stuff happens, and you don't get to it in time, and then you're cooked.

[TnRiver46]

Yep, I’ll go fishing 3 days in a row during a downpour, when I come home I go to bed instead of drying things out haha . Which is why I like the perforated tackle box and try to keep terminal in dry bag. But you can’t keep it all dry when you have to get it out and tie a hook on when it’s raining 

[gim]

On 10/5/2024 at 10:23 PM, Crow Horse said:

My standard practice after fishing in the rain is on the next dry day, open all the boxes up and allow them to dry thoroughly.

 

Same.  I often fish in the rain because it usually means better fishing than bluebird sun.

 

I open up all my hatches and boxes in my boat after I'm done.  I also have a ceiling fan right above it in the garage that gets used regularly.  One day in there and its completely dried out.

[Reel]

I'm lucky.  I have a boat with ACS ( advanced circulation system ) that uses fans and vents to take air from the outside and to blow it through the boxes.  It doesn't take much time to dry everything out.

[TnRiver46]

I don’t have a garage or any dry hatches on the boat. And our air is wet all the time 😂 

[Spankey]

On 10/5/2024 at 11:55 PM, MN Fisher said:

^ What Crow said - but I put 3 packets of Silica Gel in each box to absorb any excess moisture 'on the fly'...I use the 5gm packets...100 of them is only $16 - and they're reusable.

Do you let them air dry or do you put them in the oven at a lower temp? Or put them in the oven after your French fries/wings are done and the oven is cooling down. 
Just curious how well getting max life out of the smaller ones has been. 
I reload my own target shotshells and rifle cartridges and have the larger industrial size bags in my storage cabinet. A bit bigger than a corn hole bean bag. And every once and awhile I’ll pull them and let them set in the kitchen oven while it is cooling down. Than put them back in the cabinet. I have never really noticed and moisture concerns. 
I have given thought to your size but have never tried them. 

[rgasr63]

I try my best to keep everything dry. I got a grape produce bag to put the stuff that came out that I used to dry out before I put them back in the box and I have the blue zerust boxes.

[Crow Horse]

Depending on the weather, I'll sometimes "blow dry" anything wet with a DeWalt 20v blower and finish drying in our greenhouse. So far so good.....

[MN Fisher]

3 hours ago, Spankey said:

Do you let them air dry or do you put them in the oven at a lower temp? Or put them in the oven after your French fries/wings are done and the oven is cooling down. 

250 degree oven for about 1-1.5hrs. Spread them on a cookie sheet that's covered in tin-foil, and you can do a couple dozen at a time.

[WRB]

Fresh water shouldn’t cause plated hooks to rust. What causes rust is something creating an electrolyte like salt or scent from soft plastics or acid from OB exhaust . Air circulation your friend to keep the hooks/lures clean and dry.

WD-40 was invented to prevent rust by displacing water, use it.
Tom

PS, dryer sheets prevent rust.

 

[Rockhopper]

3 hours ago, WRB said:

WD-40 was invented to prevent rust by displacing water, use it.

And it attracts fish 🤣

[Crow Horse]

5 hours ago, WRB said:

Fresh water shouldn’t cause plated hooks to rust.

Maybe so, but sharpen a hook and the plating is removed exposing unprotected base metal, vulnerable to rust formation.

 

In my humble opinion, WD40 has no place near any body of water. There are other ways to prevent rust that won't have any potential environmental impact.

[WRB]

There are more myths regarding WD-40 then almost any other product.

WD-40 is a water displacing solvent that protects metal like hooks from rusting. WD-40 doesn’t contain any fish oil to the best of my knowledge and don’t advocate using it for a fish attractant.

If it was harmful to the environment WD-40 would not be sold over the counter for general  public use. Used for an anti-corrosion agent on fish hooks isn’t environmentally harmful unless you breath in a lot of the spray. WD-40 is no different then any other petroleum base product regarding the environment IMO.

I used WD-40 on salt water tuna and Marlin lure hooks to prevent rust in salt water environment. Sharpened hooks without any rust issues. You can ‘t put away hooks wet, air dry then spray with WD-40 worked for decades.

Tom

 

 

 

[Catt]

WD-40 was designed for the displacement of water in/on electrical "connections". It's a quick fix but wasn't intended to be a permanent fix. WD doesn't leave enough protective coating to last long after it dries. 

 

As for rust removal on hooks, if I can remove the rust by rubbing it between my fingers. If it takes more abrasion than that its out of here. 

 

Side note; salt is not necessary to cause corrosion. Any bare metal exposed to the environment will corrode. 

[Crow Horse]

6 hours ago, WRB said:

If it was harmful to the environment WD-40 would not be sold over the counter for general  public use. Used for an anti-corrosion agent on fish hooks isn’t environmentally harmful unless you breath in a lot of the spray. WD-40 is no different then any other petroleum base product regarding the environment IMO.

I respectfully disagree. I can walk into any auto parts store and purchase a metric boatload of products that will be harmful if introduced into an aquatic environment.

 

"WD-40 is no different then any other petroleum base product regarding the environment IMO."

 

Exactly and I wouldn't want to introduce any petroleum based products into the environment.