RUST!!!!

Took out my gear to start going through it to kill time in this rainy weather.  Opened my boxes and everything was covered in rust. I am a dumbass, and know better.  I did not rinse things off after my last trip out, and now all my hooks, shrimp flies, swivels and snaps are ruined.  Other than a good rinsing, before storage, what have you guys found to help keep the rust problem down on the salt water tackle? This is the first year I have had left over gear, I usually lose it all before the end of the season, or convert the hooks to sturgeon rigs.  Any advice for me would be great, and am sure there are others that are as dumb as me out there!!

 I always rinse my gear off, let it dry an then store in plano boxes an  ziplock freezer bags.

try mothballs. I know it sounds wierd, and I'm not exactly sure how it works. I think during the sublimation process, whatever mothballs are made of displaces the oxygen. My dad use to keep a couple mothballs in the tool box to prevent rust. I haven't tried it yet, but after reading this post i might go out and buy a box and give it a shot. nothing worse than opening up the tackle box to find a rusted mess.

 You wanna be carful about using anything that could transfer a smell to your gear though. Moth balls could taint gear

Easy way to remember to rinse. Leave a piece of squid on one of the hooks. You might get a day or two before IT reminds you...

Max, let me know about mothballs, and the squid is usually my reminder!

You wanna be carful about using anything that could transfer a smell to your gear though. Moth balls could taint gear

good point, might not be a big issue with terminal tackle, but definitly wouldn't want plastics or other porous gear soaking up the scent.

I'll letcha know how it goes if I give it a shot Rich

Soak all your shit in fresh when you get home lay it bewteen two towels to dry for a day. Your stuff sounds shot. Oops.

After rinsing & drying, you could put a desiccant (eg, silica gel) in the box to soak up any add'l moisture - a little less toxic than moth balls.

I just rinse everything in a bucket of water after fishing and toss on garage floor to dry.  It'll be all nice and dry in the same spot when I go to pack for the next time fishing!!!

I never put a used lure back in the box while out on the water.  If I do, it means I have to rinse everything and I'm lazy that way.

-Allen

I just open the plano box and give everything a good rinse, then let it drain by holding the lid closed, (but not snapped).  It's dry after sitting open overnight.  Or a couple hours on a sunny day.

I dump it on the patio hose it off let it get rained on for a couple weeks take broom seep into a pile with leaves let it get rained on some more finally on a dry day sweep into a card bored box leave until next season by then the leaves are crunchy again and easy to remove.While bbqing drink beer talk on the phone and sort into boxes. If you think I'm jking I'll send pics. at least no rust.

Simple    Dont store wet stuff with your dry stuff!   If I take something out of the box, it stays out until its dry again basically.  Or have a wet box to put your lures in after fishing.  I also have a box of stuff from when I cut off hooks, leaders, swivels, teasers, etc when I strip down my rods when packing up.  I check to see if what I need is in there before starting to rig up for the next trip, if its not rusty!

Anyone elase use WD40 after fresh water bath?

Anyone elase use WD40 after fresh water bath?

I actually put a drop or two in the compartments with the terminal tackle. I also try not to buy (or take OTW) all the tackle i use in a season. Just what I need to for the day. If I use 10 swivels in a day I am doing something very wrong. 5 of each (whatever that may be) is plenty (prob 2X what you will need in a day. I also keep rusty hook for stuff like shark or ray fishing. That way I can cut em off and they are on the way to rusting out. Someone also said a couple of shakes of baby/talc powder helps.