Every now and then I fail to let my cranks dry before I put them back in the box and a little bit of rust accumulates on the hooks, this also goes for my spinnerbaits. Is this a complete fish turn off?

Nope. But a little rust on the tip of the hook is a dull hook.

You can sharpen it, then spray it with a bit of WD 40, it stops the rust for a while. Worked great when i get my freshwater lures in saltwater

Rusty hooks.......hey didn't he used to be a member here?

LOL

Nah, fish could care less about stuff like that.

I wouldn't worry about it all unless the rust was really doing damage.

have fun.

I echo Fluke's sentiments. The fish don't care but the probability of losing a fish increases.

avid,

I haven't been available to post much lately, but noticed that you were hanging out again. It's good to have you back.

Right on, I appreciate the input I was just curious.

Frsh water shouldn't be rusting your hooks, you apparently fish brackish water.

Try putting luandry softener cloths (used or new) in your tackle box trays. WD-40 will also help to prevent corrsion. Rust is the iron oxiding and pitting the hook which weakens and dulls the hook. Dull hooks is a problem trying to hook and keep bass hooked. Hooks are not expensive and I would change the crank baits with VMC trebles, the spinnerbait you can only clean, resharpen and use WD-40.

Tom

Frsh water shouldn't be rusting your hooks, you apparently fish brackish water.

Try putting luandry softener cloths (used or new) in your tackle box trays. WD-40 will also help to prevent corrsion. Rust is the iron oxiding and pitting the hook which weakens and dulls the hook. Dull hooks is a problem trying to hook and keep bass hooked. Hooks are not expensive and I would change the crank baits with VMC trebles, the spinnerbait you can only clean, resharpen and use WD-40.

Tom

If I don't let my baits dry a little before putting them up the hooks rust also. It's mainly if they are cheap hooks or hooks with some feathers that hold the water longer. I doubt I'm getting much brackish water in Kansas though

If I don't let my baits dry a little before putting them up the hooks rust also. It's mainly if they are cheap hooks or hooks with some feathers that hold the water longer. I doubt I'm getting much brackish water in Kansas though

/quote] all hooks (except stainless steel) are coated or plated to reduce corrosion. I doubt that your water in Kansas is brackish, but it could be acidic or alkaline from farm water drainage and that can cause minor rust stains. Salt form soft plastics or fish attractants can also cause corrosion. Whatever the cause it's a good practice to clean rust strains off the hooks and replace corroded hooks.

Tom

You're right, something in the water is making the hooks rust if I don't dry them off. I always leave my baits out to let them dry. It only takes about 10 minutes to dry completely, but it takes a whole lot longer to replace a bunch of crankbait hooks