Mustad hooks exhibit high quality. But, like anything used in a marine environment, they will rust sooner or later, regardless of what finish they sport, if you don’t care for them properly. This is why those who really know steel call it corrosion-resistant if it is made with a chrome or nickel instead of stainless. Anyone who knows steel knows it will rust given the right conditions.
Fishing hooks are no exception, especially if they are used in saltwater. So let’s take a closer look at some things you can do to keep your hooks rust-free for longer.
Quality Is Built in
First, let’s take a look at the inherent quality of high-end fish hooks, such as Mustad hooks. These hooks are made with high-quality Swedish wire that is washed, treated, and then pulled in Norway, just as it has been done since they were first made over a century ago.
The prepared wire is then sent to a factory in China to be finished, and if applicable is treated with a corrosion-resistant finish that helps keep rust off for longer.
But, as you know, no matter the quality, fish hooks used in saltwater will rust sooner or later unless you are exceptionally fastidious. To that end, here are some things you can do to help deal with rust and corrosion.
Keeping Rust at Bay
Keeping rust off your Mustad hooks (or any hooks) is not rocket science. You just need to know what to do. Hopefully this short guide here will help with that.
- Keep them clean and dry. This is the most important observation of all. If you pull your jig out of the drink and drop it dripping wet into your tackle box, the next time you open the thing up, that hook will be rusted, and perhaps much worse. Therefore, the single most important thing you can do to keep rust off your hooks (and other fishing tackle) is to make sure they are thoroughly dry before putting them away. That does not, however, mean letting a salt-soaked rig dry in the sun. If you store that rig with saltwater residue on it, it will still rust. Therefore, what you must do is rinse each rig thoroughly, then dry it before you store it.
- Be extra careful about dressed hooks or jigs. Jigs that are dressed, such as bucktail jigs, or teasers, or other hooks that are rigged on a lure and dressed with bucktail or feathers, must be given extra care and attention. This is because the fur and feathers dressed on the hook will absorb saltwater, and cling to saltwater deposits even when dry, and with frightening enthusiasm. You will want to soak these thoroughly in freshwater (and once again, dry them) before you store them, otherwise the hook underneath is not going to be in good shape when you pull it out again.
- Don’t leave plastics rigged on jigheads. If you use jigheads to rig your soft plastics for saltwater fishing, or if you rig a teaser with a small plastic, make sure you take that plastic off the hook before you throw it back in your tackle bag. This is better for both the plastic itself as well as the hook. One, most plastics become dry and brittle when they are exposed to air (Berkley’s Gulp plastics are notorious for this) and on top of that, if you leave them rigged, they will trap moisture next to the hook, which will accelerate rust. The easy solution is simply to unrig any plastics before you store them. Put the plastic in a sealed container and rinse and dry the hook before storing it separately.
- Never store them wet. This should go without saying. Regardless of whether you fish freshwater or saltwater, never put your tackle away wet. Always dry it off completely before you store it.
- Include an absorbent in your tackle box or bag. Once you’ve rinsed and dried your tackle, you need to start thinking about what else you can do to keep rust at bay. One of the most effective things you can do is include some sort of absorbent material in your tackle bag or box. Some good ones that are affordable and easily accessible are toothpicks and Q-tips. Both of these are highly absorbent and will help absorb and sequester any lingering moisture in there with your tackle. Another cheap and easily accessible option is to use charcoal. It is extremely hygroscopic (moisture-loving) and will absorb a ton of moisture before it needs to be replaced. The one thing some don’t like about it is that it is a bit dirty. Another option is to use those silica gel packets that sometimes ship in consumer packages. They’re harder to come by but in terms of sheer moisture absorption, they’re some of the best options out there.
Getting Rust Off the Hooks
Now, let’s just assume that you’ve got some Mustad hooks that have gotten a little rusty and which you want to restore.
There are a few things you can do, but one of the most straightforward is to soak them overnight in a white vinegar. Then remove them from the solution and use a wire or brass brush to scrub off any lingering rust. You can also use steel wool if you have that.
Once you’re done, rinse in clean water and thoroughly dry your hooks before storing them properly this time. At this point you should also check the hook points and touch them up on a hook hone if they’re gotten dull.
Remember, at a certain point, if your hooks are badly rusted, you’ll just want to discard and replace them rather than trying to restore them.
Need Some New Mustad Hooks?
Here for some replacement hooks? We carry a wide variety of high-quality replacements, including Mustad hooks as well as assist hooks for slow pitch jigs, that can improve your hookup ratio on charges and short strikes. Shop our selection and after you stock up, keep these rust prevention tips at the front of your mind so you don’t make any of the same mistakes again.