I absolutely cannot stand using dull or rusty hooks. I can’t even stand watching someone else use a subpar hook. Why give the fish any advantage? Hook-sharpening devices are extremely handy to have, and I think that every angler should have one at their disposal, but you don’t want to rely on that and that alone to keep your hooks sharp and rust-free. I have gotten into the habit of saving all of my spent soft-plastic baits to later use as protective devices for my hooks. I simply cut them into segments, and when I’m storing live-bait hooks, jigs or lures, I stick the segments on the hook and slide them up the shank. This simple tip will keep your hooks from rusting and also protect the hook point from dulling.
_Doug Meyer
Corpus Christi, Texas
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