How to Remove Rust From Fishing Hooks

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Following your last fishing trip, you tossed your tackle into the box or container and promptly forgot all about it until a month later. Now, your relatively new fishhooks are rusty. Because fishing hooks are exposed to moisture, they will rust if you do not store them properly. Before you toss those often expensive hooks and buy new ones, try a basic procedure that may remove much of the rust.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Shallow bowl
Salt
Lemon juice
Running water
Paper towel
Hook hone

Step 1

Place a small shallow bowl on a work surface. Pour 1 tbsp. of lemon juice into the bowl and add enough salt to form a thin paste.

Step 2

Place the rusted fishhook in the bowl with the salt and lemon juice paste. Rub the paste over the hook so it is completely covered. Allow the hook to sit undisturbed in the bowl for several minutes.

Step 3

Remove the hook from the salt and lemon juice paste and rub the paste into any stubborn areas of rust.

Step 4

Rinse the paste from the hook under running water and place on a paper towel to dry. Blot the hooks with the paper towel to help remove remaining water from the barb or eye.

Step 5

Hold the hook by the shank so the point is toward you. Pull the hook along the hook hone so that the hone sharpens outside of the hook's point and removes any remaining rust from the. Repeat the honing process by turning the hook slightly to one side and then the other side.

Article Written By Keith Dooley

Keith Dooley has a degree in outdoor education and sports management. He has worked as an assistant athletic director, head coach and assistant coach in various sports including football, softball and golf. Dooley has worked for various websites in the past, contributing instructional articles on a wide variety of topics.

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