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LURE CARE There are a number of simple things you can do as part of your after fishing routine to make sure your lures are ready for the next trip. While most of these steps are usually taken by most fishers during the off months, you can easily do them between fishing trips. 1. Keep the hooks sharp - most professional guides will lightly hone the hook tip with a whetstone after every use, or before putting the lure back in action. 2. Bucktails inevitably get beat up, especially if the fish you are catching are of the toothy kind (most are). Eventually, every bucktail, no matter how perfectly made will get shredded (of course, that means you are catching fish, so maybe "it's a good thing."). You can buy some bucktail from your tackle store, use new deer hair, some thread and flex glue, and retie the bucktail. Or, carry a few extra bucktails, open the split ring and put on a new one, then if the used hook is still in good shape, retie it at your convenience. 3. Rinse off the entire lure with fresh water after use in saltwater, then let it dry till the bucktail is dry. This will keep the lure and bucktail looking fresh and bright, and reduce corrosion on the hook. 4. The finish of any and every wooden lure will eventually show tooth marks from fish bites. I have several lures that are pretty scarred, but, they keep on catching fish. A few nicks on the lure won't keep the fish away. If there is a big gouge in the paint and you don't like it, do a little touch up painting using a small brush, and varnish the spot after. It won't take you long, and the lure will continue to catch for you. 5. Some fishers believe in spraying a little scent, fish oil, even WD40 on a lure when they use it. You might want to try it. |
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