James RickardBring new life to old lures
July 31st 2008 00:15
I usually say something like, “Never get too attached to your lures,” because you end up losing them to snags. On the other hand, there are always a few lures that simply wear out because you have them so long. In my case, those are usually top water lures. Why top waters? Since they’re skimming across the top of the water, you can see any possible snags that are in the way and avoid them.
The trouble is, if you have a lure season after season, it’s going to start to show its age. With lures costing between 5 and 15 bucks a pop, it makes sense to try and get as much life out of them as you can.
Here are a few techniques I use to insure a lure’s fish catching ability a little while longer.
BY THE WAY—this is REAL good to do on a rainy afternoon!
I don’t even wait until the end of fishing season for this one—after a few trips, clean out your tackle box! Rusty hooks can stain you tackle box and may transfer to your lures. Few thing are as bad as reaching for that nice white lure and noticing a rusty stain on it. AND, trust me on this, that stain probably ISN’T coming out! Nor is it too cool to reach in and stick your fingers on rusty hooks! OUCH!
Skirts, those billowing rubber enticers on so many baits these days, often show their age the most. If you can change the skirt, go for it. The rubber band securing the skirt may be starting to decay. You can replace it but if you can’t find any replacements, a few wraps of nylon thread work just as well.
The blades on your baits may have seen their better days. Naturally, you can replace them but a decent metal cleaner may get rid of dark places or you may want to paint them. Another trick is to use reflective tape to cover unwanted stains.
After getting slammed by (hopefully) big fish and getting put away wet, even if a lure doesn’t have a skirt, it may start to look less than desirable. Permanent markers, finger nail polish, or vinyl paint all come in handy for touch ups. I also recommend CLEAR fingernail polish as a protective coating over finishes that may receive a lot of wear. Your lure may not look brand-new but fish can't tell the difference, anyway!
Now, I’m really going to sound like a fisherman!
When you’re going through all this and sorting things out, this is a GREAT time to make sure all the hooks on your lures are sharp! Do you want to lose a fish to a dull hook?
The trouble is, if you have a lure season after season, it’s going to start to show its age. With lures costing between 5 and 15 bucks a pop, it makes sense to try and get as much life out of them as you can.
Here are a few techniques I use to insure a lure’s fish catching ability a little while longer.
BY THE WAY—this is REAL good to do on a rainy afternoon!
It always seems like it's this or a rerun of Terminator!
Skirts, those billowing rubber enticers on so many baits these days, often show their age the most. If you can change the skirt, go for it. The rubber band securing the skirt may be starting to decay. You can replace it but if you can’t find any replacements, a few wraps of nylon thread work just as well.
The blades on your baits may have seen their better days. Naturally, you can replace them but a decent metal cleaner may get rid of dark places or you may want to paint them. Another trick is to use reflective tape to cover unwanted stains.
After getting slammed by (hopefully) big fish and getting put away wet, even if a lure doesn’t have a skirt, it may start to look less than desirable. Permanent markers, finger nail polish, or vinyl paint all come in handy for touch ups. I also recommend CLEAR fingernail polish as a protective coating over finishes that may receive a lot of wear. Your lure may not look brand-new but fish can't tell the difference, anyway!
Now, I’m really going to sound like a fisherman!
When you’re going through all this and sorting things out, this is a GREAT time to make sure all the hooks on your lures are sharp! Do you want to lose a fish to a dull hook?
Until next time--watch yourself and watch your line!
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