By Vance McCullough – AC Insider

Can the way you store your tackle make you a better angler?

You bet!

For starters, look out for those hooks – your connection to the fish in the first place.

The higher the carbon content in a metal, the better it will take an edge, or hold a point in the case of a hook. But carbon is a double-edged sword, pardon the obvious pun. While it provides a sharper point, carbon is also highly prone to rust.

One way to protect your hooks from rust is to store them in specialty boxes designed to prevent the oxidation of metals.  While these storage options may prove effective in preserving your hooks, the cost to immediately swap out all of your tackle boxes can put a dent in the fishing budget.

A simple trick that has served the purpose for years is to save the silica desiccant packets that come packaged with new electronic devices and the like. These little pouches of pellets are designed to trap moisture and protect sensitive equipment from humidity and dampness.

And if you’ve been good this year, maybe you’ll be getting your hands on some of these moisture-wicking wonders soon, along with the presents they were protecting.

Instead of tossing the packets out, repurpose them by placing one or two in each tackle box, especially if said box will be making trips to tidewater or full-on saltwater environs.

Of course, tight-fitting lids and secure latches go a long way towards keeping moisture out of a tackle box. While they cost a few dollars more, the latest systems will return handsomely on the investment as they protect your lures and, especially, those high-quality, high carbon hooks for years to come.

Another handy trick is to simply spray away the corrosion before it has a chance to set in. Salt Off from Starbright is a great for, you guessed it, getting salt off your fishing gear. Intended for use on everything from your boat to your baitcasters, Salt Off will extend the life of your equipment after use in marine and brackish environments. A dash will do the trick on hooks as well.

Plan now to preserve those fishing gifts you’re hoping Santa leaves beneath your tree!