Ok, just did the big test. I took a leatherman tool that has a vise grip type pliers on it (need to take that too), cut the nail head off the spoke with it, and easily made a nice "U" bend in the end that could be hooked on the hub. I can see making a semi U bend, hooking it on the hub and then closing it up with the pliers on the hub better once I'm sure the length is correct.

Leatherman cutter could also be used to clip the old spoke short to get it out of the hole.