Hook Sharpening

[sprestwood]

I wish to survey how many CFF'ers regularly sharpen hooks. And if you do how do you prefer to sharpen your hooks?

 

[hl&s]

I don't sharpen any hooks, I replace them. Sharpening removes any rust inhibitor coatings and hooks are cheap.

 

[SpurHunter]

hl&s - 4/30/2008 12:23 PM I don't sharpen any hooks, I replace them. Sharpening removes any rust inhibitor coatings and hooks are cheap.

</p>

Ditto, I let Owner, Gama, Diaichi, and the rest sharpen all of mine. </p>

 

[ditchdoc666]

Change mine also,but keep a small hone sharpener in the boat just to knock rough edges off them if rocks are involved,a quick pass over them and good as new emoToast

 

[Fat Albert]

 I don't sharpen any hooks, I replace them. Sharpening removes any rust inhibitor coatings and hooks are cheap</p>

Ditto, I let Owner, Gama, Diaichi, and the rest sharpen all of mine. </p>



<font color="#ff0066">that is a big ditto here....if you buy good hooks you don't have problems with dull hooks......FA</font></p>

 

[Bprice]

I've never sharpened or replaced my hooks. I'm lazy.</p>

 

[Hal]

I sharpen often. Even catching a few fish will dull the point and that's often the reason
you miss even when it seems that you had a good bite.
I wonder what you guys that buy & change often do with the old hooks, emoQuestion

 

[flip1up]

Hal - 4/30/2008 5:04 PM I sharpen often. Even catching a few fish will dull the point and that's often the reason you miss even when it seems that you had a good bite. I wonder what you guys that buy & change often do with the old hooks, emoQuestion

</p>

I dont sharpen them either. The old ones are laying all over the floor of my boat.

</p>

 

[SpurHunter]

Hal - 4/30/2008 5:04 PM I sharpen often. Even catching a few fish will dull the point and that's often the reason you miss even when it seems that you had a good bite. I wonder what you guys that buy & change often do with the old hooks, emoQuestion

</p>

Oh I dont change out the old ones on lures Hal, mine all end up hung in rocks, and trees!!

 Then I go buy more lures with fresh, sharp hooks....makes perfect sense to me!</p>

 

[josh.schreiber]

ditto the first four responses

 

[hl&s]

I throw all my old hooks in flip1up's boat when he ain't looking. emoBigsmile

Most of my hooks wind up permanently imbedded in stumps, nothing to throw away. The ones that need replaced are done at home before I go fishing.

 

[Jerry]

I sharpen my hooks before each trip and occasionally during a trip if it's really been a hot catch. I've often read this is important.

 

[Bahama Rick]

I do sharpen hooks on my plugs. The others get replaced. I use an old trick that paid off for me in saltwater, after I sharpen my hooks I use a magic marker to coat the hook so it doesn't rust. That's not real important in fresh water but if the plug lays around for a while I'm sure it would help.

 

[bullet]

i sharpen mine before each tournament if the point will not "dig" into my fingernail easily, i feel like it has helped me when sticking fish. even though hooks look sharp if they ever touch rock, wood ect.. the point rolls and it will not penetrate properly, like one other said even hooking several fish will roll the point, if you don't beleive me, do the fingernail test on a new gamagatsu and then all of your used hooks and you will see the difference! i also sharpen my trebels on crankbaits ect.. until i can put them in the palm of my hand and lightly close my hand around the lure then turn my hand over and open it up and if they don't cling to my skin i sharpen them! BE CAREFUL THOUGH YOU DON'T WANT TO CUT ONE OUT OF YOUR HAND! i also like to use quality hooks but they aren't all as sharp as gamakatsu's due to the heavier metal used in stronger hooks for use with heavier line ect...

to sharpen i use a small stone with groves in it and run the hook up and down it while angling it to the left and then do it angling it to the right it usually just take 3 or 4 strokes and they are needle sharp. on heavy hooks i use a small file and do the same.

 

[jason]

I carry a small retractable sharpening stone...looks like an ink pen. The stone itself has a groove down the center that allows you to run the hook point down it. The majority of my fishing involves single 5/0 and 6/0 hooks, which I pass over the stone after a good snag or multiple fish. I routinely sharpen cranks and spinnerbaits and have never found rust to be an issue.

 

[Nickajack Angler]

Only sharpen them when they get banged up on rocks or wood, but usually leave them alone. I use my little line stripper tool that was in my stocking one year, it has a little whet stone at the tip that turns. It's very quick. I buy new trebles for baits that come with crappy hooks, such as the silver wire ones on a heddon lure or the like. Zara Spooks, Torpedo's and Pop R's are that way. Just buy a box of 100 good trebles.

 

[RattleTrapper]

I sharpen hooks when trout fishing, but that is about it. They take a beating on the rocks in most streams, and I have noticed a difference between sharpening and not sharpening then. But as far as bass go, I think perfecting your hookset is just as effective as sharpening hooks, if not more.

 

[sprestwood]

There is another test I use. I cut thin strips of note card to about an inch wide. Usually a hook will not catch the card but after sharpening it will. A thin strip is used because it will not cup as held, only the bending resistance is used to catch the fibers of the card. Cheap hooks need more sharpening in order to catch the card, but most can me refined with a very fine ceramic sharpener. The cards make a little more sense if you are sharpening a lot of hooks, you will mess up your nails.

 

[WLG]

I used to never sharpen a hook....heck I wouldnt even look at the hook after it had been hung or when I caught a fish. I got to noticing that I was missing alot of those "nibbler" fish and sure enough my Gamas were dull as could be. So now I do carry a little hone with me...and if the hook wont EASILY stick into my rough callussed hands...I sharpen it untill it will. Have noticed since then..if a fish even comes up to smell the bait...he's stuck!!! Just my .01 worth. < Used to be be .02...but with inflation and gas prices...I gotta save everywhere I can!!!!emoLaugh emoLaugh emoLaugh emoLaugh

 

[incavenow]

I have a small diamond shapener that I use regular. I need every dern advantage catching fish. How many times, after a long fight do you lose a fish at boat side? Keep your hooks sharp and make sure you have a good hook set.