Super User tomustang Posted January 2, 2014 Super User Posted January 2, 2014 Is it worth sharpening adequate hooks that come with the basic lures, a good example would be the KVD cranks. Are they capable or is the metal made of a lesser material that will need to be sharpened more often than higher quality hooks? Quote
Super User Scott F Posted January 2, 2014 Super User Posted January 2, 2014 Depends on how picky you are. Sharp hooks are ALWAYS important. If you will be using the lure a lot and you know you will be getting a lot of hits on the lure, AND you know the stock hooks are bad, go ahead and change them. Most lures I buy come with decent hooks and I won't change them out until I break one. Quote
Jolly Green Posted January 3, 2014 Posted January 3, 2014 If the stock hooks are worth keeping, they're worth sharpening, and I always check new ones and touch them up if necessary. Chemically sharpened hooks are more difficult to bring back to a needle point for some reason, so you might just replace those. Quote
Super User Oregon Native Posted January 3, 2014 Super User Posted January 3, 2014 I ususally don't change untill I have a tourney or hook can't be sharpened. Fun fishing isn't quite as serious. Quote
Super User ww2farmer Posted January 3, 2014 Super User Posted January 3, 2014 I don't bother, if they are not sharp they get tossed. Just the way I do it. 1 Quote
Super User K_Mac Posted January 3, 2014 Super User Posted January 3, 2014 While it is not very popular anymore, I regularly check my hooks and touch them up when necessary. As Jolly Green said, if a hook is worth fishing I will sharpen it. There are treble hooks that I simply replace, the hooks on a Rattle Trap or Spook are good examples. They are inferior hooks that will not perform well even if sharpened IMO. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted January 3, 2014 Super User Posted January 3, 2014 Unless I'm on the water, and a hook becomes dull, but nothing a quick sharpening can't fix, I replace them. Spinnerbaits and buzzbaits are an exception - they get sharpened until there is no hook left. Quote
Super User smalljaw67 Posted January 3, 2014 Super User Posted January 3, 2014 Every hook is sharp, the stock hooks used on a lot of baits are light wire bronze and they bend and break easily , the bending and breaking is what causes the fish to be lost but the hook points do penetrate. I used to always have a hook hone because most hooks were bronze and after a few fish you could just give the hook a few strokes on the hone and it was good as new. It isn't that way now, to prevent bending companies now make bigger wire diameter hooks with black nickel finishes and the most concerning thing is the hooks are chemically sharpened, you aren't going to fix those with a hone so just replace. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted January 3, 2014 Super User Posted January 3, 2014 Sure you can. Chemically sharpened may be sharper, but you can put a sharp point on a dull hook with a hone. The chemical sharpening process doesn't change the fact that it's still metal, and can be filed to a point. 1 Quote
Super User K_Mac Posted January 3, 2014 Super User Posted January 3, 2014 Sure you can. Chemically sharpened may be sharper, but you can put a sharp point on a dull hook with a hone. The chemical sharpening process doesn't change the fact that it's still metal, and can be filed to a point. To add to this, all hooks are not sharp. There is a big difference in a hook that is "sticky" sharp and one that slides on your thumbnail when tested. Most quality hooks are sharp right out of the package, but not all. I test every hook I tie on and re-check often while using them. Quote
Siebert Outdoors Posted January 3, 2014 Posted January 3, 2014 I don't bother, if they are not sharp they get tossed. Just the way I do it. This. Quote
Super User WRB Posted January 3, 2014 Super User Posted January 3, 2014 The vast majority of treble hooks supplied on lures are made by VMC or Mustad. Any name brand lure with trebles made the past decade will have a good quality hook,might not be the size or style you prefer, but they are sharpe enough for general fishing use. Owner or Gamakatsu offer replacement treble hooks that cost more and extremely sharpe and stronger than stock treble hooks. Treble hooks are difficult to resharpen, better to replace them. Single hooks are different, made by more companies from wider range of materials and some are not worth using, let alone sharpening. The better single hooks are usually made of valadium stainless steel, forged, heat treated, sharpened then plated. Touching up the hook point can be done with a fine hook hone or tool makers file. Worm hooks are not worth the effort, however jig hooks or other lures with value can be resharpened. Sharper is better, you will catch more fish using sharpe hooks! Tom Quote
Super User Catt Posted January 3, 2014 Super User Posted January 3, 2014 If it aint on a spinner bait, buzz bait, or jig it get tossed period! Treble hooks get changed at the slightest hint of being dull or bent! I hold worm hooks by the eye, place the point on my thumb nail, apply minimal pressure, & if it does not penetrate to any degree it's tossed. I replace hooks often, retie often, & respool often! When I set hook I don't want to be thinking did I really sharpen that hook enough? Quote
Super User J Francho Posted January 3, 2014 Super User Posted January 3, 2014 In the middle of a hot bite, with a crank tied on, I'm reaching for the file if I feel a dull point, not the split ring pliers....just saying. 1 Quote
gr8outdoorz Posted January 3, 2014 Posted January 3, 2014 In the middle of a hot bite, with a crank tied on, I'm reaching for the file if I feel a dull point, not the split ring pliers....just saying. Why do u say that J? I don't know about you, but I can change a treble as fast as I can hone one down. Quote
Super User K_Mac Posted January 4, 2014 Super User Posted January 4, 2014 gr8outdoorz you just need a little practice with a hone or file. It only takes a couple of seconds if the tool is close at hand, and it always is for me. I know that I am in the minority when it comes to sharpening, but it has worked for a long time and I don't see any changes in my future. Quote
gr8outdoorz Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 gr8outdoorz you just need a little practice with a hone or file. It only takes a couple of seconds if the tool is close at hand, and it always is for me. I know that I am in the minority when it comes to sharpening, but it has worked for a long time and I don't see any changes in my future. Kmac you are correct about that! Personally, I will sharpen single hooks but not good with trebles so I just replace them. Im like you, if it aint broke dont fix it. Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted January 4, 2014 Super User Posted January 4, 2014 With the exception of 1 brand of lure I buy, those get immediately changed to a 3x treble, I use them as they come and never sharpen, I replace when needed, Freshwater gets 3x and salt water get 4x vmc. I will buy a freshwater version of #10 xrap if the salt one is out of stock, doesn't tale long to replace those with a 4x. Quote
hookset on 3 Posted January 4, 2014 Posted January 4, 2014 gr8outdoorz you just need a little practice with a hone or file. It only takes a couple of seconds if the tool is close at hand, and it always is for me. I know that I am in the minority when it comes to sharpening, but it has worked for a long time and I don't see any changes in my future. K Mac, on with you on this one. In today's economy, I just don't have the resources to chuck a three pronged treble, just because one point got a little dull. I'm referring to the VMC and Mustad hooks. I fun fish and will take a minute to touch up a point with my pocket hone or file. Now, I want to be clear, that given the choice, the stock trebles on cranks almost always get swapped out for Gamakatsu or Owner, when I first take them out of the package. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted January 6, 2014 Super User Posted January 6, 2014 Why do u say that J? I don't know about you, but I can change a treble as fast as I can hone one down. I guarantee you won't even have your hook box out of storage before I'm already stuffing the hone back in my pocket and getting ready to make another cast. Quote
Uncle Leo Posted January 6, 2014 Posted January 6, 2014 I guarantee you won't even have your hook box out of storage before I'm already stuffing the hone back in my pocket and getting ready to make another cast. Besides if you keep up on it and the hooks are quality anyway it takes very little time to restore the sharpness. Quote
Super User J Francho Posted January 6, 2014 Super User Posted January 6, 2014 I don't keep up with it. When I get home, I change the dull ones out to a new hook. Old hooks go in a box. I don't know why I keep them, lol. Quote
Super User tomustang Posted January 8, 2014 Author Super User Posted January 8, 2014 I don't keep up with it. When I get home, I change the dull ones out to a new hook. Old hooks go in a box. I don't know why I keep them, lol. I have this problem too, but from what it looks like they should go in the trash instead of wasting time polishing up turds Quote
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