Sharpening Your Hooks Or Replace Them?

[bigbill]

How many of you check your hooks for sharpness?

How often?

Do you hone or sharpen them or replace them?

[J Francho]

Depends on the hook/bait. I replace trebles and worm hooks when dull.

[Raul]

Every few casts I check the sharpness, there are baits ( like spinnerbaits ) where you can´t change the hook when it gets dull so I sharpen those, in baits where the hooks can be replaced they are replaced and with ordinary hooks when they get dull they become trash.

[Catt]

J Francho, Raul, & Catt; same page

[Traveler2586]

I check the hooks on every bait when I select it for use; I drag the hook across my thumbnail.  If a hook does not "bite" into (catch) my nail I'll pull out my Eze-Lap hook sharpener and give it few stroke's until I'm satisfied it's sharp.

 

I use the EZE Lap Diamond Products, Inc. Model "S" sharpener because;

1. it easily fits into you pockets

2. it has a shirt pocket clip like a ball-point pen, pull the cover off and turn it around and it becomes a handle

3. it's made in the USA.

4. It's also good for sharpening knives.

 

I keep several of them on the boat, and at home, so there's always one nearby when I need it. 

 

FYI, I don't sell these, I'm just a user.

 

 

[Siebert Outdoors]

Depends on the hook/bait. I replace trebles and worm hooks when dull.

Ditto

[Steveo-1969]

I sharpen until it bites into my thumbnail.

[WRB]

Good tip Traveler.

Today's heat treated needle and knife point hooks are very difficult to resharpen. Like everyone else worm hooks and crankbait trebles get replaced, I do sharpen jig hooks, spinnerbaits and large swimbait treble hooks.

Tom

[Marty]

I check hooks fairly often, but can't quantify that. I don't replace unless the dulled hook can't be sharpened to pass the thumbnail test.

[Traveler2586]

When I sharpen, I only have to buff the very tip of the hook.  I've seen guy's on my boat that put way too much effort into it, and still don't get a good bite on the nail; one or two strokes on each of the three sides is usually enough.

[John Hansen]

Sharpen, being in college saving a few bucks on hooks helps.  sharpen them back to that "sticky" sharpness.

 

Usually a couple passes on my spyderco sharp maker honing stone is enough

[SirSnookalot]

Don't have set procedure, at home I'll replace if necessary but in some cases using a mill file works well.  I keep my day to day saltwater lures in my fanny pack in my car, I carry a flat diamond file for a quick touch up if needed.

[iceintheveins]

I replace if possible, sharpening is tricky.

[Scott F]

Sharpen.