Hook sharpening,who does it ?

[crypt]

was wondering this morning when my line broke and was putting a new hook on.how many out there sharpen hook or do you just dress the points when it gets a little bent. just wondering.

Edited September 11, 2016 by crypt
spacing

[CenCal fisher]

I sharpen mine. If I run it lightly over my fingernail and it doesn't scratch it, I make a few passes on the file. I use the diamond file on my leartherman 

 

 

[Megastink]

I carry a hook sharpener in my boat. Whenever the hook gets dull, as in: when I drag it along the pad of my finger and it doesn't catch the skin, I run the file on the hook. I use the fine side of the file, and maybe drag it across once or twice. I find less is more in regards to the amount of strokes. 

[WRB]

With today's extremely sharp hooks resharpning them isn't as common as it ounce was. Checking hook points should be a routine like checking line for damage. I rarely sharpen hooks anymore while on the water and retie a new hook if a hook point gets dull.

Sharpening hooks like Owner, Gamakatsu, Tokar require careful honeing so you don't ruin the hook points. If I do resharpen a jig hook because it's the last one I have with me, them I use a flat tool makers fine 4" file usually in a triangular pattern until the point sticks and scratches my thumb nail.

Tom

[5fishlimit]

Only on jigs. Hooks are cheap enough that I can throw it away if it goes dull. I will usually loose a hook before it goes dull though. 

[Glenn]

I'm always sharpening hooks while fishing, even brand new ones, even if they're 'specially shaped' hooks like Trokar.  I don't buy into the "you'll ruin the hook if you try to sharpen it" thought process.  Once it gets dull, it's already "ruined", so you've got nothing to lose.  The goal isn't to give it back it's original shape.  The goal is to make it sharp!

Regardless of the original shape of the hook point, I can always sharpen them back to a razor-sharp point - often sharper than it was originally.  Usually I get them sharp enough to poke through my fingernail (if I push too hard).

Here's how I do it:

 

[Gundog]

I got to admit I never sharpen my hooks. Maybe that is something I should start doing this winter. I know it effects my hook up ratio but just can't bring myself to do it.

[A-Jay]

I keep a couple of different shaped files on board. 

Routinely checking points is SOP (Standard Operation Procedure) for the kid.

Single hook presentations when the bite is on get check more frequently.

Same for the leading point on the front treble of every crank bait that's being subjected to anything other than open water.

A-Jay

[Darren.]

I do, but usually on non Gamakatsu hooks.

I'll try to buy hooks that are sharp out of the 
bag and only sharpen if they were dinged up
on a snag or something.

Now I have used BPS hook and have had to 
sharpen them out of the bag. Though to be
fair, that was not on every BPS hook...the thing
that threw me off BPS hooks was breakage.

[Dogmatic]

I keep a hook sharper in my bag, and sharpen my hooks whenever I'm switching hooks or lures rigging out the night before, but honestly, once I"m on the water, I don't do it enough.

[Wildbillb]

I sharpen mine.  

["hamma"]

I take a couple files and stones with me whenever I'm fishing. I don't make a initial cast with any lure without checking the hooks first. Whether its a jig, or 3 trebled jerkbait, EVERY hook gets checked and sharpened to a razor sharp extent. I test it via fingernail as others attested. And if need be?,... It gets filed first then touched up via fine stone. Even if its a brand new lure or hook, it still gets checked as some hooks will loose its sharpness from being bounced around during transportation from factory to your hands. Time will also dull some hooks as well

 Usually, during the previous night, when im setting up the boat for a outing. I will tie on the baits I think I need for the day, and  sharpen them then. So I'm ready in the am, and I only need to sharpen hooks again if i need to change a lure.

 And, here's a tip for ya,... small trebles present a issue for fat fingered anglers like myself to sharpen. They move around some and can stab you easily.,.. I adopted a process of using a locking pair of hemostats on the trebles shank to hold the hook still while sharpening.  Works great, and avoids the chance of digging a point or five into your digits.

[Mike L]

I always check. Will sharpen them if needed but never really had too on any of the Trokars 

 

Mike 

[Nathan Burton]

Anyone wanna point be into the direction of a nice sharpener?

[papajoe222]

Single hook presentations mostly as it's easy to switch out a treble and easier to ruin the hooks point in an attempt to sharpen it.  As stated previously, less is more a couple of passes on either side and one up the underside is all that it takes to get a spinnerbait or jig to hang from my thumbnail.

I couldn't find the one I use, but this on is similar.   http://www.cabelas.com/product/Diamond-Knife-Hook-Sharpener/702057.uts?searchPath=%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FcategoryId%3D734095080%26CQ_search%3Dhook%2Bsharpener%26CQ_st%3Db

[Nathan Burton]

5 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

Single hook presentations mostly as it's easy to switch out a treble and easier to ruin the hooks point in an attempt to sharpen it.  As stated previously, less is more a couple of passes on either side and one up the underside is all that it takes to get a spinnerbait or jig to hang from my thumbnail.

I couldn't find the one I use, but this on is similar.   http://www.cabelas.com/product/Diamond-Knife-Hook-Sharpener/702057.uts?searchPath=%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FcategoryId%3D734095080%26CQ_search%3Dhook%2Bsharpener%26CQ_st%3Db

Much Obliged Sir.

[Paul Roberts]

Absolutely.

[Josh Smith]

Yes, especially if I'm fishing on a rocky bottom.

I carry a hook hone in my vest pocket and an all-purpose diamond hone on my belt.

I'm a big believer in if you own it and it's supposed to be sharp, then you have a responsibility to keep it sharp.

Josh

[bigbill]

If I'm fishing in the Rocky area my treble hooks are checked for being rounded over points. I've learned when I started seeing circle pc's on my trebles. From that point on I have a "check the hook sharpness awareness" constantly. Like Glenn says even new hooks can be dull. 

Sometimes missed hooksets can be attributed to dull hooks. Don't take for granted that your hooks are sharp. In the winter time I go through all my baits to sharpen the hooks when I empty my tackle box to wash my baits and tackle box from foul oders that can occur from using scents.

I'm a clean freak, plus a neat freak. Fishing at night in the dark with no moon has turned me into a neat freak. The very first time fishing in the dark in the wilds did this to me. I use a one AA battery flash lite. And keep it low to the tackle box so there's no glare.

You got a few answers for one post.

[primetime]

I sharpen everything if it does not scrape/dig into a finger nail.....I use a cheap file and usually a few passes does the job, but on some of the chatterbaits that come dull,it can take a bit of work to get them sticky sharp, but you can do it.

[Bankbeater]

Every winter the hooks on my baits get sharpened.  Then they get touched up through the fishing season as needed.

[tcbass]

6 hours ago, bigbill said:

If I'm fishing in the Rocky area my treble hooks are checked for being rounded over points. I've learned when I started seeing circle pc's on my trebles. From that point on I have a "check the hook sharpness awareness" constantly. Like Glenn says even new hooks can be dull. 

Sometimes missed hooksets can be attributed to dull hooks. Don't take for granted that your hooks are sharp. In the winter time I go through all my baits to sharpen the hooks when I empty my tackle box to wash my baits and tackle box from foul oders that can occur from using scents.

I'm a clean freak, plus a neat freak. Fishing at night in the dark with no moon has turned me into a neat freak. The very first time fishing in the dark in the wilds did this to me. I use a one AA battery flash lite. And keep it low to the tackle box so there's no glare.

You got a few answers for one post.

What are circle PC's?

[Big Bait Fishing]

i use Owner hooks , mostly '' cutting point'' hooks and never see the need to sharpen them as they are sticky sharp , if by some chance they get dulled for some reason , they get discarded , hooks are pretty cheap at $ 1.50 each or less so trying to resurrect them with a file is not worth it to me .

[J Francho]

I'll file spinner/buzz baits and trebles on the water.  Trebles get replaced when I get home.  Worm hooks, no way.  Not worth the time, even though you can get them really sharp properly filed, that never seems to last as long at the original.