Taking pains to keep hooks sharp?

[Smells like fish]

I see so many Plano boxes with piles of lures tangled together. Am I overthinking it that those hooks are gonna dull? After all it is a plastic box with plastic or wood lures. The only danger will be from other hooks and split rings to the needle point of our hooks. Anyways, it makes me cringe. 

I have a habit of replacing my lures hooks to Owner rings and hooks and then add hook covers but I see so many that don’t bother. And like I said this is just to my newest lures that replacing them is recommended for. Today Bass Geek and Randy Blaukat both shown boxes of lipless lures in wads. In tangles! 
 

Have you discovered an easier way to keep lures separated and hooks in best condition?

[garroyo130]

I'll replace hooks but not split rings, my drag isn't set anywhere near enough to open a split ring. No hook bonnets either but I do check hooks the night prior to and after fishing a will and sharpen as needed with a pocket pen sharpener.

[A-Jay]

Originally posted this one in June 2019 ~ 

Still do it as it's SOP for me now .

 

Couple of winters ago I decided to band together all the treble hooks in my arsenal using small rubber bands.

I initially got the idea from an ice fishing video where the angler needed a compact way to store lippless baits. 

He banded the trebles and stored about 30 Baits in a peanut butter jar.

Worked so well, he was able to just dump them into his hand and pick out the one he wanted - no tangled mess.  

After seeing that, I'd contemplated it before a few times, I just never took the leap. 

I wasn’t certain first, that if it would even work on every treble hook bait and second, and perhaps more importantly, that I’d be willing to take the time while I was fishing to remove and then replace them as needed.

   Picked up a couple of bags of white & multi-colored rubber bands from the hobby section at the local Wal-Mart and got down to business. 

 

   Initially it took some time to apply the bands to all the baits, and I needed to come up with a repeatable, effective & most time efficient technique, if you will, of removing & replace the bands while I fished.  I did so in short order, not exactly rocket science; just wrap them around a couple of times.

  Bands are on topwater baits, all square, crank, rattle & jerk baits.  As well as Spy baits, and even blade baits.

So, after going on two seasons of doing it, this is what I can tell you. 

Once done, it virtually eliminates, the tangled mess I used to get when attempting to pull out one, lipless or jerkbait for example, out of a compartment containing several; I get one and NOT NINE !   Banding reduces each baits foot print a little, which enabled me to store more baits in each box.  This effectively did two things; reduced the number of 3700 boxes needed for the same number of baits AND freed up space for more boxes & baits – Win Win !   Not exactly a game changer in my rig, it has plenty of storage, but when I’m fishing from the Old Town Canoe – it’s a help for sure.  And if I were a shore angler, this could be a valuable deal as well.  Additionally, and as sort of minor but still beneficial factors, there is some reduction of rattle/sound from the lure boxes, as well as perhaps reduce long term hook rash as the trebles are no longer loose & free to rattle & bang around in the boxes as I rocket across the lake.  

Once I made this my ‘routine’ it has become second nature and takes seemingly no extra time at all.

 I’ll never not use them again. 

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

A-Jay

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/217157-hard-bait-treble-hook-banding-~/

 

[Smells like fish]

Oh I love me some neatness and organization to lures. Good man AJay. I have used rubber bands in the past. I need to get on it on a grander scale. 

What do you think, if it’s a day when the fish are just nipping at the lure and coming up short on the bite then is that the only critical time when a brand new un thrown hook would be needed?

 

I didn’t get the specifics but I heard of a time when Takahrio Amori would make 20-30 casts with a lure and change hooks? Why?what was goin on there? 
Again just overthinking I assume? I get stuff like that on my mind and it really bothers me and I can’t forget it ? 

[gim]

@MN Fisher turned me onto some of those plastic covers for treble hooks. I normally do not keep more than two treble-hooked lures in a tackle box compartment, but the covers now keep them completely untangled, and the hooks stay sharp.

[A-Jay]

6 minutes ago, Smells like fish said:

Oh I love me some neatness and organization to lures. Good man AJay. I have used rubber bands in the past. I need to get on it on a grander scale. 

What do you think, if it’s a day when the fish are just nipping at the lure and coming up short on the bite then is that the only critical time when a brand new un thrown hook would be needed?

 

Thanks ~  

I think we all fish a little differently.

Bassheads do what they do.

Some fish stock stuff until it falls off the bait,

Some prefer new(er) after market hardware on everything.

Some might be somewhere in the middle.

And all of that's totally cool.

Personally, I commit quite a bit if time, $$ & effort fishing for the top 2 or 3 percent of the brown  bass population.  Strikes are always a crap shoot and I don't usually get many chances at them.

So missing a fish like that because I didn't do everything I could to put the odds in my favor,

is not how I roll. 

YMMV

Fish Hard

A-Jay

[MN Fisher]

7 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I normally do not keep more than two treble-hooked lures in a tackle box compartment,

I'll put as many in a compartment as I can fit - and the only trebles I don't cap are those with 'bling' (feathers, marabou, etc)

[Woody B]

I'm a fanatic for sharp hooks.  I sharpen most of the hooks on new lures.  (but admittingly let them go too long afterward at times)  I use rubber bands to tie the hooks together so they don't get all tangled up.   I tried the hook covers but them and I just didn't get along.   I do much better with rubber bands.  

[padon]

ajay that is genius!!!

[Catt]

IDK!

 

KVD has all his tangled in a box, doesn't bother him, ain't gonna bother me.

[WRB]

Since the introduction of out of the box sticky sharpe hooks we have forgotten the dull hooks of yesterday.

Who today owns a electric hook sharpener? Standard practice back in the day to sharpen hooks before using them.

Some have diamond hook hones to dress up a sharp hook, still a minority today.

Keeping treble hooks organized saves time and time is important to tournament anglers.

I am OldSchool and constantly check hook points and knots.

Tom

[Columbia Craw]

Rubber band man.

[A-Jay]

Just to finish my thoughts on this.

I band baits mostly to keep them from being a big tangled mess when trying to remove one bait.

However my new replacement treble hooks are stored in a small plano box.

Funny thing is, I'll routinely have more trouble getting out one or two trebles

than any banded baits.

btw- those red trebles are just for show . . . .

A-Jay

[MN Fisher]

9 hours ago, WRB said:

Some have diamond hook hones to dress up a sharp hook, still a minority today.

I've got a 5" ceramic rod in my box...just in case.

[flyfisher]

I am not at the level or @A-Jay but being a fly fisherman primarily sticky sharp hooks are important as are thinner shanked hooks that dull more quickly.  I keep a small file to touch up hooks very frequently.  For m conventional gear I should use the rubber bands but I haven't yet but maybe it will be a winter project for me.

[Fishlegs]

15 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Originally posted this one in June 2019 ~ 

Still do it as it's SOP for me now .

 

Couple of winters ago I decided to band together all the treble hooks in my arsenal using small rubber bands.

I initially got the idea from an ice fishing video where the angler needed a compact way to store lippless baits. 

He banded the trebles and stored about 30 Baits in a peanut butter jar.

Worked so well, he was able to just dump them into his hand and pick out the one he wanted - no tangled mess.  

After seeing that, I'd contemplated it before a few times, I just never took the leap. 

I wasn’t certain first, that if it would even work on every treble hook bait and second, and perhaps more importantly, that I’d be willing to take the time while I was fishing to remove and then replace them as needed.

   Picked up a couple of bags of white & multi-colored rubber bands from the hobby section at the local Wal-Mart and got down to business. 

 

   Initially it took some time to apply the bands to all the baits, and I needed to come up with a repeatable, effective & most time efficient technique, if you will, of removing & replace the bands while I fished.  I did so in short order, not exactly rocket science; just wrap them around a couple of times.

  Bands are on topwater baits, all square, crank, rattle & jerk baits.  As well as Spy baits, and even blade baits.

So, after going on two seasons of doing it, this is what I can tell you. 

Once done, it virtually eliminates, the tangled mess I used to get when attempting to pull out one, lipless or jerkbait for example, out of a compartment containing several; I get one and NOT NINE !   Banding reduces each baits foot print a little, which enabled me to store more baits in each box.  This effectively did two things; reduced the number of 3700 boxes needed for the same number of baits AND freed up space for more boxes & baits – Win Win !   Not exactly a game changer in my rig, it has plenty of storage, but when I’m fishing from the Old Town Canoe – it’s a help for sure.  And if I were a shore angler, this could be a valuable deal as well.  Additionally, and as sort of minor but still beneficial factors, there is some reduction of rattle/sound from the lure boxes, as well as perhaps reduce long term hook rash as the trebles are no longer loose & free to rattle & bang around in the boxes as I rocket across the lake.  

Once I made this my ‘routine’ it has become second nature and takes seemingly no extra time at all.

 I’ll never not use them again. 

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

A-Jay

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/217157-hard-bait-treble-hook-banding-~/

 

That's some impressive lure/hook organization A-Jay. Do you just clip the bands when you use the lure? I don't think my fingers could unwrap those without getting stuck. 

[gim]

2 hours ago, flyfisher said:

I keep a small file to touch up hooks very frequently. 

I keep a file in my musky tackle box.  Muskie hooks are much bigger and more expensive than bass hooks so its pays to sharpen them instead of just replacing them.  Not to mention you really don't want to have a dull hook when muskie fishing because they have an iron jaw full of teeth.

[NorthernBasser]

For better or worse, I keep all of my boxes like these two. I take out the dividers and pack them full. They really don't move around when I do it this way.

 

 

[roadwarrior]

WOW!

 

That's a mess. I would recommend choosing 12-15 lures that fit comfortably

in the case then rotate out and replace them for the next trip. After a few trips

you might narrow down what you are actually going to use.

[Susky River Rat]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

I keep a file in my musky tackle box.  Muskie hooks are much bigger and more expensive than bass hooks so its pays to sharpen them instead of just replacing them.  Not to mention you really don't want to have a dull hook when muskie fishing because they have an iron jaw full of teeth.

I always used a Dremel tool. Even use it for my bass stuff now. 

 

I honestly highly doubt it’s the box/lure on lure that dulls them enough to risk losing a fish. Hardened metal on plastic isn’t like hardened metal on rock. Ask your self how many times you were snagged bumped something popped it loose but didn’t sharpen your hooks? I bet most people do not sharpen their hooks after that.  I am guilty as charged too. However when I musky fished any bump on a lure from bottom, wood etc they got sharpened when I was done with the retrieve.  I do think the rubber band is an awesome idea for organization. 

[NorthernBasser]

42 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

WOW!

 

That's a mess. I would recommend choosing 12-15 lures that fit comfortably

in the case then rotate out and replace them for the next trip. After a few trips

you might narrow down what you are actually going to use.

It works for me. But I fully admit, I have some that rarely ever see the water.

[roadwarrior]

We've all got too much stuff, but never enough!  I find it helpful to just carry what I plan to

fish on a given day in a smaller tacklebag. Then I have a broader selection in a big bag

which I generally carry separately or in my truck. I VERY RARELY open the big box on an

outing, but I might switch out a few plugs on a multi-day trip. 

 

[A-Jay]

3 hours ago, Fishlegs said:

That's some impressive lure/hook organization A-Jay. Do you just clip the bands when you use the lure? I don't think my fingers could unwrap those without getting stuck. 

Thanks ~

While my manual dexterity may not be what it used to be,

I am fortune in that I don't have sausage sized fingers

and can still manipulate the bands on & off as needed.

A-Jay

[gim]

If I reach into a tackle box to grab a lure, and more than one comes out, that is an obvious sign that 1) there are too many in there, or 2) there isn't enough space.

 

I've taken it upon myself to limit the amount of tackle I store in my boxes over the years.  If it doesn't get used, it goes.  #lightentheload

[Dogface]

15 hours ago, WRB said:

Who today owns a electric hook sharpener? Standard practice back in the day to sharpen hooks before using them. 

 

I am OldSchool and constantly check hook points and knots.

Tom

 

My electric hook sharpener died last year but I still keep a rod and stone handy. I am a firm believer in sharp hooks. I often wonder how many more fish I've caught only because my hooks were sticky sharp.