Chemically Sharpened Hooks - Can’t Resharpen ?

[ChrisD46]

I saw a fishing guide video whereby the guide was adement that you can NOT resharpen chemically sharpened hooks and can only replace them to have sharp hooks at all times .  *The guide indicated if you try to resharpen chemically sharpened hooks (single hooks - non treble) with a fine file - the hook point tips will simply disintegrate . 
 

The better hook companies (Gamakatsu , Mustad , Owner) all appear to use the chemically sharpened production process , so replacing the hooks when they become dull may be the only option .

 

Based on the above comments , what have been your experience with chemically sharpened hooks when re-sharpening ?

[newapti5]

Do what the marketing team told me not to.

[Jig Man]

Gamakatsu hooks are what I use on my swim bait heads.  I haven’t had any trouble sharpening them.  Most of my other hooks are Mustad and Victory, no issues with them.

[T-Billy]

I've tried several files on several different brands and styles of hooks, most chemically sharpened. I've found a Swiss #4 cut file to work best. It'll get them sharper than new without removing too much material. 

[Glenn]

Gamakatsu is 40 mins from my house.  I've been there. We've fished together.  We've been to Japan together.  They sent me a bunch of Japanese baits for Christmas. We've met.

 

I've been using and sharpening their hooks since 1992, when they were first introduced in America.

 

That "guide" is smoking crack. 

 

All hooks, regardless of how they arrive in the package, can be sharpened at any time.  My friends at Gamakatsu get that deer-in-the-headlights look when somebody infers you cannot sharpen a hook for whatever reason.

 

Here's how to get them razor sharp once they start to dull (note the Gamakatsu jighead in the video):

 

 

[RRocket]

6 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

 with a fine file - the hook point tips will simply disintegrate . 
 

This is possible. But it's somewhat a result of human error.

 

Depending on what chemical process was used, steel could be more brittle. And if you use something too coarse, particularly a file, you can indeed blow the tip off. 

 

In this case using an extremely fine stone (and not a file) can sharpen the hook without blowing the tip off.

 

However, it may require a finer stone than usual and a more deft touch.

 

 

 

 

[WRB]

I have been sharpening my Gamakatsu jig hooks for decades because not throwing  away a hair jig because it hit a rock and dulled the hook point.

I use 600 grit diamond hook hone works great.

Watch Glenn ‘s video, exactly how it’s done👍

Tom

Happy NewYear🥂

 

[scaleface]

I usually sharpen a hook or two every trip . The diamond file on a Leatherman is what I use.

[detroit1]

I sharpened a hook once.

[T-Billy]

1 hour ago, RRocket said:

Depending on what chemical process was used, steel could be more brittle. And if you use something too coarse, particularly a file, you can indeed blow the tip off. 

This is a good point. I've found VMC's to be particularly susceptible to this. They require a light touch even with a "smooth" file. The Swiss #4 cut is finer than a US "smooth" file and is just the right coarseness IMO. I also find the diamond shape of many hook files like the Luhr-Jensen and Rapala files awkward and much prefer a flat file.

 It also pays to purchase a quality file. This is one tool where you'll generally get what you pay for. 

[ChrisD46]

6 hours ago, Glenn said:

Gamakatsu is 40 mins from my house.  I've been there. We've fished together.  We've been to Japan together.  They sent me a bunch of Japanese baits for Christmas. We've met.

 

I've been using and sharpening their hooks since 1992, when they were first introduced in America.

 

That "guide" is smoking crack. 

 

All hooks, regardless of how they arrive in the package, can be sharpened at any time.  My friends at Gamakatsu get that deer-in-the-headlights look when somebody infers you cannot sharpen a hook for whatever reason.

 

Here's how to get them razor sharp once they start to dull (note the Gamakatsu jighead in the video):

 

 

Good to hear a counter point to ability to sharpen chemically sharpened hooks from the factory . 

[Bankbeater]

This is the first time I have ever heard not to sharpen a hook.  Most of my worm hooks get hit with the file before every trip.

[Susky River Rat]

I should sharpen hooks more than I do. Very guilty of not doing it till I lose a fish. 
 

The reason we can file them sharper is because the chemical will be left on for a certain amount of time than neutralized. This is fast and works good just not the best. Almost all musky guys get brand new baits and sharpen the hooks right away before it’s even thrown. I am not near as picky with bass stuff but, if I get snagged good bet I am sharpening hooks after. 

[A-Jay]

22 hours ago, Glenn said:

That "guide" is smoking crack. 

 

Come on @Glenn don't sugar coat it.

Tell us how you really feel !

A-Jay

[T-Billy]

12 minutes ago, Susky River Rat said:

Almost all musky guys get brand new baits and sharpen the hooks right away before it’s even thrown

Absolutely. You either have to get good at sharpening hooks, or get used to losing a lot of fish. Heck, even with sharp hooks you're gonna lose a much higher percentage than any other species I've ever fished for. Those big head shakes are effective at throwing hooks.

[Jigfishn10]

21 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

Come on @Glenn don't sugar coat it.

Tell us how you really feel !

A-Jay

haha

 

MMMM…Crack

 

 

[Alex from GA]

Like scaleface I use the diamond file on my Leatherman for all of my hook sharpening in the boat.

[Steveo-1969]

The only hooks I have trouble sharpening are ones with a cutting edge like Trokars.

[ChrisD46]

Good comments - I certainly subscribe to Glenn , Tom , A-Jay , etc. comments . It doesn’t take much to touch up a hook and you don’t need to be heavy handed . I believe it would be interesting to compare which hook brands(s) stay sharper longer ? Most of my hooks are Gammy and Owner , a few Mustad specialty hooks along with VMC and Berkley Fussion 19 hooks.  I have NOT figured out a method or way to sharpen treble hooks reliably though , so I end up just changing them out. 

[WRB]

It’s easier to remove treble hooks to sharpen them.

Tom

[F14A-B]

Man. I don’t mess with all that hocus pocus.. I keep bunches of new hooks. The 80’s I bought the large hook hone-er and mass sharpened hundreds of low quality hooks of the era. Nowadays hooks are soo sharp and not crazy expensive but have certainly gone up in the past few years. I’ve taken files on trips though and the ones I couldn’t do a thing with were Owners cutting points. I quit using those because they destroy a LMB’s mouth.. big holes, lots of damage.. 

[Catt]

If it ain't on a jig or spinnerbait it goes in the trash. If it requires the removal of to much metal, I trash it.

 

Spyderco ceramic file 😉