Hook Sharpening

[bmavrick]

What is the best way to sharpen a hook mainly on spinnerbaits. can i use my dimond stone sharpen my pocket knife on.

[jdw174]

If it has a "V" groove in the hone for hooks....why not. If it's just flat sided it might be a chore. Lowe's carries the Smith hones for around $10 with a carry case. I have one and it works fine.

[Jigfishn10]

I use a fine triangular file followed up with a honing stone.

Hold the spinnerbait so the hook is facing toward you. Put the hook on it's side (parallel to the flat side of stone or file) ) so that the hook point rests flat against the file or stone. Lift up slightly and drag the hook point towards you and repeat 2 more times. Flip the bait over 180* and repeat by draging the point towards you three times. Turn the bait 90* so the hook is now perpendicular to the stone or file (lay hook point flat and then lift slightly) and drag towards you 3 times. Your sharpening three sides. If you do not feel that the hook is sharp enough, repeat and equal amount of tiems on each side to acheive desired sharpness.

I hope I described that right.

[Triton21]

I use a small file found in most bait stores and big box stores. Does a great job. Most any small file or stone will work.

Kelley

[Siebert Outdoors]

I have a v groove sharpener. I cant think of the last time I used it either. I probably should.

[CWB]

I use a tapered Medium India oilstone used by moldmakers. I usually try to get a triangle shaped point, working on 3 sides of the hook. If it sticks in my thumbnail, it's good to go. I actually sharpened one too good and it went through my thumbnail, drawing blood.

This is not the actual stone but the same type. I find a file removes too much material. I keep one with me at all times. Quick touchups are simple if you throw a crankbait on the rocks like I often do or after snagging in rocks or such. Always check new hooks too. For the most part you will be O.K. with the name brands but you'd be surprised how often you find a dull or damaged point hook.

[Fish Chris]

I'm glad you said > like for your spinnerbaits < because yea, on those, you don't have much of a choice, unless you have money coming out your ears, to replace the whole lure, every time you dull a hook.

But quite honestly, I really hate to use a hook once it's been dulled "EVEN IF" you are able to sharpen it to where it feels REALLY sharp.... maybe it even seems sharper than factory.

But there are still two problems with a sharpened hook 1) you can make the metal approaching the tip much thinner / weaker, causing the point to fold over, instead of penetrate, should it hit a hard, bony part of the fishes mouth, and 2) you can inadvertently change the angle of the point, which really makes as much difference with whether or not a hook will penetrate, or skip over the surface, and slide right out of the fishes mouth, as does sharpness.

In a nutshell, sharpened hooks suck.

But yea..... with spinnerbaits.....

Glad I don't hardly ever have to worry about that. I think my biggest bass on a spinnerbait was maybe 4 lbs..... Oh.... I did get a 4+ Smallie on one once

Peace,

Fish

[CWB]

I'm glad you said > like for your spinnerbaits < because yea, on those, you don't have much of a choice, unless you have money coming out your ears, to replace the whole lure, every time you dull a hook.

But quite honestly, I really hate to use a hook once it's been dulled "EVEN IF" you are able to sharpen it to where it feels REALLY sharp.... maybe it even seems sharper than factory.

But there are still two problems with a sharpened hook 1) you can make the metal approaching the tip much thinner / weaker, causing the point to fold over, instead of penetrate, should it hit a hard, bony part of the fishes mouth, and 2) you can inadvertently change the angle of the point, which really makes as much difference with whether or not a hook will penetrate, or skip over the surface, and slide right out of the fishes mouth, as does sharpness.

In a nutshell, sharpened hooks suck.

But yea..... with spinnerbaits.....

Glad I don't hardly ever have to worry about that. I think my biggest bass on a spinnerbait was maybe 4 lbs..... Oh.... I did get a 4+ Smallie on one once

Peace,

Fish

Good points and that is why I use a stone and not a file to keep as much of the integrity of the hook intact without removing too much material.

Sharpened hooks suck?

Strong statement but all are entitled to their opinion.

I haven't had any issues with any of the hooks I have sharpened but you are correct that there is a limit after which it is counterproductive.

Keep throwing a spinnerbait. Sooner or later you will latch onto a hawg Chris!

[Jigfishn10]

I'll go as far as sharpening jigs if that particular jig is producing for me. I don't like to get the jig gods mad at me....

Nothing wrong with sharpening hooks, seems to be a lost art, IMHO. Treble hooks, well that's a different story.