Fish-Hawk.Net

I was wondering how many of you sharpen your hooks when they're fresh out of the package, and do you still sharpen something like a Gamagatsu or Mustad that are chemically sharpened from the factory?

Also, if you do sharpen hooks, are you personally able to make them as sharp or sharper than new? What's your method? I've got a really nice diamond-dust sharpener with a hook trough and it sometimes gets them ultra-sharp, but other times it actually makes them worse, so I just get a new hook.

Opinions/suggestions wanted, thanks!

I don't sharpen hooks, I actually leave the surgical tubing protecting the hooks on so that I won't have to bother catching therefore having to remove the hooks from the fish.

It's a lot more fun to have them bite to set the hook and it feels like bottom untill you see the big boil knowing real well it is a fish and most likely a very big one and have it come off so not to get that big fish fight and landing process.

No. If the point gets damaged, the hook gets changed.



DropShot'r

Yes I do.
Usually so sharp that I can suspend them from my thumbnail.
I was taught this by a fellow musky angler I look up to.

It has paid dividends. I have never lost one (knock on wood) as a result.

I find smaller hooks or the chemically sharpened ones to be sufficient out of the package but I tell ya that there is a big difference in my musky hooks after I sharpen them as opposed to how they came from factory.

I feel it makes a HUGE difference.
But that's my opinion.

i think that as long as your hook is some what sharp, if you hookset hard enough im sure even a blunt peice of metal will go through a bass' mouth

I do sharpen them every few catches. If I don't do that, I tend to lose more fish.

Don't think it really matters.

I catch fish on old rusty hooks all the time. As long as it is somewhat sharp, as in you can still prick yourself accidentally, then they are good to go.

I prefer nice new hooks over rusty old ones but it is more a matter of not wanting to spread rust that makes me toss them for new ones.

buy new one.

sharpenning them will only get them DULL!

Unless you have the right tools.

then again.

new ones RULES

If your not sharpening your hooks, you are not catching as many fish as you could. Especially when it comes to fish with bony mouths like pike and muskies. With muskies you get so few bites you want every advantage you can get. Having sharp hooks is a basic step, but you cant just throw a file on them any which way and think they are sharp, you have to do it right. You dont want a needle point as they bend, you want a knife edge that cuts

Check out this link http://www.luhrjensen.com/downloads/tec ... pening.pdf

And I will translate for Trophy Muskie, the jist of his reply is "Yes"

I dont sharpen hooks I replace them, used hooks are used in practice and new ones in tournaments. Then after practice I pass them on to kids... I use BPS hooks always in red, when the red starts to wear away its time to change hooks.
Crank baits and other trebles are not sticky sharp they to are replaced.

Bobby

I was always taught to sharpen hooks, esp. after bumping rocks or hooking a few fish. I'm not always good about it, but I do keep a sharpener with me on the boat and touch up hooks when things are slow and I'm looking for something to do...

Mike

I was asuming that curls was speaking about plain single hooks.

I can understand the musky guys keeping those big treble hooks sharp. I do touch up jig hooks and treble hooks. Back in the day I did sharpen out of the pack, but with quality hooks like Gamakatsu & Mustad Ultra Point those day are over.

DropShot'r

Yer suppose to sharpen those things????

Nope, I never, ever do... I've replaced a few, but most of mine seem purdy darn sharp, even after the years go by... I do check them from time to time (say 3-5 times a season), and they pass the fingernail scratch, do not have barbs on them, etc...

I've not experience enough "missed" fish to assume there was any problem, let alone a "dull hook" problem.. though I guess till you know, you do not know...