Braided Line Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 New or old. Single,triple, what ever. Do you sharpen or just assume there sharp enough? Manufacturers go to great length to tout the sharpness,along with other attributes of their hooks. That being said, do you just tie one on and let fly (with some sort of lure of course.) or get your file or whatever you use and give it a lick ot two? Yes..........No. I`m of the old school. If I think it`s sharp enough, which is very unusual for me, I don`t file. But truth be known, That is so rare, I always give my hook(S) a lick or two. Plus that eliminates any worry, what so ever, about me thinking,gee, I should have. The second part is do you continue to check/sharpen your hook(s) through out your day on the water? I do. Have found to many dull. some what bent, even broken over a days fishing not too. Equipement (hooks) in good shape, can certainly help make a difference in the days final count. Of course, that is ......catch and release. Personal choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crankbaits Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 I don't sharpen them but I do check them through out the day.A few months back I was fishing a jig and got hung up.A couple of quick snaps of the rod popped it loose and I continued to fish it. After two missed fish I checked the lure and the hook was gone.I guess it broke off when it was pulled loose from the snag.So always check your hooks ,especialy after a snag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMakeStuff Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 I always sharpen and resharpen my hooks just like to make sure to improve all variables in catching and landing fish that i can control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayburnGuy Posted August 19, 2012 Report Share Posted August 19, 2012 When fishing I always carry a small flat diamond hone in my pocket and check hooks throughout the day. If they won't dig into a fingernail I give them a few strokes on the diamond hone to get them in shape again. Sharp hooks will definitely catch more fish than dull ones. Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littleriver Posted August 20, 2012 Report Share Posted August 20, 2012 (edited) I am in Ben's camp. I never sharpened but have learned the hard way sharper hooks make a big difference. In fact I put a stone to the tip of every treble . Just takes a minute. Then test on the nail. if that baby does not stick to my nail like cooked spaghetti on the wall then I hit a another lick or two on the stone. you do not want a hook tip that slides on the nail. Surprisingly most factory hooks fail the nail test. Having a sharper tip will allow the hook to sink deeper and hold better when that fish bites. You only have a second to sink those bars in and a lifetime to tell stories. I want all my stories to end well. It makes little sense to spend weeks planning, making and finally fishing that perfect homemade bait only to put dull hooks on her. Why not give yourself and if you sell or give away your baits your customers and friends the best chance to catch something with your bait? Your baits may not get a second chance. Edited August 20, 2012 by littleriver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seeking 56 Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 Get yourself some Eagle Claw 774. You won't need to sharpen those. One of my partners is constantly sharpening his hooks and when he gets misses on topwaters, I razz him about his hooks not being sharp enough....drives him absolutely wild! If you zig when the fish is zagging it won't matter how sharp your hooks are. s54 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobP Posted August 30, 2012 Report Share Posted August 30, 2012 I used to religiously test the trebles before tying on a crankbait and often touched them up with a diamond hone. Most often these were VMC or Mustad trebles on factory baits. I didn't mind honing them but didn't like removing the anti-rust coating and then having to resharpen the hooks to remove rust every time I fished a bait. Nowadays, I usually change out the factory trebles for Gamakatsus and find they seldom become dull during fishing because they are tempered better. Maybe I'm getting a little lazy too, but hook sharpness seems to have receded as an issue since I started using premium hooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DropZoneR Posted January 26, 2014 Report Share Posted January 26, 2014 I concur with BobP. I used to sharpen hooks all the time, obsessively almost. Since moving on to Gamakatsu and other higher end hooks, I dont need to as much. The exception to the rule is when I'm working with flies. A dull, barbless hook is about the worst thing ever... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Braided Line Posted January 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 Sharpen................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diemai Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 (edited) After a snag I always check out the lure's hooks whether they would require maintainance , both in terms of having bent open or having become blunt , always carrying some kinda grindstone in each of my tackle boxes , .......probably I should even use them more often . Greetz , 61diemai Edited January 30, 2014 by diemai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stickman Baits Posted February 16, 2014 Report Share Posted February 16, 2014 When I do re-sharpen my hooks I change the hook point to a chisel point the inside of the point ( barb side ) I flatten then angle the other sides into point making the hook point 3-sided and bring it all together to make a tacky sharp point. The reason for this is that I feel when I set the hook it goes in faster & makes a smaller hole the fish can't throw as easy as when the hook cuts a slot with other hook point shapes. Gammies are my favorites for upgrading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lwc1960 Posted February 8, 2022 Report Share Posted February 8, 2022 I check EVERY hook, treble, worm hook or jig. If it's not sticky sharp I touch it up. No matter who made it it will still get dull fishing in rock or cover. If it's sharp makes a world of difference on those less than perfect hooksets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsworms Posted February 8, 2022 Report Share Posted February 8, 2022 We are digging up a thread that's 10 years old and I STILL don't sharpen hooks.........and probably STILL should!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
