Sharp hooks

[ronaultmtd]

I fished a perch tournament this week end- and only had a couple of hits that were not hookups- lucky? Maybe, but I cheat...yep, I take the extra step to sharpen factory hooks right out of the package- I use a small file to triangulate the points on all but the Eagle Claw Lazer hooks and the Diachi needle points...those are two hooks that are sharp right out of the package- my hooks are dangerously sharp- and I am anal about sharp hooks- a hold over from my days shark fishing 16/0 welded eye tuna hooks on number 9 galvanized machine chain...we sharpened those hooks so they cut paper...on small baits with Ultra Light tackle you cannot drive the hooks with a hard set for risk breaking the fish off- therefore very sharp hooks are vital...yeah, I know exposing bare metal to salt water causes the hooks to rust, but hooks are cheap compared to the cost of a fishing trip where one good fish makes the trip worthwhile...just a tip from a old fisherman- you want to catch more fish? Sharpen your hooks-

[Mark]

Good advice.

My fly fishing mentor showed me years ago that brand new hooks were often not sharp.

I carry a stone with me and hit the tips of mine before and during outings.

[FishMoken]

This is one thing I need to get in the habit of doing. I can't tell you the amount of times I've looked into a old box with just old rusty hooks. Do you keep a sharpener with you on the water, or do your prep work before going out? Also is there a sharper you recommend?


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[ronaultmtd]

I have a small triangular file I use- usually file my hooks sharp before I go out, but I have a sharpening stone on my knife sheath that has a hook groove in it that I can touch up hooks- I changed out all my old rusted hooks this year with new hooks and sharpened them at the kitchen table before I put them on the lures- on all my XRaps I used Eagle Claw 4X Lazer trebles- the hook that gives us all the bad hookups are the jighead hooks- they are usually dull..a few strokes of the file fixes that-

[Mark]

Do you keep a sharpener with you on the water, or do your prep work before going out? Also is there a sharper you recommend?

Yes. I carried this sharpener many years in my fly fishing vest and now it rides along in my kayaks so I can file my hooks during outings. You can tell it's old by the rusty split ring.

P1010801.jpg

I wish I could tell you the brand or where I got it. I cannot remember either.

But if you get a stone, sharpen your hooks in the direction of the arrow I have drawn in the photo. I know that seems counter intuitive but filing in that direction puts a puts a piercing point on your hooks.