sharp hooks - how to?

[Luckybill]

I bet this has been covered, but would someone tell me how to use my hook sharpener. [img]graemlins/dork.gif[/img] I am not sure which way is the BEST to go. I don't know how many side's to sharpen. I usually just grab a new gami or owner. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img] However sometimes i would like to re-use the hook.

[Ty]

This one everyone will have there own opinion, so I will give mine.

Treat a hook like a knife, except add three edges instead of two. make long knife edge with bend side up and then touch up tip. So, I sharpen the entire area that is getting smaller than the shank, not just the tip, so u have a cuttin edge that easily penitrates the fishes mouth instead of just a sharp point that has a quick transition to the fat hook shank.

[Firedog]

My opinion, once an owner is dull toss it. Gami are about the same, the only hooks I spend any time sharpening are VMC's.

[Freakwater]

Dang! That MT cone hone sounds like a must have, but could not find it on Cabelas' site.

[Dinikin]

Almos always I sharpen brand new hooks. And I only use Gammi, and Owners.
I have Leatherman Wave multitool.
There is a file, and one side is so fine, probably diamond coating.
I just run the hook point following the countour few times on each side. Makes needlse points--
"SUPER needdle".
And yea, I have bought LuhrJEnsen file, it is rusting in one of my toolboxes.

[Okie]

Sharp hook test. It should hook your finger nail when you rub the point acrose the finger nail with very little pressure. If it slides off it isn't sharp.

[float2ber]

The only place I sharpen hooks is at home. When fishing, just change the hook. I use a buffing wheel with white cutting/polishing rouge (~220 grit). Even new hooks benefit from a buffing. The hooks turn out very sharp but also very smooth which makes for easier hooksets. If a used hook is really dull, toss it. It's cheap insurance against loosing a nice fish.

[Rakkasan]

Go buy a regular hook file and run your hook across it. I have been fishing for years and there is no science to sharpening a hook. I sharpen one side. Some people both sides, some people 3 sides, and some people like to make a sculpture out of the tip (sorry could not resist) :grin:

[Carver_OR]

Use a hook file and keep it stored in a HoldZit Tool Saver Jr and it will last for years and stay rust free for the most part. I have a hook file thats at least ten years old and its still rust free because I keep it in a HoldZit, the file is almost worn out from shapening hooks. What about you guys that use plugs and they have trebels, don't you sharpen them? The only sharpening tool I've ever seen a guide use is a hook file, Jensens is the best one to use.

Pat

[Okie]

Quiet often I have had a fish strike with out catching it but when inspecting the hook there was a fish scale on the hook. That's a sharp hook.

[Chrome Bumper]

Cheapo hook fle. Sharpen the sides, then a few light stokes on the other two sides. If it does not stick like velcro with the lightest touch to the finger nail, it is not sharp. Can't find the mister twister in the Cabela catalog either!

[ 01-15-2004, 03:58 PM: Message edited by: Chrome Bumper ]

[Pickles]

the absolute best and fastest way to sharpen a hook if is to purchase an amazing product called a mister twister cone hone. You can get them from cabelas.

[smoky]

buy new hooks

[Swim Shady]

I too have a MT Cone Hone, makes a sharp hook. Runs on AA or AAA batteries.

[KChookem]

For me, the key is not to "file" away metal, but to Very LIGHTLY remove whatever it is that keeps the hook from being "sticky" or needle sharp. For new hooks, this may be as simple as removing the coating of varnish or color. On the river, after a few hook touch-ups due to rocks, snags, or the occasional bony jaw, replace your hook when you are no longer confident that it is sticky sharp. I think of hook sharpening as "polishing" by "very lightly sliding" the file toward the point, rather than "filing". If you are fortunate to have a sensitive touch, you'll feel any flaws at the point, whether with your finger or the file. On the other hand, there are those folks, like my son, who catch lots of fish, but rarely sharpen their hooks!

[ 01-16-2004, 06:40 AM: Message edited by: KChookem ]

[Billy Tillamook]

Luhr Jensen hook file...one way upward strokes of the file on three sides of the point. Works great on about any hook, takes 5 seconds.

[ampersat]

I use a pretty light touch and always file toward the point, not away. If you file "away", you're pulling the metal out to the tip of the point. It'll be sharp but it will also be very weak and have a tendency to roll over.

[Luckybill]

Thanks for the reply's. Amp - I think i am following you. Thats what i was wondering the most about, the direction to file

[Irie1]

On octopus and certain trebble hooks. I tend to sroke/angle the file towards the eye from the point. With only two light strokes on each side. On damaged points I'll grind once (on the inside of the point) horizontly.Then repeat with whats said above. All this while NEVER sliding or stabbing into the finger/thumb nail. :smile:

[jokester]

buy new hooks

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">Right on smoky. I agree! I have tons of friends that sharpen their hooks, but I only hook so many fish and can't risk the chance of my hook not being sharp when the fish hits it. The price of losing a fish versus buying new hooks is not worth it to me. :grin:

-jokester

[SteelieSlammer]

Sharpen the pointy end. Ha. I dont think its good to sharpen them. If they get dull then replace it. Besides, if you use hooks like owner cutting point I bet a person can't sharpen a hook to be close to its orginal out of the package condition. It might be the difference between a fish on and a fish on the bank.