What do you use to keep hooks sharp?

[Heath]

just a small sharpening stone.

[Volvo]

Same as jeremy..

[whiteman]

With fuel $1/litre+ and the general cost of boating and fishing gear, using new hooks each time from the best manufacturers is a small but very wise investment. I'm trialling hooks made in Japan from "Owner". They seem to be very good and I won't bother trying to keep them sharp as I don't think I can!

[griz066]

I use a home made doova that works well on any size hook.

1. Get yourself a piece of 25mm diameter dowell about 100mm long, 2 regular chainsaw files and a 2 zip ties.

2. Drill two holes in one end of the dowell close enough together so that when you insert the file tangs (pointy ends)into the holes the two files touch each other all the way along, tap them in firm.

3. Now secure the top and base of the files with a zip tie to keep them together.

To sharpen hooks just grasp hook by the shank (point upermost and pointing away from you) insert hook into the v between the files,then file toward the point, repeat till sharp.

[griz066]

Another pic

[SeaSaw]

Same as others, a small sharpening stone. No hook is sharp enough straight out of the box .... unless, of course, it is chemically sharpened. ::)

I also touch my hooks up after every couple of fish.

Mark

[Fishinmishin]

I'm with SeaSaw. Sharpen all new hooks until bite into your nail (chem sharp excluded) and resharpen often. The point of your hook is the most important and the first part of all your gear that comes in contact with your potential catch ;).
Cheers, Jay

[blaze]

little rub stone

[Relaxed]

Hi all,

I want to start getting serious about my fishing and improve my catch rates.

I thought it would be interesting to see what others use to sharpen their hooks (then I can purchase what appears to be the best thing) :D [smiley=evilgrin.gif]

Cheers Andy.

[Jeremy]

I use mainly chemically sharpened hooks now. Just throw them out once they stary to rust or blunt. For trebles on lures and the mustad 7766 hooks, I use a small stone on small hooks and a fine file on bigger hooks. Try to get a triangular point with a cutting edge.

Jeremy

[agnes_jack]

A medium diamond file works well for touching up the smaller stuff, hook file on the 7766's and the heavier stuff. Chuck the chem sharpened.
I use vmc hooks a lot, very sharp straight out of the box.

Regards, Tony

[mini696]

I agree with the above posts.

Any form of file or stone in a 'V' shape is good. But keep your eye on the defination of the 'V'. If it starts to look like a 'U' then your hooks will never sharpen.

I sharpen them after ever 3-5 baits (unless its prawns or something soft like them.

If the bottom is rocky and I am dragging the hook over it (normally landbased) I will give it a quick wipe ever 1-2 casts.

Mick

PS I dont even bother trying to resharpen chemical hooks.

[Relaxed]

Thanks everyone for your help, I will get a little rub stone and see how I go.

Griz066 I may even copy your invention, no patents I hope :)

Cheers Andy.

[griz066]

No patents Relaxed go ahead it works well

[Kevin]

Luhr Jensen yellow handled hook sharpener.. this should be a link to where I found mine: http://www.muskyshop.com/modules/cart/products.php/nav_id/8/page/1/id/633/name/LuhrJensenHookFile512

[chanquetas]

Fish keep eating mine....I keep buying them....therefore mine are always sharp... :)

[mattooty]

Just a little v shaped rub stone. I put all my used hooks in a little packet when im fishing and then when i get home and have a boring day just go get the packet and sharpen up al the hooks in it. Its easier than when the fish are biting and yeah.
Good luck
MAtt

[ScottB]

Hi,
For smaller hooks I just use chemiacally sharpened hooks and throw them away when the point is gone. But for stainless game hooks I use a file at first and then work through a couple of different grades of "EZI LAP" diamond homes. Sometimes I will also polish them off with a stone.

Scott

[Needmorerum]

Kevin, have you purchase much from the Musky Shop? Where abouts are they located? Is it worth purchasing anything from overseas, I would have thought that it would be easier to purchase it locally, or at least in Aus?

Corry

[Kevin]

I would think that the sharpener I mention is available in Austrailia... I purchase from Rollie and Helen's Musky Shop often, but I am located in the states.. I do know some people in England order from there and have not heard them encounter any problems.. The shop is located in Northern Wisconisin..

[DNO40]

Griz066,

Great Idea and simple as hell

[Kevin]

That Musky Shop I mention in my other post has at least three of those twin chain saw type sharpeners... http://www.muskyshop.com/modules/cart/navigate.php/nav_id/8 probably cheaper to make yourself though...