Whats the best hook sharpener you can reccomend? I use those cheap stones and they just dont cut it.

I use my belt sander:huh:

I tried a grinder once, my hook was ground down to nothing in a second....

For a big hook , a file is best IMO. For smaller hooks , I have a dremel looking thing with a fixture on the end to angle the hook in. Its really cheap but hard to find.

Anyway , I seldom use less than 6/0 anymore so a file is the best choice.

Another good benefit of doing mostly jiog fishing in the canal the last 7 years is that you usually lose the jigs before the hook gets dull. One problem you do have fishing heavy braid is that sometimes the tip gets bent out of alignmnet. its still sharp but it no longer points forward. You get this from when you get stuck and win the death pull to free it. For this I bend the tip back straight with needle nose pliers. you have to be careful to grab the tip in a way that allows good enough leverage to starighten but without touching the very tip which will dull it.

Originally posted by RIJIMMY
I tried a grinder once, my hook was ground down to nothing in a second....

I use a 400 or 600 belt- if you use a more agressive belt, it will eat up the hook..

Eb, thats a "craftman" response, I'm a pencil pusher.
The only reason I have a grinding wheel is my Dad bought it for me when moved into our house, I can berly nail two boards together! :)

The best hook sharpener for saltwater hooks is a simple commercial one (brand name is "Check Point" I think) available in many tackle shops and by mail order through The Surfcaster in Ct. See extreme lower left hand corner on page 34 of the 2003 Surfcaster catalog. Sells for only 12 bucks or so. Works great. However, will rust if exposed to water. I sharpen my hooks at home and I keep one of these devices in my car, but not in my tackle bag where it would get wet.
Forget sharpening stones and other devices. This is what you want to sharpen a fishing hook.

dremel

Luhr Jensen hook file. Keep it coated with WD-40

A simple Mill Bastard file, you can find them in any hardware store, they cost about a buck. When they get badly rusted just throw it away and buy another.

I ever tell you about the day I got sent home from 2nd Grade for scraping my teeth on the chalkboard? :hihi:

I repeated the stunt in 8th grade ... this time with braces and it was fun because I created sparks. :tooth: