What do you use and how do you sharpen your hooks ? - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Sluggoslinger · 03-03-2006, 02:37 PM

I've never done it... Does it make a difference?

SAXATILUS · 03-03-2006, 02:47 PM

Naturally I learned the hard way. Lost a real nice fish one night and the old guy I was with said " Let me see that hook", looks at it , drags it across his finger nail, "it's dull, the bigger they are the harder there mouths are". Now all hooks are sticky sharp all the time. Dr Slick diamond file, best 20 bucks I've spent.

striprman · 03-03-2006, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sluggoslinger

I've never done it... Does it make a difference?

Ever loose a good fish ? don't lie...

quick decision · 03-03-2006, 03:25 PM

i use a hook sharpener

libassboy · 03-03-2006, 03:52 PM

I use to sharpen hooks before i switched to vmc's. Now i just replace them if they start to get dull. If you sharpen vmc's they will rust quickly.

MakoMike · 03-03-2006, 03:58 PM

I just use a simple 6 inch mill bastard file on the big hooks and a smaller hook file on the smaller hooks.

Pete_G · 03-03-2006, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by libassboy

I use to sharpen hooks before i switched to vmc's. Now i just replace them if they start to get dull. If you sharpen vmc's they will rust quickly.

Believe it or not a surprising number of VMC's come out of the package dull. Sometimes the tip is rounded or it's just simply dull, but it's always worth checking.

Hooks need to be "sticky" sharp. They should grab instantly like an Owner Stinger fresh out of the package.

As for sharpening chemically sharpened hooks, I've never seen either a file or a person capable of putting a point of original quality on something like an Owner or a Gamakatsu.

I used to be a BIG fan of the Braid Sharpoint Hook File, but that file isn't of the same build quality it once was. The Dr. Slick large hook file is my favorite hook file these days. There are files more expensive and less expensive, but that's the one I like.

In The Surf · 03-03-2006, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete_G

The Dr. Slick large hook file is my favorite hook file these days. There are files more expensive and less expensive, but that's the one I like.

Ditto

nautibuoys · 03-03-2006, 03:57 PM

After trying all the stones and files, I now use the hook sharpener that looks like 2 chainsaw files molded together in a plastic handle. Don't know the name of it; got it in a shop down the Cape. I've seen them in different B&T shops. Sharpens quick and simple. You can rake off the point pretty quick is you get overzealous but it works slick.

Sluggoslinger · 03-03-2006, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by striprman

Ever loose a good fish ? don't lie...

yup, last year. really nice bass off monomoy stripping lots of line. got it turned around and finally it just spit the hook out... I swear that fish winked at me when he did it. I was with two drunk friends on board for the boat ride... not fisherman... I almost left them on monomoy I was so mad... They thought it was hysterical b/c I was so into it...

ThrowingTimber · 03-03-2006, 04:37 PM

dremel with a ceramic tip.

The Iceman 6 · 09-24-2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sluggoslinger

yup, last year. really nice bass off monomoy stripping lots of line. got it turned around and finally it just spit the hook out... I swear that fish winked at me when he did it. I was with two drunk friends on board for the boat ride... not fisherman... I almost left them on monomoy I was so mad... They thought it was hysterical b/c I was so into it...

Great response!