To Change or Sharpen Used Hooks

[jooleyen]

Which do you do? How do you feel it works?

Thanks

[JB]

I resharpen hooks before I go out almost all the time, if the hook slides across your thumbnail its not sharp. Sharpen it and it will stick in the nail.
I use a hook file with a groove in it. Theres many other types that are battery operated.

[aikenyounggun]

I have never sharpened hooks but if you see how sharp Gamgatsku hooks are under a microscope you would be suprised. They somehow use chemicals to sharpen them.

[MississippiBoy]

I sharpen everything I use. I have a little round file with 2 different width grooves to use with different size hooks.
Aiken, even Gammy hooks will get dull if you use them enough. It never hurts to sharpen any hook.

[jasonfish320]

I routinely check my hooks before heading out, however if I spot a bit of rust i chuck 'em out...that stuff spreads faster than cancer in my tackle boxes

[cassidyta]

If it is a bait that I throw often then I will replace the hooks each fall. For some of the others I just sharpen them. On Gami and Owner hooks I find that they hold an edge less and less with each sharpening so those usually only last one year as well.

[rangerryan]

i never have a bait long enough to need the hooks sharpened. haha
rocks and stumps takem long before they need it.

[woody]

If you ever buy any Diawa Crankbaits you will want to replace their hooks, these things are super thin and very weak. Definitely room for improvement.


~Mark

[abu4600]

I sharpen all my hooks.

[Joel]

On a need as bases.

[Marty]

I sharpen until they need replacement. For me, replacement is needed when part of the point has broken off or I just can't get the point sharp anymore for whatever reason.

[Buzz Wing]

Be sure to remeber that sharpening hooks takes off the chemical coating which keeps them from rusting, and rust dulls hooks. Excessive sharpening removes this and dulls hooks in the long run...

-Buzz

[zooker]

if they are decent hooks sharpen. if they are the crap that some put on there baits i replace...

zooker

[Tennessee]

I have a re-stringer made by Berkley and the line ripper has a whit rock that does just great and yes I sharpen probly not like I should but for some reason I tend to sharpen Pop-R's more than any other bait !!!

[carolina-rig-01]

just about every crankbait i buy gets mustad triple grips added right out of the box. the only exceptions are the few bait companies that put high quality hooks on their baits, like lucky craft. i have never had any trouble with the triple grips getting dull, but they do get bent once in a while from using pliers to remove them from a fish's mouth, then i just replace with another triple grip.

[Mac2]

If you find Sally Hansen brand nail files, pick up a couple of the diamond dust files...they make great sharpeners and are cheap. They are the ones with the plastic handles and metal blades. Usually come 4 in a pack.

[Joel]

While I sharpen as needed, my concern really is my spinnerbaits, so those hooks can't be replaced, but rather the whole lure, and spinnerbaits run me from $4 up.