I used the file today after hanging up on a rock. ALso, I buy good hooks: Owner, Gamakatsu, Daiichi, DaiRiki. Those are sharp hooks, much more sharp than other brands I have tried.
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I used the file today after hanging up on a rock. ALso, I buy good hooks: Owner, Gamakatsu, Daiichi, DaiRiki. Those are sharp hooks, much more sharp than other brands I have tried.
When tying for stuff that is likely to tag bottom, such as steelhead bugs, we use hooks that sharpen easily. Of course they dull more easily too, but....
On other bugs likely to wear out from oxidation, we use tiemco's. They seem like better hooks to us and they are harder to sharpen than the others we use.
YES, we do sharpen. :roll:
.....lee s.
Constantly sharpen. Once I got into the habit of sharpening my catch to miss rate went way up. Now if I miss two or three hits in a row I know my hooks are dull and the file comes out. If I can't stick my hook into my thumbnail it is dull.
I always sharpen. I test the hook against my thumbnail after I tie on a fly. If it feels dull, I take out my little diamond sharpener which is convenienly located in a front pocket and give it a few strokes. It only takes a few seconds to do this.
Have a sharpening tool on my lanyard. Nymph fish about 95% of the time; so, I need to be checking hook sharpness often. There's also the occasional "tree trout" hookup that requires sharpening; that's if you can retrieve the dang outfit!
I like to use the plated Mustad 3407 in the salt. They are not at all sharp out of the box.
I use a dremel tool to sharpen each one to a triangular point.
Once they are sharp they hold a edge better than the more popular stainless steel hooks.
When you fish in the surf, hooks dull quickly. You need to check your hook point regularly. I have seen guys carry their file on a cord, like a nipper on a zinger, so that it is always at hand ready to use.
On my trout vest I have a sharping stone tied to a zipper like a zipper pull. If you have it ready to use you will not hesitate to touch up your hook point when you have a second.
I also nymph fish about 98% of the time and I will always test my hook points against my thumb nail and if they do not stick, I will sharpen them. I use a nail file, the metal ones with the plastic handle, to sharpen my hooks. I just drill a hole in the end of the plastic handle and put it on a zinger where it is always handy.
From the responses, I think I will start giving new life to my hooks by sharpening them.
I have not as I usually loose the fly to something before it get to that point.
But maybe I should, but who needs another peice of equipment with them?
Rick
I carry a hook file on a lanyard. All hook points are tested as I tie the fly on and sharpened if needed. I also check my hook points if the hook touches bottom or after I hook a fish. I check for sharpness after 20 casts or so. Losing a fish due to a dull hook is something that should not happen.