I was going through my box of goodies yesterday and I came upon a hook sharpening file a bought a few years back. It has never been used. Got to wondering how many of you sharpen hooks versus disgarding them when they become dull?
Tyrone fly;
I’d rather sharpen than discard!
I sharpen all hooks when I tie them. I have resharpend larger size hooks ie 12 and 14 the size 20+ hooks are a little hard to hold and I havent sharpened them in the field.
Eric
Sharpen…but find it less necessary as I’ve gone to quality hooks.
Oh and by keeping my back cast upeth :roll:
I sharpen hooks prior to tying on them. In the smaller sizes, I find that I do not need to do it as often, partially because I buy better quality than I used to. I also carry a file with me while fishing and I will touch up the point after using a fly for a while or if I’ve snagged it a couple of times.
Jim Smith
I also sharpen my hooks rather than discarding them. Heck at $4.25 for 25 hooks I can’t afford to chuck my hooks when a small file cost $0.50.
Hobo
I carry a sharpening file with me all the time while fishing and every time I see it sitting there I think , gosh I should use that, it doesn’t happen though lol.
I have a stone sharpener I use all the time at the flytying station. When I tie I sharpen the bigger hooks from say #16 on up. I never worry about the smaller ones cause they are on very light tippet and don’t last long with my downeth backcasts.
I just ordered about 1500 mustad hooks in various sizes . What brand hooks do you guys mean when you say “better quality” hooks?
Better hook brands, mustad signature series, and diachii. Personlly to cheap to buy them i use mustad and i still seem to catch fish.
GBF…
In reply…I started many years ago and hooks have improved over time so the flies date back…I notice a difference in the old ones especially…now adays I think most of the “name brands” are fine…
Having said that…I maintain two locations for fly tying and deciding not to carry stuff back and forth…I got a new supply of hooks…being low volume and not wanting to compromise I decided on mainly doing Mustad Signatures…so far haven’t regretted it.
Seems to me that if a company like Mustad that enjoys the rep. and has been around as long as they have… comes out with a premium line it’s probably real and not hype…just a matter of personal choice.
Incidently…I think Cabela’s brand is made by diachii…at least I’m sure they used to be…some on this site have said they may not be quite the same quality.
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.