I remember a time when the only readily available hooks were Mustad. Out of a box of 100 10-20% were unuseable and every hook in the box had to be sharpened. Then the Tiemco and Partridge started to become more available Mustad either upped the quality or they’d be out of buisness.
Dudley I agree the 3407 holds its point better but the plating on that hook is harder on the fish I’d rather stick with the Stainless.
Rick Z and anyone else who doesn’t want to add more equiptment to carry I would recommend the small stick on sharpeners. They come 2 in a pack and are small enough to stick on the side of your nippers, about 1 inch by 1/4 inch. Wish I could give a brand name but there wasn’t one on the package.
Sharpening your hooks not only helps hooking fish but also allows you to carry fewer flies.I used to carry 6 of each pattern in each size I now carry 3.
If I ‘rock’ my fly and get a nice burr I’ll reach down where I’m standing usually and I’ll be able to find a small, flattish piece of igneous rock that I can de-burr with…or even sharpen the point if I ever feel the need to.
I’ve never had to sharpen or resharpen a trout fly hook, only Salt water hooks on occasion. I use good hooks (Tiemco, Dai Riki, Daiichi, Partridge if I feel like spending money, etc…).
I’m compulsive about sharp hooks, so yes I sharpen or check for sharpness often, whether in fresh or saltwater, regardless of the make or model of hook.
I’m in a different ballpark altogether … I’ve never considered taking a sharpening tool with me on the stream. Never even crossed my mind. I guess I’m with RickZ on this. I usually lose or break off before i notice the hook is dull. After reading this post, I believe I’ll get something to sharpen the hooks up a bit.
