Easiest good hook sharpener

[Steve Foss]

Hey all:

Until now I've been using a pair of fine round metal files taped tightly together to sharpen hooks on my big lures.

Works pretty good, but some finesse is involved to get truly sharp points that way.

Anybody know of a whetstone-style hook sharpener than's easy and foolproof? Maybe one with an angle already gouged out of the stone so dragging the hooks down it will produce the right angle every time?

[AWH]

I've always found that a flat file works best like the 5.5"er that Luhr Jensen makes. I've also noticed that most people make sharpening hooks a lot more difficult than it should be. Take the file to the hook and not the hook to the file. In other words, keep the hook motionless and run the file down each side of the hook point. One or two runs with the file on each side of the hook usually does the job. Honestly, that's really all it takes, even on the big hooks. I was watching my brother sharpen his hooks last fall and I had to take the file from him. I took the file, made one good run on each side of the hook and handed it back to him. I said, "there you go, it's sharp." Of course he didn't believe me. He took the hook to his thumbnail and it stuck. All he could say was, holy $#!@. Needless to say, that's all it took for him to change his hook sharpening method.

Of course some hooks need a little more work to get them razor sharp. But it shouldn't be a project to get them to where they need to be. In addition, sharpening hooks in this way not only gets them sharper, quicker, but it's better for the life of the hook. When I switched from a stone to the flat file that I have now, it made a world of difference.

Aaron

[cjac]

As Aaron said, I think sharpening hooks is more on the operator than the tool itself. I use a very simple flat file from the local hardware store. $5 or so and I'm set.

Kinda funny how a hook cutter from a hardware won't stand up in the long run to 7/0 hooks but a simple and enexpensive file will do the trick!

[Steve Foss]

Thanks guys! I've got a couple files like that already, so no more dough needs be spent.

[cjac]

Yes Sir, falls into the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" category! As simple as a couple runs over a file and they're ready to go.

I'd be more than happy to come up and help you with the hook sharpening!

[Steve Foss]

Uh, gee, Chris, if all my mechanical skills suddenly abandon me and I need help dragging hooks across a file, you'll be the first one I'll call. And I guess I'd better assume that, as long as you're here, you'd be wanting to fish for a few of those Vermilion muskies.

[PDXFisher]

The metal $5 ones with the plastic handle work pretty well, though if you mess up a little, it will take off more metal than I prefer. E-Z Lap medium diamond files are also really cheap and don't take off quite as much metal as most of the metal files I've used that are targeted at fisherpeeps. I use them both, but the EZ Lap ones are easier for the less careful.

[Long Gray Line]

I've always used the ones that were originally meant for chain saws, the two round ones hooked parallel to each other that Thorne Bro's and Gander sells. I hold it at about a 45 degree angle and push toward the hook tip, maybe one or 2 swipes on each side and then on the front. Don't bear down or you'll take off too much metal. Any shallower angle and you get too fine a point. This point'll drive thru bone and last a long time!