How many of you sharpen your hooks and have you found its made a difference to your catch rate?
In reply to Post #1
I do. Hard to say about catch rate. So many other variables.
But it takes moments to get them sticky sharp and it certainly can't hurt.
I do. Hard to say about catch rate. So many other variables.
But it takes moments to get them sticky sharp and it certainly can't hurt.
Yes and yes, more so the harder the water.
On harder waters, you'll get a better class of angler and so you must keep up with "best in class".
I'm convinced my UK catches have improved because of sharpening.
What I would say is that there is sharpening and sharpening. I didn't realise how bad I was until I bought prof sharpened hooks of the same make. Once you see these under the magnifying glass, you can copy to know what good looks like. This transformed my abilities and is a top tip
On harder waters, you'll get a better class of angler and so you must keep up with "best in class".
I'm convinced my UK catches have improved because of sharpening.
What I would say is that there is sharpening and sharpening. I didn't realise how bad I was until I bought prof sharpened hooks of the same make. Once you see these under the magnifying glass, you can copy to know what good looks like. This transformed my abilities and is a top tip
In reply to Post #3
A sharper hook will ***** more fish
A sharper hook will ***** more fish
In reply to Post #1
Have a look at Adam Penning talking about hook sharpening on a carpology vid on you tube. Both instructional and informative.
Have a look at Adam Penning talking about hook sharpening on a carpology vid on you tube. Both instructional and informative.
I do sharpen my hooks and keep them all separate in a little box from j precision, I will say I'm not the best at compared to the likes of j precision but like mentioned below the best thing I can say is try to copy what they look like and then you can learn. I do say though I am convinced my catch rate has improved since doing it.
In reply to Post #1
Always use hooks initially fresh from the pack - no need to file IMHO unless they fail the Terry Hearn nail test. . .I'll take his view on this topic over Adam Penning all day long . . .
Other than that I only sharpen mine when they're blunt cos I'm tight and detest paying £4+ for pack . . .if they're still 'doable' after that they get relegated to the barbel tackle box.
Don't go overboard and just give them a couple of strokes with the diamond file primarily . . .rarely use the other Jag files . . .
Always use hooks initially fresh from the pack - no need to file IMHO unless they fail the Terry Hearn nail test. . .I'll take his view on this topic over Adam Penning all day long . . .
Other than that I only sharpen mine when they're blunt cos I'm tight and detest paying £4+ for pack . . .if they're still 'doable' after that they get relegated to the barbel tackle box.
Don't go overboard and just give them a couple of strokes with the diamond file primarily . . .rarely use the other Jag files . . .
In reply to Post #6
Do you think some of his hooks are over sharpened?
Do you think some of his hooks are over sharpened?
In reply to Post #8
If they stick in my nail out the packet i use them, if not sharpen.
If they stick in my nail out the packet i use them, if not sharpen.
In reply to Post #8
Korda ones are I turned one over on the retrieve last week
Korda ones are I turned one over on the retrieve last week
In reply to Post #8
When I first got them I did think they was yeah but since using them a lot I have full confidence in using them, a lot of my friends buy them off him they would rather buy them instead of doing it themselves and they all love them aswell. I do my own now so it doesn't overly bother me but I would definitely use them if I had to, I still have a lot of packs of them for when I fancy using them.
I like using muggas and triggahammers but sharpen them myself, never really use a straight out of the pack anymore. Unless I'm on a day session on a runs water where I no I'll have a few out with the kids
When I first got them I did think they was yeah but since using them a lot I have full confidence in using them, a lot of my friends buy them off him they would rather buy them instead of doing it themselves and they all love them aswell. I do my own now so it doesn't overly bother me but I would definitely use them if I had to, I still have a lot of packs of them for when I fancy using them.
I like using muggas and triggahammers but sharpen them myself, never really use a straight out of the pack anymore. Unless I'm on a day session on a runs water where I no I'll have a few out with the kids
In reply to Post #11
Only use his hooks and Angling Iron, the latter is a better quality hook IMO, sharpens up better, very good straight out of the packet too.
Only use his hooks and Angling Iron, the latter is a better quality hook IMO, sharpens up better, very good straight out of the packet too.
It has to be a no brainer that a sharper hook will catch a fleshy mouth better? I tried the J precision hooks and they are sharp and light but not enough meat on his patterns for how far he takes them for me. I've long been a fan of Gardner hooks, only really use the mugga or the chod for every need and the couple of quid more for JH to sharpen them is enough for me. Plenty left on them to hone them back if they dull after being the water for a bit.
In reply to Post #1
Hi Chris,
I'll probably be going against the grain on this one.
I generally fish nowadays with rigs out for 24 hours at a time and within a mile of a saline line.
Initially I thought the hook sharpening concept was great, but over time I've realised that finely sharpened hooks tend to rust much faster and also tend to blunt very quickly if you're fishing a river or venue with tow.
For me there are enough good quality hooks out there that far outweigh the need for sharpening.
Not saying it's another advertising fad, its just not for me
Best
Jon
Hi Chris,
I'll probably be going against the grain on this one.
I generally fish nowadays with rigs out for 24 hours at a time and within a mile of a saline line.
Initially I thought the hook sharpening concept was great, but over time I've realised that finely sharpened hooks tend to rust much faster and also tend to blunt very quickly if you're fishing a river or venue with tow.
For me there are enough good quality hooks out there that far outweigh the need for sharpening.
Not saying it's another advertising fad, its just not for me
Best
Jon
In reply to Post #14
For me there are enough good quality hooks out there that far outweigh the need for sharpening.
Similar thoughts to me Jon
I use ESP and Nash hooks, very rare I have a problem out of the packet nowadays
I check every hook point when I tie a rig up, before every cast / baiting up and after a fish etc., only then will I consider sharpening it if I think it needs it. I have sharpened hooks for many years, used to use aluminium oxide stones that I got from work before hook sharpening became the trend. I find sharpened hooks blunt easily and like you say some waters, inland for me, the silt and substrate can be quite corrosive or have a detrimental effect on the points. The coatings help for me.
Fine hook points turn over VERY easily especially when fishing gravelly waters! I once posted on here quite a few years ago now and I was fishing a gravel pit with straight pointed hooks, I was getting loads with the points turned over and blunting. My mate was using the new Korda wide gapes at the time with the beaked point and was suffering virtually none compared to me. Used them for quite a few years, brilliant hooks before they upgraded the wire gauge to a larger size.
For me there are enough good quality hooks out there that far outweigh the need for sharpening.
Similar thoughts to me Jon
I use ESP and Nash hooks, very rare I have a problem out of the packet nowadays
I check every hook point when I tie a rig up, before every cast / baiting up and after a fish etc., only then will I consider sharpening it if I think it needs it. I have sharpened hooks for many years, used to use aluminium oxide stones that I got from work before hook sharpening became the trend. I find sharpened hooks blunt easily and like you say some waters, inland for me, the silt and substrate can be quite corrosive or have a detrimental effect on the points. The coatings help for me.
Fine hook points turn over VERY easily especially when fishing gravelly waters! I once posted on here quite a few years ago now and I was fishing a gravel pit with straight pointed hooks, I was getting loads with the points turned over and blunting. My mate was using the new Korda wide gapes at the time with the beaked point and was suffering virtually none compared to me. Used them for quite a few years, brilliant hooks before they upgraded the wire gauge to a larger size.