What type of hook sharpener do you guys use? Anyone use the automatic sharpeners? How do you sharpen hooks while out on the boat?

i just use a stome and sharpen it to get a triangular point or use a stone or diamond stones with the hook V grooves sharpening spot and just run the point along there.

i think most people on here will tell you to replace the hook instead of sharpening it. sharpening hooks will lead to corrosion.

i think most people on here will tell you to replace the hook instead of sharpening it. sharpening hooks will lead to corrosion.

I can do that, but what do you guys do with baits that don't have an o-ring holding the hook to the bait. Specifically crank baits and topwater baits. Do you just add an o-ring to the bait?

i just use a stome and sharpen it to get a triangular point or use a stone or diamond stones with the hook V grooves sharpening spot and just run the point along there.

+1

I have a couple of different hook sharpening stones and diamond hones. They all work well with a little practice. .daasaverda. is right that many will tell you to replace the hook, jig, whatever... Touching up the point on a hook is just part of fishing as far as I'm concerned. Just my $.02

i just use a stome and sharpen it to get a triangular point or use a stone or diamond stones with the hook V grooves sharpening spot and just run the point along there.

+1

I have a couple of different hook sharpening stones and diamond hones. They all work well with a little practice. .daasaverda. is right that many will tell you to replace the hook, jig, whatever... Touching up the point on a hook is just part of fishing as far as I'm concerned. Just my $.02

X2

I use a medium india die stone that is 1/4" wide X 3/16" thick, tapering down to 3/32" over the 4" length.

Works great. I always check all my hooks on all baits, even new, and touch them up to the point where they stick in my thumbnail with little pressure. Sharper than alot of new hooks.

Seems alot of guys today don't bother, but I still check all new hooks to see if they stick in my thumbnail. Surprising how many do not.

i think most people on here will tell you to replace the hook instead of sharpening it. sharpening hooks will lead to corrosion.

I can do that, but what do you guys do with baits that don't have an o-ring holding the hook to the bait. Specifically crank baits and topwater baits. Do you just add an o-ring to the bait?

are you talking about like on heddons and other classic lures? cut off the stock trebles (they're usually junk anyway), put on some split rings (thats what they're called, O-rings are plastic or rubber gaskets) and put on some quality treble hooks.

on jigs and spinnerbaits where the hook is attached to the bait, i use a dremel with an aluminum oxide grinding bit to touch up the hook.

I have a sharpening protocol that conserves hooks and works very well. For most lures I use any small fine-toothed flat file, kept on a retractor. (For tiny hooks as in trout flies, I use a grooved diamond sharpener.)

I was originally taught to do the 3 swipe point. But I found that this will go through hooks in a hurry if you are catching a lot of fish, or just fish that bait a lot. I now use a single swipe of the file. All I want is the point to stick into my thumbnail. After that dulls, I swipe another side. I take off as little metal as I can to get a sticky point. I test all point as CWB said.

Corrosion is not an issue if you allow your lures to dry before packing them up. I just let the boxes sit open overnight after a day of fishing. Then again, I live in super low humidity here in CO. Can't speak for Georgia though.

I usually replace hooks. A little hone can do minor touch ups though. The automatic sharpeners ruin hooks and are a waste of money.

Dremel

i think most people on here will tell you to replace the hook instead of sharpening it. sharpening hooks will lead to corrosion.

I can do that, but what do you guys do with baits that don't have an o-ring holding the hook to the bait. Specifically crank baits and topwater baits. Do you just add an o-ring to the bait?

are you talking about like on heddons and other classic lures? cut off the stock trebles (they're usually junk anyway), put on some split rings (thats what they're called, O-rings are plastic or rubber gaskets) and put on some quality treble hooks.

on jigs and spinnerbaits where the hook is attached to the bait, i use a dremel with an aluminum oxide grinding bit to touch up the hook.

Yeah my mistake on the "o-rings" don't know what I was thinking. It has been a long week with little sleep. I meant split rings, but I think you got the point anyway.

I don't necessarily like the idea of adding a split ring to a bait that doesn't already have for the reason that it can change the action or the way a bait sits in the water. I'll try both and see which I like better.