Am I the only one to repoint them with a very fine stone ?

Nope.

I use the Eze lap tool when needed.

 

https://www.fishusa.com/Eze-Lap-Diamond-Hook-Sharpener?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyNTcyN7C8wIVLG5vBB38cQe2EAQYAiABEgLnVfD_BwE

Or maybe keep one of these handy

I will re-sharpen a hook point quit often...but I dont sharpen new ones.

That yellow-handled thing is about useless, IMHO, and I find the diamond dust devices so much more effective.  But yes, hooks can be "repointed,"  and should be repointed to be so sharp that when pulled across the thumb nail, they dig rather than slide.

12 hours ago, MickD said:

That yellow-handled thing is about useless, IMHO, and I find the diamond dust devices so much more effective.  But yes, hooks can be "repointed,"  and should be repointed to be so sharp that when pulled across the thumb nail, they dig rather than slide. 

I much prefer the hook files over the diamond dust sharpeners. 

I user the diamond file on a leatherman . Its a great hook sharpener .

17 hours ago, MickD said:

That yellow-handled thing is about useless, IMHO, and I find the diamond dust devices so much more effective.  

Been using that "yellow handled thing" for over twenty years.  We use it for sharpening large offshore marlin hooks and they are much tougher than any bass hook will ever be.   

I use Trokar hooks almost exclusively and rarely will I touch them.
Have to be very careful with those as a file can ruin them. 

However, there are certain presentations that I will use an Owner or Gammy, for those I will hit the point regularly as needed. 
 

 

 

 

 

Mike
 

 

A file is an excellent tool, but I can can see why someone who doesn't know when or how to use one not liking them.  A Jay put me onto an awesome little key-chain sharpener a few months ago, I its made by a company called DMT and is available on amazon. 

Back in the day we had battery powered honing hook sharpeners because factory hooks were dull. Sharpening every hook was essential.

Then the Japanese hooks hit the market with sticky sharp points out of the box that stayed sharp. Game changer and the battery hook sharpeners disappeared.

A fine file or, diamond hone or hard Arkansas stone to touch up a dulled hook is handy. FYI  Glenn has a video on sharpening hooks.

Tom 

6 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

We use it for sharpening large offshore marlin hooks and they are much tougher than any bass hook will ever be

Which makes it an entirely different thing than sharpening a small hook that we are talking about.  If they work for anyone, fine, use them.  I'm only saying that I have not found them that effective.  And they rust.

I got myself smith’s sharpener. I only sharpen heavy wire guard jig hook and crappie jig hook which I bought cheapy stuff by a hundred.

I use a cheap sharpener when needed. Like, when the hook doesn’t scratch my finger nail I sharpen it. 
 

But honestly I’ve typically lost it before then…

I use a Dr slick hook file and it works well for me.

I use a whetstone usually.

i just set the hook harder ?

16 minutes ago, throttleplate said:

i just set the hook harder ?

Brilliant!?

It’s my belief that 75% of bass strikes hook themself if you use sharp hooks.

Tom

 

 

I use a diamond file and an Arkansas stone. The diamond file is for restoring a point and the Arkansas stone for finishing.  The diamond file is probably around 400-600 grit and the Arkansas stone is around 800-1,000. Both are small, and easily fit in my tackle bag.  

When I sharpen, I triangle sharpen all types of hooks with a small diamond file (like Glenn describes for a Trokar). It works fast and gets them sticky sharp. I like a thin diamond hook file with a continuous surface. I have also used the hook groove on some files. It works fine but doesn’t feel as sharp as the triangle method. 

The 17.4 lb bass I caught at lake Castaic hooked itself.

I made a very long cast to reach the bass location about 150’.  I wanted to let the jig sink straight down and pulled additional line, reeled in the slack to move the jig when the bass jumped, didn’t feel the strike. The bass apparently ate the jig on the fall and crunched down on the hook point sticking into the roof of the mouth. I did reel down and swung to set the hook but didn’t load up the rod. This bass ran straight at the boat running 50 yards and continued running under the boat another 50’ or so and jumped again. I finally caught up to the bass and fought back to the boat, a tired bass by now. The hook wasn’t penetrated passed the barb but stuck into the mouth cartilage. The bass hooked itself because it was sharp.

Tom

I use a Razor's Edge turret style hook sharpener which is no longer made. It produces accurate and repeatable angles as well as a "shovel point" that makes the hook point dig instead of slide. New hooks out of the package aren't sharp enough regardless of brand.

This subject fascinated me and I began using an industrial microscope to view (and photograph) hook points. I found that Trokar hook points were the sharpest right out of the package but still required sharpening. They were better than most but still not sharp enough. Gami's were interesting in that they had irregularities at the hook point. I contacted them about it but they never replied.