I’ve only fished like three times in the past year. My question is how often should I sharpen my hooks? And if there rusty, should I just get new hooks? i’ll be going over my inventory which isn’t much but I’m sure there’s some rust on my spinnerbaits, crankbait or jerkbait and worm hooks. I hate to think how much replacing I might have to do. Anyway, y’all have a great day hope you’re having a good new year. Look forward to your replies. 

I jig fish in rocky areas and I keep a hook sharpener on me and check the jig hook often and sharpen as necessary. Treble hooks are a bit of a PIA with me so I replace.

 

At one time it was not as expensive as it is now, so this one is really a "how much do I want to spend on hooks" vs "well it's winter and I really don't want to move snow, so let's sharpen treble hooks". 

 

Rust? Depends on how bad. Surface rust compared heavily oxidized. The latter gets replaced. Surface rust can generally be wiped/washed off.

To be totally honest, I never sharpen my hooks. If it is a hook on a crankbait, I change them out. On a worm hook, I throw it away and get a fresh one. Any other bait, I just throw it and set the hook hard. I guess this comes from getting old!!!

I'm with @tander, my only add is that I often consider the hook when purchasing lures.  I'm personally off no name hooks, eagle claw, and trokar, iffy on some mustad and vmc, faith in owner, gammy, ryugi, bkk, and decoy.  This might not be the way, but it is a way that I haven't paid for yet.

 

scott

Another one here that rarely sharpens his hooks. With a Senko or a texas rigged worm, I just replace the hook if it doesn't pass my fingernail test. Rust though, that's a hard no for me. If I see any rust on any bait, it's an automatic throw away. 

I often give my hooks the fingernail test and resharpen if needed.

I do what @tander does.

An old friend who is one of the smartest fisherman I ever met (he has fished all over the world).  At 80, he fishes 150 plus days a year. He owned a fly shop in Baltimore for years.  When customers would ask the age old question, "how do I catch more fish?", his answer was always, "sharpen your hooks."    Once when I was a guide fishing with a good and long time customer, I was able to fish along side him.  The spinnerbait bite was hot.  Bite after bite after bite.  I was killing them, pretty much every fish in the boat.  He was getting just as many bites but, wasn't landing any where near as many fish.  Frustrated after another lost fish, he turned and asked, "Capt Dave, what am I doing wrong?"   I told him it may sound silly but, sharpen your hook.  He said it was brand new.  I asked him to perform the thumb nail test,  then to try it on my hook.  Not even close as sharpness goes.  I took out my diamond sharpener and sharpened his hook.  He didn't miss another fish.  He was stunned.  New doesn't mean sharp, and sharpness means everything.

13 hours ago, bloom said:

I often give my hooks the fingernail test and resharpen if needed.

This. I sharpen my hooks all the time. I can usually do it in seconds. I carry a Leatherman  equipped with a diamond file and a couple of strokes on the file usually gets it done. I'm not throwing away a perfectly good hook , spinnerbait, buzzbait... because of a minor inconvienece. 

I'm not obsessed with sharpening hooks but do check them.

Big hooks like on spinnerbaits are quick and easy to touch up.

Rusty hooks get tossed.

On 1/3/2026 at 5:16 AM, bloom said:

I often give my hooks the fingernail test and resharpen if needed.

 

same I do it every so often when I’m about to cast.  I have flattened hooks banging a jig into a bridge piling.

 

Sharpening a hook takes maybe 5 seconds.  I do it to treble hooks because it’s extremely rare that all 6-9 tips are dull.  And even if they were - sharpening them all will do wonders for your confidence.

 

I had 11 fish hours this fall on the lipless - had to sharpen it mid bite window when I started losing them on the only lipless they’d bite!  Started landing them again.

 

It’s one of the only gimmicks that isn’t just a gimmick to sell you something.  Sharpen your hooks if you like landing the fish that bite!

When I switched to 99% Trokar’s years ago, I don’t touch them anymore which I always did regardless of brand. 

Once in a while they’ll need a touch up but that’s it. 
The others I just toss 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

https://www.ebay.com/itm/355000533686

Since getting into muskie fishing, I've found getting good at sharpening hooks is a must do. I've tried several files starting with the Luhr Jensen, and settled on the one in the link. It's not nearly as aggressive as the Luhr Jensen, but get's them razor sharp with little effort. I've found it to be the perfect cut.

13 hours ago, Bird said:

I'm not obsessed with sharpening hooks but do check them.

Big hooks like on spinnerbaits are quick and easy to touch up.

Rusty hooks get tossed.

I agree.  I will touch up a big single hook with a file.  If anything is rusty, it gets replaced.  I opt for premium hooks to start with, primarily Trokar and Owner, and that helps a lot.  

If my hooks are dull i sharpen or replace them. I have a few old dexter-russel diamond hones from my 20+ years as a fine dining chef and they work quite nicely.

I carry a Dr. Slick sharpener in my life vest.

Give em the old fingernail test now and then, or especially if I get hung up or lose a fish.

Trebles get changed out, too much for me to try and sharpen them on freshwater.

Saltwater I'll sharpen em off the water with a file, most of those a 3x or 4x so I can actually see what I'm doing.