Hooks

[Timdog]

I was wondering how many people pay special attention to the hooks. Like check for bent, broken, or dull points and sharpen. I don't see much on the subject but one of the most important DULL HOOKS DON'T CATCH FISH!! I seen a post once where it was said check your hooks once in awhile. I use a lot of Rapala stick baits. First thing I do is replace rear hook with VMC Vandium needle cone or Owner both very sharp. All baits that go into boat are checked before every trip especially if I'm running boards. You spend thousands to be on the water why cheap out on hooks?

[STEINFISHSKI]

Good point Timdog. I updated a few Jerks and when I added them to my box I noticed more than a few rusty hooks in there. Try to stay with the same size and weight to keep the action the same on the bait.

[islaysteelies]

I've got like 50 hook sharpeners lying around if that tells you anything...I've got a buddy that sharpens his steelie hooks like every 5th drift...This guy catches a ton of fish...

[Ruler]

I've used several types of sharpeners, from electric to stones. I found one last fall that works great and only costs $4! It's at Bass Pro Shops and is a metal cylindar about the diameter of a pencil and 3" long. Put the point in the end, give it a few twists, and the hook is like a razor again. I can sharpen hooks without even taking the bait off; I've sharpened hooks with shiners, crawlers, and spawn bags all on so far. All you need is to be able to get at the point. I don't work at BPS or anything; just passing along a great deal on a terriffic tool.

[Gone Fishing]

Ruler, How big is the hole in the end? Do you think you could sharpen the larger hooks on a Muskie bait? I have too many dang baits to do them all with a stone!

[captainqtip69]

Hooks are extremely important! Being a charter captain I may be a little more fussy than the next guy, but I just spent two whole days last week replacing rusted or bent hooks on all my crank-baits. I'd hate for someone to lose the fish of a lifetime because of a bad hook! Even new baits and jigs out of the box I touch up with a hook hone, make them real sticky. Gives you something to do when it's snowing outside too!!!!!

[Ruler]

Gone Fishin, the hole in the end is relatively small. I'll measure it tommorrow and post the size. I think it'll sharpen a fairly large hook, but it depends on how big you're talking about. I've seen some musky baits that I'd probably use my rotary tool to sharpen! I'll try some larger hooks tommorrow too and let you know how big I can sharpen with it. I don't have a whole lot of extremely large hooks, but I have a couple of hooks I found on the river from snaggers that should give it a good test. (One treble hook in particular I found is about 4" across; it's great for pulling out stuff. Just tie on a rope and I can pull in quite a bit of garbage. I helped pull a bike out of the saginaw river with it last year. )

[DEERSLAYER]

Gone Fishing,
I just looked up that hook sharpener in BPS and it said good for sizes 12 thru 4/0. Darn, and I just made an order from BPS yesterday.

[Gone Fishing]

Thanks for the feedback guys. For $4, how can you go wrong! I don't think I will get away with a $4 dollar purchase though. It will probably cost me a couple hundred by the time I thumb through the catalog and find a few things that I absolutely cannot do without. I don't know how I have gotten by with only 40 rods and reels and 6 tackle boxes filled with baits!

[STEINFISHSKI]

I feel your pain Gone Fishing.

[Ruler]

I measured the diameter of the hole in the sharpener. It's about 1 millimeter. I just tried it on some of my larger hooks. It handles the treble hook on a 3/4 ounce little cleo fine (it's 1/2" between point and shank), but struggles a bit with the snagging hook I mentioned above. I was a bit off in my estimation of it's size; it's 1" between point and shank.

Heh, I don't think I've ever walked into BPS and spent less than $50. It's a really good thing they don't have a store around here- I'd be broke! (But well equipped. )

[Gone Fishing]

Thanks Ruler, your efforts are appreciated. I know what you mean if they had a BPS closer to this area. I live near Lakeside Fishing Shop and one time while I was in the store, a employee asked if I needed any help. When I turned around to answer him, he saw who I was and said, "oh, it's you. Nevermind, you know this store better than I do." I guess I'm just a fishing junkie!

[Ruler]

Heh, that kinda reminds me of when I was still going to Delta College. Every Monday night, after accounting class, I'd stop by the Hungry Howies Pizza next to the highway and get 2 mediums, one with mushrooms, one with ham, and both with buttered cheese crusts. Since I was in class, my mother would call it in and have it ready when I was going by. Well, I stop by on the way home one night and the pizza guy says 'Hiya Jim. Your mom forgot to call today, but I made your pizzas for ya anyways. Here ya go.'