When you buy fresh new fishing hooks, they are usually sharp. So, there is no reason to sharpen them. However, you cannot rely on the initial sharpness of the fishing hook to remain forever. Even though you don’t fish regularly, the sharpness of your fish hook will decline.
As you fish regularly, your fishing hook clashes against stones, rocks or any hard item in the water. Interestingly, even the bones in the fish’s mouth can make your fishing hooks dull. The last thing you need when you go fishing is for your fishing hook to perform below par.
If you crave an optimum performance anytime you go fishing; your fishing hook needs to be sharp. Instead of buying new fish hooks because they are sharp, you can learn how to sharpen and save money. One fact you must know is, you don’t have to be a professional before you know how to sharpen fish hooks.
What Is the Best Time to Sharpen Your Fish Hooks?
Ideally, you must sharpen your fish hook before any fishing expedition. Before you know how to sharpen a hook, it is important to know the best time to do it. The truth is, it is quite stressful, but the end-results are usually worth it. For anglers who fish regularly, they might overlook sharpening their fish hooks sometimes, but this should not be a regular occurrence.
What some anglers do is, they slide the tip of their fingers against the blade of the fish hook. With this, it is easier for them to know if the sharpness of the fish hook is suitable for use or not. Similarly, some anglers use their fingernails to scratch the fish hook’s tip.
If there is a deep dent on the fingernail, then the fish hook is still sharp and great for use. If the fish hook slides over the fingernail without a dent, it is the best time to sharpen your fish hook.
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Using a Battery-Fuelled Stone or File to Sharpen Your Fish Hook
For people who don’t know how to sharpen fish hooks, two items you will find handy are battery-fuelled stones and files. The beauty about these items is, you can take them to wherever you are going. This portability makes it easier for you to carry them conveniently without constituting a burden. There are different battery-powered stones on the market you can buy.
And based on your budget, you can purchase an inexpensive one that can fit into your bag. The common one that anglers use is the single AA model that comes with a protection cover. If you are fishing and your fish hook point becomes dull, you can use the battery-powered stone to quickly sharpen it. Below are simple steps to sharpen your fish hook:
Create a Triangular Point
The first step to sharpening your fishing hook is by creating a triangular point that will seamlessly cut through the fish’s jaw. If you’ve seen fish hooks that drive vertically through the fish’s jaw in a straight line, the hook’s point is always triangular.
File the Other Side of the Hook
After creating your triangular point, turn to the other end of the hook and file it. It is essential to file the other end of the hook at the same angle when you were filing the hook point. If you are sharpening the fish hook, hold it properly in your hand. Generally, it is more challenging to hold smaller hooks.
Touch Up the End of the Hook
There are times when you are fishing when you need to top-up the sharpness of your hook. In this case, you can use a knife file or a nail clipper file. All you need to do is, eliminate the burrs to sharpen it. The best time to touch up your hook’s end is when you have been fishing in the rocks region. In this case, you can test the sharpness of your hook by using the thumbnail test.
The Effects of Over-Sharpening
Some anglers make the mistake of over-sharpening their fishing hooks because they think it makes it better. However, one of the quintessential tips to sharpen fish hooks is to avoid over-sharpening, which results in loss of balance. When you over-sharpen your hook, its point becomes soft so that it can be bent with your fingers.
For your fish hook to be sharp and effective, it must be thin yet sturdy and sharp enough to seamlessly pass through the fish’s mouth. More so, it must be strong to avoid bending during tough times. When hunting for big fishes, you will appreciate having a strong, sharp and effective fish hook.
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An Overview of Safety Measure to Take When Sharpening Your Fish Hook
For beginner anglers who do not know how to sharpen fish hooks, they will not be aware that most fish hooks come with a coating. The essence of this coating is to prevent them from budding rust. Anytime your fish hooks are sharpened, the protective coating is removed. Hence, your fish hooks become more susceptible to rusting.
Most times, these spots, which are reddish-brown, adversely affect the metal’s surface level without deep penetration. You can even use your fingernails to scratch the spots away. With this, you have nothing to worry about, particularly about changing your hooks when tiny dots of rust are spotted.
However, when the spots become bigger, you have to exercise caution because the corrosion is getting worse. The best way to safeguard your fishing hooks and prevent it from rust development is by applying oil. What you need to do is apply little oil on the barb and the point and other points that made contact with the sharpening file or stone.
During this process, it is best to use the tip of a tissue or cotton bud instead of your fingertips. The implications of using your fingertips is, you might injure yourself. It is also vital that you do not apply too much oil because you’ll end up with a big mess when you place the fish hook in its pack. Furthermore, it would be challenging to tie the fish line, and your fish hook will be slippery.
Factors to Consider in Choosing a Fish Hook
Before you buy a fish hook, it is imperative to consider various factors that determine how well your fish hook will be used in the long run. There are three models of fishing hooks, namely: The single point, double point and triple point, the last one is also known as treble hook.
These fishing hook models are useful for Lure-and-bait fishing. Typically, all fish hooks come with sharp points, but this sharpness varies based on different factors that will be discussed below:
Size
The size of your fish hook determines the kind of fish you will catch. If you opt for a small fish hook, it implies you are not interested in capturing big fishes. If you use a small fish hook for a big fish, it would be almost impossible to capture it. In comparison, if you use a big hook, it would not penetrate the mouth of a smaller fish.
Hence, you need to ensure the fish hook you buy tallies with the average size of fish you are interested in. If you use the appropriate fish hook size, you are increasing your prospects of capturing your preferred choice of fish. Fish hooks have various sizes, so you have to be sure of the sizes of fishes you will be capturing before you get a fish hook.
Material
A good fish hook should come from a durable material like high-carbon steel. Some fishing hooks producers use a special Dura steel coating, which makes the fishing hooks very durable. And this steel coating is proficient in attracting the fish when it is in the water.
Durability
You need to know that a fish hook cannot last forever. These items go through stress, which results from intense usage. However, it does not understate the fact that you should not go for fish hooks that are too flimsy.
It is vital that before you buy a fish hook, you should ascertain its durability. A high-quality fish hook will last for a long time. And even if it encounters a rock or a hard object, you will still be able to use it. In comparison, using a mid-level fish hook means that you will still spend more on purchases or repairs.
Versatility and Worth
You need to purchase fish hooks that can serve more than one purpose. Sometimes, it might be challenging to get the right one that meets this standard. However, you need to thoroughly conduct your research. It is crucial to get a fish hook that will serve you well and prevent you from breaking the bank.
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Conclusion
If you did not previously know how to sharpen fishing hooks, this guide should’ve proved to be more than helpful. Before you know how to sharpen fish hooks, you need to know the best time to do so. Also, you don’t have to be a professional before you sharpen a fish hook.
All you need to do is follow the instructions and get your fish hook sharpened. In addition, you need to consider the necessary factors that ensure you purchase the best fish hooks that suit your purpose.
