Never sharpen your hooks (Page 3): I sharpen my hooks so that they are "sticky" sharp. They will dig into your finger nail if dragged over.

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

bapabear wrote:

I never sharpen my hooks. The fresh raw metal turns the fish off. I just set dull hooks harder.

I sharpen my hooks so that they are "sticky" sharp. They will dig into your finger nail if dragged over.

DanBl Loc: Gainesville, FL

I am still using a 36 year old frog colored, 3/8 oz Jitterbug. Have never felt the need to sharpen as I can't remember the last time one that hit got off. Then again, its not like LMB have a tough jaw to set it in.

tannin Loc: Western OR

I usually lose the hook or lure before anything needs sharpening

Pete the welder Loc: Guerneville ,ca

Able Man wrote:

That's a good "way to roll"!

So sharpen hooks after every big fish ? Do you also change line beings as it stretched? I will redo knots some times .

Jeffchow88 Loc: San Francisco

Several factors-
What are you fishing for?
What kind of hooks are you buying?

Able Man Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)

Pete the welder wrote:

So sharpen hooks after every big fish ? Do you also change line beings as it stretched? I will redo knots some times .

No, I was telling OJ, that "dragging the hook along the thumbnail" is a good way to roll... To me, a man ought to be sure that he's using sharp hooks... Just my preference.
And again, no; I do not change my line unless it comes time to really needing to be changed... Like if'n when it seems to have become weakened. (Or, if, after multiple "break-offs"; I don't feel like I've got ENOUGH line on a reel.)

Kerry Hansen Loc: Bremerton, WA

tannin wrote:

I usually lose the hook or lure before anything needs sharpening

If you are fishing for really hard fish to catch like Steelhead for example, I will do everything I can to improve my chances to catch them. If others choose not to, No Preblembo, more for me. LOL

Hokiefisher Loc: Charlotte NC

Never really thought about sharpening my hooks before. Might try. Stream fishing for fresh water trout, I have missed a few that I think to myself “how did that fish not hook itself “

Knee-deep Loc: Oregon

greenfrog wrote:

x2

Drift fish for salmon and steelhead in smaller rivers and creeks. Your hooks are always dragging on rocks .
(If you want to get where the fish are.)
So I religiously sharpen my hooks.
The fish don't run away from a sharp hook.
But IMO I think dragging a hook across my thumb nail is just about as bad as dragging it across a rock. I check by sticking it in the under side of my thumb or finger if it penetrates my thumb it will stick in a fishes lip.

Able Man Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)

Knee-deep wrote:

Drift fish for salmon and steelhead in smaller rivers and creeks. Your hooks are always dragging on rocks .
(If you want to get where the fish are.)
So I religiously sharpen my hooks.
The fish don't run away from a sharp hook.
But IMO I think dragging a hook across my thumb nail is just about as bad as dragging it across a rock. I check by sticking it in the under side of my thumb or finger if it penetrates my thumb it will stick in a fishes lip.

Try scratching a rock with your thumbnail... Now try scratching your thumbnail with a rock... ¿Which one IS harder? (Hardness of material)

WattaFish Loc: Sonoma County CA

Very interesting and you all never fail to amuse me (I mean that in a good way). Never have sharpened hooks; even used the same hook I dig out of the trout when cleaning it, the next time I'm fishing. Hey, I'm in California; we're big into recycling here. But I can see with bigger game fish, it would be essential.