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Hook Sharpeners

Jon Frisby

Senior Member & Supporter
I suffer from a lot of hooks bending over right on the end, or becoming blunt.
Is it worth buying a sharpener? or should i just discard the hook?
If it is worth buying a sharpener; which one would you recommend?

Thank You in advance

Jon
 
Try buying a pattern with a slightly inturned point.Should stop you "beaking" so many on the large boulders of the tidal trent.
 
Good question Jon, I always discard them immediately but there is plenty of metal there to sharpen. Recently tried the Pallatrax hooks which are sharp but seem a little more robust that the Raptor D7s that I have been using. I used the Pallatrax on one rod and the D7 on the other - definitely more resilient.

Conrad
 
Tend to sharpenmostof my hooks straight out of the packet. A quick swipe on the sharpening stone seems to improve even the apparently sharpest of hooks. Whether it really makes a difference for barbel hook up rates I'm not too sure. Always aim to have the sharpest possible hook for hook shy species in still water though (does make a difference for carp hook ups).

My sharpener is built in to a leatherman tool. Very handy!
 
Hooks are funny old things, i only use 2 types, Korum S5's and ESP D7's that Conrad told me about, who was advised from Graham Elliott, i think?. The Korum hooks are great Hooks, but i lost a big Barbel on the tidal in September, admittedly it was a size 12 though, so moved onto D7's, and so far haven't lost a fish yet. I still use S5's, if i need to wind down into a fish though.
The point is though, pardon the pun, Hook sharpeners, which one? and is it worth it? or should i discard?

Jon
 
I bought a Berkley diamond one, looks like a pen, with a clamp for the hook at one end and a pull out diamond file at the other, the file has a groove on one side, excellent bit of kit. Use it mainly for lure trebles and salmon fly,s, but works a treat on any other hook too.
peter
 
Jon, I have a fox sharpener which I only use for re-pointing flies, I wouldn't bother with normal hooks, most these days are chemically sharpened and I personally don't seem to be able to get them anywhere near as sharp as they are new, for the cost and risk of losing my fish of a lifetime I throw them away and use a new one.....
 
Hook Shapeners

Jon,

Suffer the same on the middle & tidal too especially as I am keen on the old super specialists & gardener mugger hooks. talking to Steve Bardills of Walkers of Trowell he recommended & now I use the following

http://www.walkersoftrowell.com/ind...ufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

It has a grove on one side, curved round to a flatter edge on opposite side. Tried a number of sharpeners but a few soft strokes (no pun please!!) with this one & you can get a few more casts from most mildly dulled points. Compacts down to about 3-4 inches (half a bic pen).

Cheers, Jon
 
How come you no longer use S3's Johnny? Did you start having issues with them?

Looked at the S5's myself, look very self hooking.

Trevor
 
The last time i used an S3 was in 2008, if thats the heavy gauge hook. You can drag a tidal barge in on a S5, the only draw back is the big barb, they take some getting out when they are stuck in.
Thankyou all for the comments, on that i will invest in a hook sharpener.

Jon
 
I suffer from a lot of hooks bending over right on the end, or becoming blunt.
Is it worth buying a sharpener? or should i just discard the hook?
If it is worth buying a sharpener; which one would you recommend?

Thank You in advance

Jon

Try a cheapo diamond pen file from B&Q for about £3.50
 
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