Are Your Fishing Hooks Sharp?

Most people buy a box of fishing hooks and go fishing. Some fishermen buy a box of fishing hooks and then take each of them and sharpen them with a fine toothed hook file. Yes, each hook and each hook on each lure you use should be sharpened.

I never used to sharpen my hooks until I started fishing Walleye Tournaments during the 1990’s. Then I found that most of the “pros” did just that, they sharpened every hook. So I bought a hook file and was amazed at how much sharper my hooks were after a few strokes of the file. There is absolutely no comparison.

Factory hooks are made by a machine that makes them pretty sharp, but not as sharp as they can be with a little touching-up. Does it make a big difference? I guess if you don’t mind a fish getting off now and then because he’s not hooked well, then it’s not a big deal. But if you like to get your fish to the bank or boat almost every time, the sharpened hook will make that happen.

It takes about ten seconds to sharpen a hook and a hook file will cost you 3 or 4 bucks. Unless you leave it out in the rain to rust or loose if, you will be able to use if for years. Not a big expense at all. So, if you want to hook up with more fish get a hook file and touch-up each hook in your tackle box. You’ll be amazed at how sharp your hooks can be.

Dan Bomkamp - author and host of the radio show "How's Fishing"
http://www.southwest-wisconsin-real-estate.com/