How to Sharpen Fish Hooks
When you are fishing, sharp hooks are needed to easily put your bait on the hook when trying to catch the fish. If your fish hooks become dull after use, there is no need to purchase a new set of hooks. You can easily sharpen your fish hooks by following a few simple steps.
- Decide if you’d like to use an electric file or a hand held sharpening device. You can find both types of sharpeners at your local sporting goods store.
- Take your hook and use pliers to straighten out the piece of metal. This will make it easier to sharpen the hook using your sharpening device.
- Start sharpening the outside and back of the fish hook in a back and forth motion using the filer that you chose.
- Use your pliers again to form the fish hook into a triangle shape. This is the best shape for catching fish as it locks the hook into the fishes jaw and prevents them from getting loose from your line.
- Hold the hook from the bottom and begin sharpening the other side using your file. You can attach the hook to a small piece of line if the hook is smaller and difficult to hold while filing it.
- Check the hook to ensure you removed any burrs and that all pieces of the hook have been sharpened.
- Test the sharpness of your hook by dragging it across your thumb nail. If the hook catches on your nail when applied with light pressure, the hook is sharp enough and ready for use.