I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong or if it's just my hook file but my hooks seem to not get sharper 

A-Jay

I've already seen that and it just made my hook more dull I know that I have to hold it at a low angle and swipe away from the hook point but I seem to just make my dull hooks more dull

Buy new hooks.

A-Jay

Sounds like you just need more practice until you get the hang of it. There are some cases where a hook can be sharpened or used enough that you can no longer get a good angle for further sharpening, in which case you have to replace that hook, but otherwise, sharpening should help. Personally though, I rarely use the channel slot on my files, instead making a pass underneath and to each side of the hook, and then one more straight over the top to get a slightly more angular "bite" (vs. conical). When done, it shouldn't slide on your fingernail surface, it should stick.

-T9

How coarse is your file? 

  On 2/26/2017 at 5:45 AM, CenCal fisher said:

How coarse is your file? 

It has 2 sides fine and coarse I use fine side with a few light strokes could it be the file it was like $5

  On 2/26/2017 at 5:37 AM, Team9nine said:

Sounds like you just need more practice until you get the hang of it. There are some cases where a hook can be sharpened or used enough that you can no longer get a good angle for further sharpening, in which case you have to replace that hook, but otherwise, sharpening should help. Personally though, I rarely use the channel slot on my files, instead making a pass underneath and to each side of the hook, and then one more straight over the top to get a slightly more angular "bite" (vs. conical). When done, it shouldn't slide on your fingernail surface, it should stick.

 

-T9

Yeah I like to get my hooks sharp cuz in the summer when I fish the river it's like 2-3 feet deep and very easy to get hung up so I use bps squirt tubes with the squirt tube jigs and they are cheap and come in fairly decent size packs but the hook dull every time it gets hung up for a second so I thought easy fix hook file but I suck at it and I was doing the nail test and was barley scratching my nail

Some Leatherman multi tools have a diamond file that sharpen hooks real well . I dont go fishing without mine .  I can even sharpen trebel hooks with it by pressing down and sharpening two tines at once . 

You need a fine diamond file. File In one direction towards the point not away from it.

  On 2/26/2017 at 8:48 AM, Bigchunk said:

You need a fine diamond file. File In one direction towards the point not away from it.

That's what I have.

so I file the hook point towards me So ur saying do the opposite?

I'm saying the direction you want is that if you go to far you will get poked by the hook.  Best way I can come up with lol 

usually only takes a couple swipes unless it's really bent over. 

Also try to match the angle of the hook point with your file stroke  the best you can 

  On 2/26/2017 at 5:23 AM, A-Jay said:

Buy new hooks.

A-Jay

what he said....

  On 2/26/2017 at 9:45 AM, Bigchunk said:

I'm saying the direction you want is that if you go to far you will get poked by the hook.  Best way I can come up with lol 

usually only takes a couple swipes unless it's really bent over. 

Also try to match the angle of the hook point with your file stroke  the best you can 

Just practiced on a random hook I think the problem was wasn't following the flat edge that goes to the hook point

You will get it. Once you have it figured out it takes no time at all. I use this little pen file thing, they are cheap and I have a few so I always have one on the water. 

  On 2/26/2017 at 10:50 AM, Fish yeeter said:

Just practiced on a random hook I think the problem was wasn't following the flat edge that goes to the hook point

I think you've got it.

The main thing is to follow the original angle of the point (~5-deg per side - 10-deg included angle).

Increasing the angle makes the point more obtuse and destroys the sticky-sharp point.

If the point angle is too low, too much metal will have to be removed and the job will never get done.

Roger

  On 2/26/2017 at 11:21 AM, RoLo said:

 

 

I think you've got it.

 

The main thing is to follow the original angle of the point (~5-deg per side - 10-deg included angle).

Increasing the angle makes the point more obtuse and destroys the sticky-sharp point.

If the point angle is too low, too much metal will have to be removed and the job will never get done.

 

Roger

 

Yeah I think I that was the big problem. Reason I wanted to get this down is not just my tube jig hooks but also my crank bait hooks it's going to get warm soon and I want to throw some of my cranks but I felt the hooks and they weren't very promising and buying new vmc or gamakatsu hooks would be expensive   

I keep a file in my boat.  Haven't used it in 10 years.  I just grab another and re-tie these days.  Actually, there are some hooks I'll sharpen and there are some I won't.  I don't sharpen my Gamakatsu worm hooks.  If I roll those points, I toss 'em.  Mustad Ultra's I will sharpen.

The only hooks I sharpen anymore are single hook lures like spinnerbaits and jigs. Worm hooks and trebles, I just toss. The big, single hooks are easier to match the angle on, too.

Only one lure comes to mind that must be sharpened right out of the box, and that's the Johnson Silver Minnow.

It's a shame too, because few lures are better suited to navigating through floating vegetation.

Unhappily, it's not a hook that can be replaced so it must be sharpened.

Roger

Ok well talking hooks I just got some Berkeley fusion hooks has anyone tried them before cuz price wise there pretty affordable and they feel sticky sharp grabbed a pack for the replacement trebles I just decided it's to challenging to sharpen them compared to single hooks 

I consider myself to be very frugal, especially when it comes to buying tackle. (Which is why I still use an old Ambassadeur 5500C!) When it comes to hooks though, I've never had the inclination to sharpen the new ones, manufactured in the past 10 years or so. They come a heck of a lot sharper than hooks of the old days, that's for sure. I wonder just how many fishermen can honestly attribute a dull hook to a lost fish? I can't.

  On 2/26/2017 at 5:12 AM, Fish yeeter said:

I've already seen that and it just made my hook more dull I know that I have to hold it at a low angle and swipe away from the hook point but I seem to just make my dull hooks more dull

He said to apply the pressure when moving the hook point into the sharpener, not while moving it away.

I have had some hooks that seemed to defy sharpening too, (maybe the harder hooks? ) but most will take to proper sharpening technique. Some cheap hooks are so dull to begin with that it may take more time than normal to sharpen them.  

 It could be that your sharpener is not working well due to dulling with use or clogging with residue from the hooks or knives.   I have found that diamond sharpeners (the video guy had a diamond sharpener, if I'm not mistaken) work very well and do not normally get clogged or dull.

  On 2/26/2017 at 8:38 PM, Crestliner2008 said:

I consider myself to be very frugal, especially when it comes to buying tackle. (Which is why I still use an old Ambassadeur 5500C!) When it comes to hooks though, I've never had the inclination to sharpen the new ones, manufactured in the past 10 years or so. They come a heck of a lot sharper than hooks of the old days, that's for sure. I wonder just how many fishermen can honestly attribute a dull hook to a lost fish? I can't.

I can.  Jerking swimbaits off a rocky bottom.  After a while I'll notice getting strikes but losing the fish in the first few seconds.  Not getting good penetration.

Life is to short,,,,,,buy new hooks

Plus, after you sharpen them, they usually rust

I fish a rocky river and would be lost without my hook sharpener. I use a cheap diamond sharpener with coarse on one side and fine on the other, and use it so much I replace it every season. They quickly pay for themselves in hook cost and I can resharpen a hook more quickly than I can cut off a dull one and tie on a new one.

As was said above, if it scratches your thumbnail it's not sharp enough. If it sticks into your thumbnail with very little pressure you are good to go!

http://www.***/outdoors/***/story/1758698-kvd-on-swapping-vs-sharpening-dull-hooks

KVD on the decision to swap hooks or sharpen them

Thought Id throw this update out there. I have gotten really good at sharpening hooks now 

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