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| I'm just getting into musky fishing and keep reading that I should sharpen my hooks. But some of the new baits that I have purchased have extremely sharp hooks, and I am hesitant to take a file to them to screw them up. For example, I got a jointed Rapala X-Rap Shad, and the hooks seem to be very sharp. Should I only sharpen the hooks that seem to need it? What do you do with new baits? |
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Posts: 897
| Check them by scraping the tip of the hook on your thumbnail with a little pressure. If it digs in and sticks and sticks a little, the hook is sharp enough. If not, sharpen them. If you don't know how to properly sharpen a hook, have someone show you. It's easy. Check your hooks frequently throughout the day, especially if you are banging cover. Sticky sharp hooks catch more fish.
I have no idea whether the hooks on the lure you mentioned come sharp. Very few new lures come with hooks that are sticky sharp. The only lures I've found with sharp enough hooks are depthraiders and magnum shad raps. Be safe, test them all. |
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| Thanks for the tips. I also have a Topraider, and those hooks are crazy sharp. |
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| vmc conecut are by far the best you can find |
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Posts: 400
Location: North/Central WI | I sharpen all hooks (including all new baits) because I hate to miss and lose fish. You never know when you might need to penetrate bone....
Edited by NateOz 2/4/2009 2:30 PM
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| dull hooks work too... ; )
i'm fairly lazy at keeping my hooks razor sharp..but don't seem to lose many either...
i think it's over rated! ; ) |
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Posts: 909
| With all due respect bn, you've been lucky! Sharp hooks are very important! It only takes a couple seconds to seal the deal on putting a fish in the net!
Just my 2 cents,Brian |
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| it's the visor.
I think Jonesi has something to say about this one.. ; ) |
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | I remember when I would spend spend spend at the shows. Then one weekend I would sit and sharpen the hooks of all the new baits. I went to work on Monday and the boss asked "so what did you do this weekend?" I told him I sharpened hooks. He says "when they get that bad, I buy new ones". I told him these were new ones. You should have seen the look on his face.  |
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Posts: 415
Location: madison wisconsin | Gerard, do you sharpen hooks left-handed? |
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Posts: 108
Location: Toronto, ON | To me, it's as much about shaping the hooks as sharpening them so that they penetrate effectively. The following outlines a good technique for shaping/sharpening hooks:
http://www.deepcreekyachtclub.com/WebPage/images/hooksharpening.pdf
Edited by TanMan 2/4/2009 9:50 PM
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Posts: 717
Location: Grand Rapids, MI |
That's how Saric showed how to file in Musky Hunter Show. I've got one of those Rapala sharpeners. It has a course side, and a fine side. The fine side has a groove down the middle of it. I haven't perfected the sharpening with this tool, yet. Best I can get right now is just enough to scratch your nail. |
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Posts: 108
Location: Toronto, ON | The Rapala sharpener is okay but I really do like the Luhr Jensen 5 1/4" file, it sharpens and shapes well, especially on those 4X hooks where it's crucial to get that "cutting" point with the additional hook thickness. I've improved my percentages the past couple of years that I've actually paid attention to my hooks! |
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Posts: 572
| I've been told it is best NOT to sharpen vmc conecut hooks. If the new hooks are dull, I'd consider replacing them with vmc conecut hooks....sharp enough for me.
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| Bromel - 2/4/2009 2:02 PM
I'm just getting into musky fishing and keep reading that I should sharpen my hooks. But some of the new baits that I have purchased have extremely sharp hooks, and I am hesitant to take a file to them to screw them up. For example, I got a jointed Rapala X-Rap Shad, and the hooks seem to be very sharp. Should I only sharpen the hooks that seem to need it? What do you do with new baits?
Suggestion to someone new to the sport. Check the color of your hooks on new lures. I particularly have Rapala Super Shad Raps in mind. Some of the cheaper lures--not that the Super Shad Rap is not a good lure--have silver colored hooks. Very visible in the water. The silver hooks are, I think, too obvious. Fish are smarter than you may think.
I change all silver hooks to steel or bronze color to cut visibility/obviousness. May make a difference with older and wiser fish. |
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | bn - 2/4/2009 4:13 PM
dull hooks work too... ; )
i'm fairly lazy at keeping my hooks razor sharp..but don't seem to lose many either...
i think it's over rated! ; )
I actually agree w/ that ... I'm not religious about hook sharpening, it it hits a rock I'll take a look at it but if it seems sharp enough I'm not going to sharpen them for no reason. I believe super sharp hooks can actually hinder a good hookset.
Cast - 2/5/2009 9:01 AM
I particularly have Rapala Super Shad Raps in mind. Some of the cheaper lures--not that the Super Shad Rap is not a good lure--have silver colored hooks. Very visible in the water. The silver hooks are, I think, too obvious. Fish are smarter than you may think.
I change all silver hooks to steel or bronze color to cut visibility/obviousness. May make a difference with older and wiser fish.
If you think about it... the fish are seeing the lure from the bottom and silver is going to reflect it's surrounding instead of looking dark against a light sky as a bronze hook would look. Therefore a silver hook that is more visible to the angler, from above, would be less visible to the fish. The guys trolling St Clair catch hundreds of fish over 50" each year and the majority are caught on lures with silver hooks. |
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Posts: 909
| Is that the reason people always say change the saltwater hooks, because fish could see them? I wondered about that! It seems saltwater hooks would be very strong hooks! I just bought some bomber lures, which have saltwater VMC Hooks on them. They seem like they're really good quality hooks! I'm gonna leave them on!
Brian |
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Posts: 32890
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Believe me, the fish don't care about the hooks.
I use a double chain saw file to sharpen my hooks, brush the outside of the hook, and touch up the inside, and you have a hypodermic needle. Very sharp, penetrates instantly as my poor bloody fingers will testify to all open water season, and very easy once you get the right files. I use an aggressive cut file set. |
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Posts: 1059
Location: Medford, WI | Mr. Worrall,
If you wouldn't mind, and know offhand, could you let me know what size and company chainsaw file you use?
Thanks, Jake |
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Posts: 8788
| Steve, isn't that basically what shur-sharp is?
Or is there some compelling reason to us a chain saw file instead?
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| saltwater hook are not very good.because they are generally very hard to sharpen,and when you are able to do a good job the rust will appear very quick. |
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Posts: 210
Location: VA | I sharpen every hook, even new ones if they need it and MOST DO, using the fingernail method to test each one. Some are so bad you have to take a dremel to them at first. I believe SHARP hooks will up your catch ratio tremendously. I want mine sharp enough that if he touches it he's stuck. Like mentioned, you come home bleeding from touching them your self at times, but it's worth it.
DR |
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Posts: 8788
| I check them on new lures, and if they're pretty sharp I leave them alone. I'll touch up hooks if I'm fishing a lot of rocks, or after I've caught a fish on a lure. I'm not super religious about putting needle sharp points on all my hooks, though.
If I start losing fish, maybe I'll change my tune. But for now I think over-sharpening hooks just makes a lot more work for you, when they were sharp enough to begin with.
I will admit though, last year when we were chasing a 54"er around for a couple days? I might have sharpened a few hooks then. A couple different times.  |
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Posts: 1289
Location: WI | Sticky sharp, every point! |
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Posts: 968
Location: N.FIB | The color of the hook doesn`t matter,just make sure they are somewhat sharp.A good hookset and tight drag will drive the hooks into the fish even with somewhat dull hooks,fish are stupid-THEY TRY TO EAT WOOD-PLASTIC WITH HOOKS ON THEM-VERY SMART FISH. |
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Posts: 32890
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | EA,
Yes, the chain saw files are WAY more aggressive, and cut faster to a hypo-like edge and point. |
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Posts: 3869
| I also sharpen every hook point of every lure, mostly sitting in front of the tv in late winter. Great tip I picked up - paint freshly sharpened hooks with a perm magic marker to retard corrosion. Seems to work well, especially considering how hair baits bring all that moisture into the lure box. |
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Posts: 431
| So does the magic marker really slow down corrosion? That might be really helpful. Sharpening hooks is important, but it definitely speeds up rust. |
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Posts: 909
| Cast - 2/5/2009 8:01 AM
Bromel - 2/4/2009 2:02 PM
I'm just getting into musky fishing and keep reading that I should sharpen my hooks. But some of the new baits that I have purchased have extremely sharp hooks, and I am hesitant to take a file to them to screw them up. For example, I got a jointed Rapala X-Rap Shad, and the hooks seem to be very sharp. Should I only sharpen the hooks that seem to need it? What do you do with new baits?
Suggestion to someone new to the sport. Check the color of your hooks on new lures. I particularly have Rapala Super Shad Raps in mind. Some of the cheaper lures--not that the Super Shad Rap is not a good lure--have silver colored hooks. Very visible in the water. The silver hooks are, I think, too obvious. Fish are smarter than you may think.
I change all silver hooks to steel or bronze color to cut visibility/obviousness. May make a difference with older and wiser fish.
I don't understand why guys who use Bright flourescent lures that aren't even close in color to anything that swims in freshwater could worry about what color the hooks are! I guess silver hooks on a hot pink and chart. crankbait would be a dead giveaway to a muskie that it isn't a real baitfish! LMAO!
Brian |
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | momuskies - 2/15/2009 8:25 PM
So does the magic marker really slow down corrosion? That might be really helpful. Sharpening hooks is important, but it definitely speeds up rust.
So does putting away your baits only when they are dry. But if you have a habit of placing your wet baits in your tackle box, that marker trick might work for the hook points, but other parts of the bait may rust.
Edited by muskie! nut 2/16/2009 9:31 AM
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Posts: 359
Location: Wauwatosa, Wisconsin | Nice, Brian. I think I'm going to search this entire site looking for your postings. What a hoot!
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Posts: 409
Location: Almond, WI | Those VMCs are deadly, I have drawn blood repeatedly while testing them on newly bought lures. Needle-sharp (as opposed to razor sharp) is what you're going for. Be a little careful, as over-sharpening is possible, and the point will just bend with pressure from the hookset. My rule is if they stick me, they will stick a musky, I don't care if VMC made 'em that way or I had to. |
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Posts: 413
Location: Madison WI | I always sharpen my hooks after buying a bait, very rarely have I found a bait straight from the store with needle sharp hooks. I can't count how many times I have been looked at strange or drawn the comment of "What those hooks aren't sharp enough as is". I would rather be safe then sorry. |
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| The new MI plasma point hooks seem very sharp. I know I poked myself with them many times while playing with my new pro dawgs. Not saying they don't need sharpening though. |
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Sharpening hooks: Are some new hooks sharp enough?