How to Sharpen a Fishing Hook

A fishing hook is the most important piece of equipment in an angler's arsenal. Without it, the rod, reel, bait and the best line in the world are all useless. Equally useless is a dull hook, which results in missed strikes and lost fish. Don't let the local lake monster get away by spitting a dull hook that cannot hold to the brute's mouth. Sharpening hooks only takes a few minutes and can be a pleasant way to maintain fishing equipment during the long winter months between angling adventures.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hooks
• Sharpening stone

1. Hold a hook in one hand by the shank (long side of the hook ending with the eyelet) and the sharpening stone in the other.

2. Place the barbed end of the hook inside the sharpening groove on the stone with the point of the hook facing downward toward the stone.

3. Pull the stone downward with the hook pressing into the groove so that the stone is drawn in the direction away from the pointed barb. Repeat this step three to four times.

4. Turn the hook around so the inside of the barb is pressed against the groove in the sharpening stone. Depending on the size, it may be necessary to grasp the hook on the curved outer side to sharpen the inside.

5. Draw the stone along the inside of the hook, moving away from the point to sharpen the curved inside of the barb.

Tips & Warnings

• Hold tightly to the shank of the hook and the sharpening stone. A slip of the fingers could result in a nasty injury.

References

• Hook Sharpening Technique
• Sharpening Tools for Hooks

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