Question about Hooks

[HOLWACHAGOT]

These comments bring a question to mind: How many days, trips, etc., is a hook good for? Or, how often do you change hooks?

If you sharpen hooks as aggressively as Marty, how long can they last?

No exaggerating here...if you brush against a hook ready to be deployed on the Run-Off...you will bleed. Brian and Marty keep those hooks like scalpels.
Holwachagot

[bobdu11]

I try and keep my hooks pretty sharp but tend to forget about sharpening the Green Machines....Point taken, will pay attention to "all" my hooks....thanks...Bob

[Captain Fred Archer]

I have always been a fanatic about sharp hooks, except for circle hooks, which in no way should be sharp.

The rule on my boat was that no hook ever came aboard unless it was fully sharpened and marked as such. The barbs were also reduced or sometimes removed, depending on what a given hook was intended for. My crew paid strict attention to the hooks as we fished and the moment that one of them appeared to be starting to dull up, it was tossed into a special bin and was later inspected for either re-sharpening or replacement.

I have always been partial to a "chisel cut" point because of their excellent penetration characteristics, plus they resist curling and/or dulling or breaking when encountering bone or bills, like thinner points can and do at times.

We did not sharpen the Hays Hooks, nor did we reduce or alter the "hypodermic needle" points on them. We narrow and reduce the barbs somewhat.

Worked and works for me. Others can do what they prefer.

We are a major supplier of Quick Rig Hays and Southern Tuna hooks. Both Anthony at Ace Lures and Black Bart rig with the latter...they are pretty danged good hooks!

Picts...on the left, a "tailgunner rigged" Hays with the barb removed. On the right, a not-so-hot shot of a chisel cut Mustad.

If you are interested in Quick Rig hooks, please see our website at www.fredarchersworldoffishing.com

[Mokarran]

I have always been a fanatic about sharp hooks, except for circle hooks, which in no way should be sharp.

The rule on my boat was that no hook ever came aboard unless it was fully sharpened and marked as such. The barbs were also reduced or sometimes removed, depending on what a given hook was intended for. My crew paid strict attention to the hooks as we fished and the moment that one of them appeared to be starting to dull up, it was tossed into a special bin and was later inspected for either re-sharpening or replacement.

I have always been partial to a "chisel cut" point because of their excellent penetration characteristics, plus they resist curling and/or dulling or breaking when encountering bone or bills, like thinner points can and do at times.

We did not sharpen the Hays Hooks, nor did we reduce or alter the "hypodermic needle" points on them. We narrow and reduce the barbs somewhat.

Worked and works for me. Others can do what they prefer.

We are a major supplier of Quick Rig Hays and Southern Tuna hooks. Both Anthony at Ace Lures and Black Bart rig with the latter...they are pretty danged good hooks!

Picts...on the left, a "tailgunner rigged" Hays with the barb removed. On the right, a not-so-hot shot of a chisel cut Mustad.

If you are interested in Quick Rig hooks, please see our website at www.fredarchersworldoffishing.com

Capt. Fred,
I've read about your chisel point hook sharpening method in several of your books and have somewhat of an idea of what you mean. I can't get a clear enough picture from your books to actually perform it though. Is there any way you can post a clear set of pictures or drawings showing this? I would greatly appreciate it if you could.