Sharp hooks catch more fish; it’s as simple as that. Yet few of us take the time to sharpen ours, despite the fact it’s relatively easy with a standard channeled sharpening stone.
Hold your hook in one hand by the shank and the sharpening stone in the other. Place the barbed end of the hook inside the sharpening groove, point facing downward. Pull the stone downward with the hook pressing into the groove, so that the stone is drawn away from the pointed barb. Repeat this step three to four times, then rotate and repeat on the sides. Next, turn the hook around so the inside of the barb is pressed against the groove. Draw the stone along the inside of the hook, moving away from the point to sharpen the curved inside of the barb. Your hook is sharp enough if it digs in when dragged across your thumbnail.
