So the other day I was gunning for some spawning crappie from some stumps and I realize I start missing hooksets on bites. Wondering if the hook was dull I did the fingernail test and the hook bit into my fingernail. However I made a vow I'd check the hook out more closely when I got home to see if it was really dull. This isn't exactly precision work but I think you can get the idea from these pics.

So here it is, the tip is bent at an angle.


I decided I'd compare with a new jighead of the same type.



Notice how the point is shorter on the "bad" jig. I realize I can pretty much tell that even without a scope.

Now I took a look at some tube jigheads, one newish and one a bit rusty looking.



Neither comes up to that sharp of a point.

Now I decided to check out some of my favorite jigheads, Matzuo sickle hooks (in this case the 1/24 oz crazy angler variety).

One was used all day recently and was pulled out of brush many times. The other is new.



Notice how they are sharper than the other hooks in general. The used one has a pretty good chip out of it but it is fairly sharp.

So all of this got me to thinking, how effective is it to sharpen up hooks that are new or that are bent up, etc.



The above are the original bent jighead and the new one both sharpened. The bent one no longer has the burr at the end but it is still tapered at the end, i.e. not that sharp. The new one isn't improved by the sharpening in my opinion.

I sharpened the tube jigheads. The rusty one has a lot of improvement but it still a bit dull. The newer one seems improved a bit.



I sharpened the matzuo hooks. The metal is harder. I don't think it made a big difference. However at least from what I can tell careful sharpening did not dull the hooks.



So the conclusion of my little investigation is that even if you can straighten out a jighead a few times just put a new one on. Softer metal hooks are worth sharpening, especially if they are a bit rusty. Honestly maybe a magnifying glass or jeweler's loupe would be more helpful on the water compared to a hook sharpener. On the the same "point" I can pretty much tell a dull hook from a sharp one with no magnification once I trained my eyes a bit.

Thanks for posting this! I'm a little bit fanatical about keeping my hooks sharp and your photos sure help explain why some of them will sharpen right up and some just won't. What kind of set up did you use to take those pictures?

Nice

Great detective work for sure...

Good work! Thanks.

Good post!

Thanks for taking a look at the post!

Hey Tony, when I notice my hook too short and dull, I change jig heads..I have tried sharpening them, but seldom have any real success either...my solution is to by jig heads in bulk....

Thank you for posting

Good post sir

nice post, thanks for sharing.
1 question, can you describe your method of 'sharpening' a hook. do you go away from the tip, towards it, back and forth? 2 sides 4 sides? it really does make a difference on sharpness.

the correct way is to always go towards the tip only, 4 sides for a sharp tip, unfortunately it is very difficult to achieve a perfect tip because of the angle of the curvature on most hooks.

a 4 sided file sharpener like this one is what i have found to be most effective. carbon steel

http://www.roysbait-tackle.com/product/luhr-jensen-original-hook-file-140861-1.htm

THANKS for sharing Tony. Good info!

Great now Im going to have to put all my hooks under the scope...sometimes you just gotta know

thank you for the reminder .....
i sometimes forget how important a good sharp hook is ....
the abuse on jigs wears em down pretty quick with alot of contact on numerous items ....
as you have shown us ....thumbs up brother
great post !!!

Tony, very good info and pictures. I noticed that the tang size varied, with some being much smaller. I had a problem with some Mr Crappie tru-turn hooks earlier this spring. I was fishing with a slip cork rig but was having trouble keeping minnows on the hook and losing fish. After this went on for a while I examined the hook an found that it and all in the package I had purchased where very near barb-less. After replacing the hook with a different brand, the problem was solved. Last week at Academy and inspected some more of the Mr Crappie hooks, they all have a very small tang (barb-less) this is not what you want in a tru-turn hook. Let the buyer beware.