How to perfectly sharpen your hook

Sharpening hooks: biggest edge ever; I’m sure it is, but how the hell do you do it? I either over-sharpen it and then it blunts or don’t do it evenly and it doesn’t feel any different. Help. Colin Rider, via e-mail

Hi Colin,

Well, I never said the biggest edge ever, but certainly a huge swing of the pendulum over to us! I have developed a technique that I call the Three-Sided Method. Start by working your file or stone on one side of the hook, from the barb up to the point, and make four or five upward strokes with the file and then inspect the point with an eyeglass. Now do the same on the opposite side (four or five upwards strokes again), then do the same on the front (top) of the hook, checking with the eyeglass all the time until a fine point is achieved. Finally round the slight square edges that have been formed where you have removed the metal and touch up with the stones as necessary. The stones are a better option over a file for small and straight pointed hooks, as they remove less metal.

This does of course take practice, but once you have mastered the technique you will never cast an un-sharpened hook out again. It’s also worth noting that the number of strokes you make with the file will differ depending on the hook’s coating. For example, Korda’s Kaptor hooks sharpen up lovely, whereas Atomic’s or Gamakatsu G Point’s, which have a harder outer coating will require more strokes.

Essential gear

The bits and pieces you need
Vice: JAG SP Vice (“An essential item; it’ll make the job so much easier.”)
File: JAG SP Max File (“You want to start off with this file.”)
Stone: JAG SP Stone (“You want to use this to touch up the hook after you’ve used the file.”)
Eyepiece: JAG Ultra Eye (“If you haven’t got good eyes, then this is essential.”)

In just four simple steps

001 Start by working your file on one side of the hook, from the barb up to the point, and make four or five upward strokes with the file.

002 After you’ve made your four or five upward strokes with the sharpening file, inspect the hook point carefully using your eyeglass.

003 Now repeat the process on the same on the opposite side of the hook (four or five upwards strokes again) and you’re almost there...

004 Finally, do the same on the front (top) of the hook, checking with the eyeglass all the time until a fine point is achieved.