What tools do I need and technique should I use to sharpen my hooks?

Sharpening your hooks is a significant way to improve the amount of fish that you catch, many anglers believe.  There are many tools available to help you to do the sharpening, but we’ll give you at least one option here!  Consider using flat, diamond hook sharpeners.  You can purchase these in your supply stores or on the web.  Look for the fine grade products.  Another option is the Luhr Jensen flat file.  If you are sharpening a hook that has a large diameter, the flat file will work nicely for you.

You may be wondering about the battery operated products that are available.  These are much more costly and they are limited in what types of hooks they can sharpen. 

Take the time to work with the tools that you choose until you perfect the method.  It takes practice to get it right.  Your filing motion should be a straight stroke.  You will know that it is sharp to the right level when it does not drag across your fingernail. Another tip to use is this.  As you are sharpening, try to slide the point of the hook toward your file rather than pushing it away from it. 

Are you one of the many that simply relies on the pre sharpened hooks that you purchase?  This is fine, but realize that each of those hooks offers a different degree of sharpness and may not fit with your need enough.  You can further sharpen these though to your level of satisfaction.

Tags: catfish fishing tips, catfish fishing line, fishing for channel catfish, catfish fishing techniques, catfish hand fishing