Hook preparation ?

[Englander]

Hi Guys

I was searching You tube for a step by step the other day when i came across either Bob clouser or Lefty kreh, Cant remember ?

Anyway they were tying a salt water pattern and said they always put there hooks in the vice before tying and gave it a few strokes with a file to make it as sharp as possible !! Seems like a good idea..................

Anyone else make a point of sharpeneing there hooks before they tie ??

What about after tying hook sharpener's ?? Any good ones ?? After all we could easily dunt our fly off a stone of ground and dull the point ............

[ruby pennel595664]

I don't sharpen my hooks before I tie a fly but whenever I go fishing be it for salmon or trout I always check the hook point of the fly before casting, usually by seeing if the point scratches my thumb nail without too much pressure.

If I am not convinced its sharp enough I use my sharpening stone/file on it before casting. I then check the fly regularly to make sure it has not been blunted by bumping a stone etc.

[Riffler]

I guess you mean this?

YouTube- BOD CLOUSER - MINNOW 1

YouTube- BOD CLOUSER - MINNOW 1

which is a short extract from this

UKSALTWATERFLIES.COM: 50 Years Behind the Vise DVD

which is packed with good info for the first time swff tyer.

A decent hook, straight out of the packet, should not need sharpening but some will after a session. If its a good looking fly, which doesn't foul during casting, it'll be worth preserving for a while.

If the point dulls on one of mine, I use a simple finger nail file from Boots. The black emery board ones with a fine/coarse finish on each side. They're cheap and cheerful but very effective.

Try to get the point sharp enough to dig into your thumbnail as its dragged across.

[fishyfranky]

If the hook has a barb then its always crushed before tying, but most of my hooks are chemically sharpened and using a file will make it blunt.

[flyinghigh]

I debarb the hook first and then tie my fly and afterwards sharpen the hook using an arkansas oil stone ( which i believe you can't get any more) lubricated with some General purpose oil. Usually sharpen my hooks in batches.

Flyinghigh

[Englander]

Originally Posted by Riffler

I guess you mean this?

YouTube- BOD CLOUSER - MINNOW 1

which is a short extract from this

UKSALTWATERFLIES.COM: 50 Years Behind the Vise DVD

which is packed with good info for the first time swff tyer.

A decent hook, straight out of the packet, should not need sharpening but some will after a session. If its a good looking fly, which doesn't foul during casting, it'll be worth preserving for a while.

If the point dulls on one of mine, I use a simple finger nail file from Boots. The black emery board ones with a fine/coarse finish on each side. They're cheap and cheerful but very effective.

Try to get the point sharp enough to dig into your thumbnail as its dragged across.

Cheers Mate Thanks was the one I now use alot of Knapek barbless hooks they are "way" sharper than Kamasan's ! I tied my proto types on Kamasan's (barb crushed) once i happy the patterns a keeper i tied them on Knapek's

I need to experiment with sharpening hooks just out of interest ...................

[Chris Reeves]

With modern bronze trout hooks that are chemically sharpened you can do more damage than good with a file. However with steel hooks such as Mustad 34007 or 34011 then I always give them a few strokes with a fine file at the time of tying and before fishing.

Merry Christmas