Guide Lines
I’m a sharp hook fanatic. I can’t stand the thought of fish getting away because the hook was dull! It’s the worst way to lose a fish because it’s something that we can identify and then remedy right away. Always keep on the alert for dull hooks.
I don’t spend a lot of time physically sharpening hooks these days, but I do toss the dull ones in the trash if they aren’t sharp and replace them with new super-sharp hooks. As ice fishing lures go, hooks are usually combined with a colored body or lure. There are two types of ice fishing lures: In the first type, the hooks are embedded into the lure during the molding process, and the hook and lure become one. “Built in” hooks are problematic because they can’t be replaced when they dull or break off; throwing them in the trash is the only solution. In the second lure type, the hooks hang separate of the lure, usually on a split ring, and are almost always treble hooked. When the hooks are free of the lure body, it’s handy because you can spare the lure and switch out the hooks. Needless to say, most of the ice fishing lures I buy are treble hooked lures that always hang free of the lure. Even most of my panfish lures are small “spoons” with free hanging trebles.
As it turns out, a lot of hooks are dull right off the shelf. Many lure making companies use very cheap hooks. It’s about producing massive amounts of lures at a lower cost so they can create better profit margins. Unfortunately, the hooks are junky and they need to be replaced. Cheap hooks don’t always dissuade me from buying lures, because when the fish want a certain lure (style, color, shape) then that’s what I have to use. The first thing I do is cut the factory hooks off with a cutter and replace them with new trebles (as mentioned, most if not all, ice fishing “spoon” style lures have treble hooks). Not only are treble hooks on certain lures junky, but they are almost always too small, so whenever you exchange hooks consider changing the size of the hooks. The larger the hooks the better the chances are of hooking the fish so if you can make a hook size change, then you should. Don’t get carried away with putting too large a hook on spoon lures, however. If the hooks are too large it can ruin the action of the lure. I usually go up one size and just make sure the hooks I’m putting on have a good gap for better hooking. The only fishing hooks I usually leave alone—size wise—are hooks that I use for sunfish. All other hooks for all of the other species get up-sized.
What constitutes a hook as being “cheap” or “junky”? How can we test for sharpness? Poor quality hooks are usually wiry, so they are easy to bend with your fingers, and hook points are medium sharp at best. Low grade hooks may have a degree of “stickiness” or “pointedness” right out of the package but they are usually not as sharp they should be. To test for a good sharp hook, take the hook (if it’s a treble hook take one of the hooks) and lightly drag it across a fingernail. Most wiry hooks leave a light scratch on the fingernail but don’t stick. When you drag a sharp hook across your fingernail it will immediately stick into the nail. It won’t pull across the fingernail. That’s a good hook. Good hooks eventually dull too, so the same test applies to them as well. When good hooks dull, replace them as well.
I use Gamakatsu fish hooks, exclusively. They are strong and razor sharp and keep their point so long as you don’t mash them with a pliers. Not all tackle manufactures are using cheap hooks. Some outfits, like Maynard’s Tackle use high-end hooks. They may cost a little more, but I don’t have to replace the treble hooks before I use them and when a fish bites I know it’s going to stay on the line. When you need to buy replacement hooks, go to the local tackle shop, order them on-line direct from hook companies, or get them from larger stores like Fleet Farm, Cabela’s or Scheels. Good new treble hooks aren’t cheap. They will average about 1.00 per treble hook so you’ll pay around 10.00 for a pack of ten. I’d say, value wise, a fish is worth an extra dollar. Knowing that your hooks are sharp, should give you confidence that when you set the hook on a fish—it sticks. Good luck on the lakes this winter, and keep those hooks sharp.
By Ross Hagemeister, Meister Guide Service