no3 mill cut (finer) to keep it sharp and you don't have to push too hard to keep it sharpJust a light stroke

Cheap coarse files and pushing too hard can f**k a hook pretty quickly I had some new S/S Mustards bugged this season by guys doing this in just a few days .

 

I like the four cutting edges like Dustin to.

 

It's easy to see i'm an OTT Furniture Maker i'm the same with chisels,Planes, drill bits etc

 

 

 

I was scarred for life by AC when he took the hooks I thought were sharp, ran his thumb over them and professed that they were fookin useless.

 

So, I had to do more work!

 

I use two files and an oil stone. I start with a big earnie, fine down the whole hook from the point right into the bend. Take off about half the barb. Then I use a finer file (I think these two files are first and second cut files but they are not here for me to go check). Essentially this is the process Matt & Kezza's first video, Blue water gamefishing, shows.

 

 

Then to get them really sharp I use an oil stone on the area from the barb to the point.  I give the tip a lickin with this every time I use them. These are VMCs.

 

I've also seen the diamond file that Boulder uses - very very good (but pricey).

 

The Hays hooks are already plenty fine but will respond to some oil stone sharpening of the point. I bought a diamond file for them (not one of Tazees) and the thing lasted about two hooks and was in the words of AC, fooked.

 

 

 

The Jobu hooks don't need sharpening and Roddy will advise how a Hays hook should be treated...

 

cheers - Dustin