Q: “With all of the hook-sharpening tools available, which one do you feel is best for the job?”
A: A rounded hook point, no matter how sharp, is a puncturing object, not a cutting object. My personal choice for hooks are those that have a tri-angular point or a diamond-shaped cutting edge. A cutting edge pen-etrates much quicker than a rounded point. To achieve the edge, you need a flat file. For years my favorite has been the E-Lap Diamond Hone & Stone in medium-grade grit. It’s about 6 inches long and three-quarters-inch wide, with a 2-inch section of sharpening surface that puts a nice point on your hook quickly.
