Sooner or later, if you fish that lucky lure enough, you’re going to need to do something we’ve all had to do from time to time: replace the hooks.
Fortunately, all you need are some new hooks, some split rings (unless you plan on using the old ones, which is a possibility), and some split ring pliers.
Here’s what to know.
When Your Hooks Need to Be Swapped
There are three main indicators that you need to replace your jig’s hooks. They won’t always present themselves together; sometimes only one of these indicators will let you know you need to replace the hooks - but if you’re seeing two or more of these, replace the hooks before you drop down again.
1. When they’re really, really dull
Most of the time, you can just resharpen your hooks with a hone. It’s also after repeated re-honings that you need to replace your hooks.
First, let’s talk about when they need to be sharpened. Place the point of your hook lightly on your thumbnail, then try to drag it over the surface of the nail.
The hook point should be so sharp that it “sticks.” We call this “sticky sharp,” and if your hook doesn’t pass this test, give it a few passes on a hook hone till it’s sharp again.
Now, after several months of hard use and re-honing, you’ve probably significantly changed the profile of the point of the hook to that point that resharpening just isn’t an option. At that point, just replace the hook. It’s not worth a lost fish.
2. When they’re bent
Big fish and snags can put a bend in most hooks. Some light gauge hooks can be bent back to shape, but anything tempered and heavy gauge should not be bent back to shape. Chances are when you stress that hook again, it’s going to snap.
Also, keep track of which hooks you’re bending. Don’t reform the same hook more than once; repeated stresses to the hook shank or bend will cause it to snap. Again, not worth a lost fish.
Also if the bend is, say, more than 20° off of what it should be, don’t even try to bend that thing back, even if it’s a light wire hook. Once a hook bends one time, it’s way more likely to bend again, or worse, snap.
So, the bottom line: replace badly bent hooks, or any that you’ve already bent back to shape once.
3. When they’re badly rusted
A little bit of rust on a hook is no big deal. Just use some steel wool or a steel brush to scrub it off. But if the whole hook is covered, eye to point, in rust, just replace it. Rusted hooks get dull and they’re brittle. It’s just not worth fishing with them.
Check your hooks periodically. It’s not just saltwater exposure that can cause corrosion, but prolonged storage in a tackle box or tray. So before you tie on and drop over, see if your hooks need any attention.
Tip: Rinse your jigs thoroughly with freshwater after every fishing trip and dry them completely before closing your box or tackle bag. This single effort will help prevent rust on your hooks and keep your jigs in better shape for longer.
If there’s a lot of rust on your jig’s hooks, just replace them.
How to Replace Your Hooks
Now that we’ve identified the main conditions that will require you to replace your hooks, here’s how to do it.
First, make sure you’ve got the right tools: work in a well-lit, clean area so that you can find any split rings or hooks that you drop. To replace your hooks you’ll need fresh hooks, split rings, and split ring pliers.
If your jig’s hooks are attached with split rings and the rings are in good shape and not rusted, you can re-use them. Otherwise, replace the rings when you replace the hook.
Start by taking the old hook off; your split ring pliers have a notch at the tip of the jaws that are designed to spread split rings without breaking or bending them. Place the split ring in the notch and apply just enough pressure to force the ring apart.
Then, work the eye of the hook out of the split ring, and thread it off the ring till it’s free, then discard it somewhere safe - old hooks can still be sharp, and can still be a hazard.
Get your new hook, and split the ring in the manner described above. This time, thread the eye of the new hook onto the ring before finishing the job.
Note: before replacing your hooks, check the new ones for sharpness. High-quality hooks should be sharp from the manufacturer, but it’s a lot easier to sharpen a loose hook than one that’s already on the lure - so if any need to be sharpened, give them a few passes on a hook hone before replacing.
For any jig or lure with hooks that are attached directly to the lure body without split rings, simply use wire cutters to cut the hook loose (be careful) and when you put a hook on, install it with a split ring. The rings allow the hook to swing more naturally from the body of the lure anyway, not to mention the fact that this will make it that much easier to replace the hooks when you need to do that again.
Shop Hooks, Split Rings, Pliers and More Here
Whether you’re here for some new jigs to round out your box or bag, or you need new hooks (including assist hooks), split rings or pliers, we have what you need. Shop our collection of fishing tools and tackle to get what you need here and remember - always check your hooks before you tie on and drop down!
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