Dremel Dynamics
By…..The use of an inexpensive Dremel tool will allow an angler to put a sharper point on a hook in less time.
I have extensively written and published material on the importance of hook sharpening and how to sharpen hooks. This by no means makes me unique, as many authors have done this. What does make my writings on this subject unique is the fact that I promote the use of a Dremel (a small hand held rotary tool) for hook sharpening, instead of a traditional flat file. I began publishing such ideas over four years ago. I have been using Dremels for over a decade to sharpen my hooks, and to me it just makes sense. Most construction workers, metal workers, and craftsmen use power tools to increase the accuracy and efficiency of their work, why should fishermen be missing the boat.
I am constantly checking the sharpness of my hooks and touching them up with my Dremel. I will compare the sharpness of my hooks to those of any other angler world wide. I would love to see someone produce a sharper hook point than me. I can put an excellent point on my hooks with a flat file, but it takes much longer and is never quite as nice. The Dremel makes many precise strokes in a very short amount of time.
Large hooks typical of musky lures are made from thicker gauge metal than small hooks. That means that a small hook out of the box is sharper than a large hook out if the box for the simple reason that the tip is already thinner. A small thin panfish hook is fairly sharp right out of the box, but still needs some touching up in my opinion. I use the fraise “right out of box” a lot because no large hook right out of the box is sharp enough for me, even the new premium hooks that some say are.
The way a musky strikes a lure makes the sharpest hooks crucial. Muskies are notorious for striking lures in a way so as not to get hooked. They nip, slash, bump, and purposely put the parts of the lure in their mouths that have no hooks. A musky solidly striking my lures accounts for only half of my catches. Much of the time, muskies don’t hit lures like pike. I cannot keep pike (even the smallest ones) from getting all tangled up in my lures. I wish big muskies would hit my lures as well as 20” pike. The big muskies are usually the worst ones because they are the smartest. Smart muskies have a way of testing, closely examining, slapping, and touching lures before committing to any kind of a decent strike. If your hooks are razor sharp though, you can hook them during these behaviors if you can get your points to stick to them.
I use a Dremel MiniMite that costs under $20.00 at Walmart. A higher priced Dremel capable of higher rpms is not necessary, and since they are used in outdoor conditions, replacing the most inexpensive model will be more cost effective. That being said, they are very durable. I have soaked mine many times and dried them out with little if any damage. Even when soaking wet, they usually continue to work. The MiniMite is also perfect for hook sharpening because it is compact and light weight and doesn’t take up much room in the boat or backpack. Much of the time I keep it right in my pocket or waders’ pouch. In conjunction with the small rotary tool, I use a Dremel #952 tapered aluminum oxide grinding stone bit.
When using the Dremel I put a four sided point on my hooks. I only sharpen the last 1/8” of the point, but I make sure there is a smooth transition between the tip of the point, the remainder of the point, and the barb. First I sharpen the bottom of the point, then I sharpen the right and left sides, and last I bring it all together by sharpening the top. After that, I touch up any side necessary to create the finest point. I bring my hooks to the finest point I can possibly make. Unfortunately, the finer the point, the easier it will dull. I spend a lot of time fixing points during the course of my time on the water. Many musky fishermen don’t want to spend so much time sharpening hooks, so they intentionally leave their points a little more on the stout side so they hold up against abuse a little better. It is true that this type of point will take more abuse, but it will not catch hold on the musky as well as the ultra fine point. Meticulous hook sharpening can become very tedious, but when a big musky lightly nudges a lure with a closed mouth and that point catches the outside of its lip, all the hard work pays off.
A steady hand is your best asset when Dremel sharpening a hook. Steady your arms by holding your elbows tight into your sides. Steady the hook by holding it against the lure and both the lure and hook firmly in your hand. Further steady the hand the Dremel is in by holding a finger of that hand against the bend of the hook being sharpened or the body of the lure. In the low speed setting, sharpen the top and sides of the point by lightly pressing the bit against the side of the point in a parallel fashion. Sharpen the bottom side by turning the bit and Dremel in a perpendicular fashion to the point and coming up from underneath. I like to examine my work closely while in progress, so I wear safety glasses or sun glasses to keep steel filings and aluminum oxide dust from flying in my eyes. Practice will make perfect. At first it is likely to catch the end of the point with the bit, severely dulling the point. Keep the bit away from the end of the point. Only work the four sides to create the point.
I bring two Minimites with me just to be safe and two or three fully charged battery packs as well. I charge them every night to avoid running out of juice. I always have a spare bit on hand as well.
Using Dremels has kept my strike to caught musky ratio very high. Missed muskies make for stories. Landed muskies make for success. A key example was the 2009 PMTT September qualifier on the St. Croix River, in which my tournament partner Justin Teske and I took third place. We only took two strikes, but we put two big muskies on the board. The second and largest musky barely got any of the lure, and came off as soon as it was in the net. Had the hooks not been Dremel sharp, we would have been left with only guesses and disappointment. We also would not have finished in the money. The hook point is the first point of contact with the musky, it is crucial that they be as sharp as possible. This task is best completed with a Dremel tool.
Justin With A Money Musky
In the modern world of musky fishing, we are surrounded by technology and its benefits. We invest copious amounts of time and money in finding the fish, getting to the fish, and getting them to strike. Falling flat at the moment of truth doesn’t make any sense. It is time to step into the future of hook sharpening as well. Dremel dynamics put more muskies in the net.
