In 1980 I read the chapter in George Sharman's book Carp and the Carp angler on hooks and hook sharpening and since then I have been convinced of the need for a really sharp hook. Not only that but after nearly four decades of fishing for and watching carp I have seen the difference a really well sharpened hook can make and it's a big one.
If you think about it, it's one of the most important parts of your kit, so it has to be right. You can get everything else right, but if your hook is not 100% up to the job and effective in that split second whilst it's in the carps mouth....? Well they could be sucking and blowing your bait out all day and night and you might not ever know.
Now you could go out like me and spend a small fortune and an awful lot of time honing your sharpening skills and hooks but I doubt many of us will get the finish that this guy, Jason Hayward does.
I first met Jason whilst fishing the woolpack in 2016 and of course to many of you he will need no introduction being the leading authority on sharpening hooks and one of the most highly respected anglers around today. So if you want a big edge over the carp, with hooks that are 100% effective, then it's a no brainer.
All my hooks now come from Jasons company Specialist sharpened hooks and I cannot see that ever changing (https://www.sshooks.co.uk/).