Sitting here watching the snow, re-tying old gear. Just wondering how others cut their old bait loop knot off a hook. I used a nail clipper for awile but dulls real quick. Now using a single edge razor blade but know I'm going to get myself with that eventually. Anybody have a quicker, safer, easier way of doing this?

First I clamp the hook securely with a pair of small needle-nose vise grip pliers. Then, holding the pliers & hook in my left hand and bracing them against the edge of a table, I slice through the old egg loop knot with a small x-acto knife. Cut away from the hand that's holding the pliers. Works for me. Of course I'm still learning too.

Ron

munch on it with sissors
tyler

Use a new hook Simplest way!

Well thanks Bob. Go ahead and make me look like an anal twit.

I agree throw it away

Fishhead5

Throw it away? Never, as long as it hasn't been bent out of shape or rusted to a point it won't sharpen. I have boxes of old hooks, most with knot attached. I get around to working on them every once in a while. I just use a sharp pocket knife and cut into the knot from the bend end.
I'm especially concious of saving the stainless steel hooks I use for buoy 10 fishing. I retie both sliding and fixed rigs after the season is over. I know mooching rigs are cheap but I only really trust the ones I tie myself. I know the knots are good, line is fresh and hooks are sharp.

[ 01-25-2002: Message edited by: young salt ]

You guys must be moonlighting for Vision.

Those old hooks work great on cougars...
.
seriously.....put them in a fly-tying vise and use the razor blade.

All you have to do is cut the bottom most wrap, slide the knot doen the shank a little bit and the know will almost untie itself. I keep a babyfood jar on my fishing bench and toss them in there for 6 months or so. Think I might go sort it today.

I krunch the wraps with the cutter part of my lead pliers. Don't have to worry about cutting the hook, because after a decade of cutting lead, leader, spinner wire, etc., they barely cut monofilament. Then I put the hook in a plastic container, and place it in a vest pocket that's reserved for salvaged gear. The next time I need a single hook... I'll stop by the store and pick up a 25 pk. I never use the salvaged ones.

I use a pair of pruning clippers for this and held at the right angle they go right through the old line.

Fishalot.