can anyone recommend.......

a decent hook sharpener, its not something ive really bothered with before but ive been having the trouble lately of my hooks going blunt, mainly due to the flowing water venues i fish i think but either way its not good and at 5-6 quid for 10 hooks i dont really wanna be changing them every session. so i just wondered if you guys have one and what sort you have or if you prefer a slither of whet stone, this would probably be my first option but i didnt know if anyone could suggest a decent made for the job tool

Got one from Craigpix - it's a ronson thing that looks like a pen.

Not used it properly yet, but other lads like em. They were on sale at tesco a few months back. dunno if they still are, can't seem to locate one online...

Best one I've had so far,has been the Mustad one, use it all the time for sharpening my singles when pike fishing.
http://www.tacklebargains.co.uk/acatalog/Mustad-Hook-Sharpener-with-Lanyard---MSTD-18--.html

cool. cheers guys. ill have a look what the tackle shop near me has. both those look pretty good (i found a pic of the one you were on about ed).
ill have to see what the tackle shop has later and try the big tescos or summat see what they have. i was also looking at the berkly battery operated one too if anyones used one of those

I'd stay away from battery powered ones,bound to have a dead battery just when you need it.
The Mustad one is...mustard

only one the tackle shop has is the same as the one you said about tim but fox. for the sake of 2 quid ill probably just get one of them at some point.

also saw a shimano alivio lure rod earlier for 25 squids. anyone ever owned one? looks ideal for what id want it for. 10-30g. pretty light too

Had a shimmy vengeance at that rating and it was nice.

The Alivio is the entry level range. Linky

Reckon it'll be fine for canal spinning.

I have the reel I picked up for £28 and it's ok, nothing amazing but fine for small pike and perch. not being used at the moment though...

The vengeance was £35 i think and I liked it until I left it on a bank in the Bronx. Wasn't there an hour later

thats where i saw it, go outdoors...... thats the sort of thing ill be using it for, jacks and perch on canals and smallish rivers with small to medium lures. to be fair i am entry level when it comes to lure fishing, i try it enough but never catch anything on lures really.

As long as the lures you're using match the rod, it should be fine mate.

If it's similar to the vengeance, it'll be fine. at £25 you're not going far wrong on a shimmy rod. I'd be hard pushed to suggest an alternative at that price. But having never used one, I'm always cautious about my opinions.

well its gotta be better than this wet noodle of a "spinning" rod i have now.
ive got to get a new one ready for the summer tho, i really want to get good at lure fishing but i never seem to catch anything, i knwo its not purely down to the tackle but with a slightly better rod i may be able to get better movemt to the lures, as it is the one i have is a bit soft with a really slow recovery and the reel aint brilliant either, suppose you get what you pay for tho

Softer rods are good for detecting takes on spinners but if you want an all rounder, the rod should be firm in the blank and action mainly in the top 3rd.

Go go gadget ultralite rod