I've heard from some people who swear by sharpening hooks on any lures that caught a fish before they are used again. I just spent a little of my government check on some lures I've had my eye on (don't tell my wife!!! 
), and you can really tell the difference from one lure to the next on how sharp they are. Even different hooks on the same lure felt sharper than the next. Should sharpening hooks be just as habitual as checking your line for frays?
I'm not a fanatical hook sharpener and catching a fish probably isn't going to cause the hooks to become dull… However, some lures cause the hooks to become dull as you fish with them (crankbaits and jerkbaits especially), after catching a fish probably isn't a bad reminder to check the hooks if you haven't checked them recently.
Most hooks out of the package aren't sharp and need a little touch up, not much just a couple swipes with a mill bastard file. Don't get carried away and take too much metal off the hook with the file. Ex: I've got a lot of lures at swaps that needed the hooks replaced because the previous owner filed most of the hook away.
I usually check the hooks before using them and touch them up a little bit. I also sharpen hooks on brand new lures as they are not sharp enough out of the box. If a good hook-set occurs sharp/dull hooks shouldnt matter much but sharp hooks do help on some hits. I find that they help a lot on short strikes on figure eight hits – when the fish are just nipping at bucktails etc.
Assuming all hooks have been sharpened on new baits, and all the rest were sharpened over the long winter months, the best tip would be to check your hooks anytime after the lure has been banging for a while (on itself, rocks, wood, bony mouths, bony boat partner's heads). Its quick and easy to check them, and its a great way to get tetanus! So be careful, but just check them and don't sharpen them unless they need it!
I am better off not sharpening any more than absolutly nessasary. I plain suck at sharpening hooks. Ill put new ones on instead. About all I can get away with is a couple of passes with the file. I dont find that I lose fish because of hook sharpness. I know some day Ill lose a big fish and it will be obvious that I should have sharpened. I wish there was an easy button when it comes to hook sharpening. Mike
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