Spectra Tools &
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orders manually, preferring to have a human
actually check things over and contact you
should there be questions. Within 24
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follow-up email confirmation and final invoice reflecting your total charges
(Monday-Friday). You are not billed until we actually send you your final invoice.
Orders shipped to CA addresses will have California Sales Taxes applied, out
of state orders are tax free. Orders over $100 are shipped
FREE!* During the
ordering process you can select expedited
shipping if required.
(Within the USA we ship via UPS ground. International,
and oversize/weight items will be billed for
shipping and you will be sent an emailed invoice reflecting total charges
prior to actual billing. We will not ship
without you having had a chance to review the
invoice).
Spectra Tools
& Connections
To make life a
little easier, we've condensed some of our most
popular Spectra rigging tools and devices on one
page - this one! CharkBait was a retailing
pioneer in bringing the benefits of Spectra to
fishermen. We've long provided more quality
products and information to folks fishing on the
leading edge of technology. The items below meet
the specific needs of anglers trying to take
full advantage of Spectra.
Video Demonstration for Hollow
Spectra Rigging Max from our shop shows how to make a Spectra loop
using Daho needles, and use of the Sato crimping method for Spectra
to mono or fluorocarbon leader. Best resolution on a computer will be from
the Windows format, but the Iphone compatible MP4 file will prove a fast load on
your Ipod or Iphone. Click the link below to view the vid. - Windows Media WMV -
Iphone/Ipod Mp4
Quicktime Player
Spectra Rigging - Sato Crimp System
- Windows Media WMV - Iphone/Ipod Mp4
Quicktime Player
Braid's Newest
Tools
For 2008 Dennis Braid really
is hitting his stride with three new tools and many new lures. In
April we received three new cutters, all of which do what they
should do...and a bit more!
The most basic is pretty
much a straightforward Spectra Cutter -scissors, but with a
twist. It also cuts wire up to 60#'s. The next two items are more
interesting. The Pro Series Heavy Duty Cutter can handle
wire of up to 200#'s! It features superior Spectra cutting and
even has a safety latch. The largest and best new device from
Braid is their Multi-Plier . This one pretty much does all
the frustrating tasks we have need of, and does it in one tool.
The Multi-Plier can open up light and heavy rings, cut braid and
mono, cut wire, tie hooks, release line...and also has a safety
lock. It even comes with a nylon sheath! It has a soft grip handle
and like the other tools is corrosion resistant.
SPECTRA to
FLURORCARBON (or) MONOFILIMENT
For connecting mono or leader to Spectra we
generally recommend a 30-40 turn Bimini and 30-40 wind Albright.
However, some folks prefer a less bulky transition, especially for
use with heavier mono above 100#'s. In this case there are two ways
to go. Izorline makes a great loop to loop leader which we are now
stocking in both Fluorocarbon and mono. An alternative approach is
the Sato Crimp System. They have improved the design of their crimps
for 2005, now we can recommend their use.
Sato
Crimping System The Sato system uses a
crimp, hollow sleeve and specialized adhesive to
create smooth transitions between your Spectra
backing and leader material (mono or fluorocarbon
makes no difference).
The previous version of the crimping system had problems with the
crimps used. Spectra cuts easily if it even gets near a sharp object
when taut. The new crimps are much better, will have less issues
with failure or cracking and they don't have the sharp ends to cause
future problems. At this point I'd say the system is proven and
worth use. Frankly I like this system much more than simply
"serving" one end and trying the Chinese finger trap method. On our
2005 Red Rooster III 10 day trip (with 300# fish taken...and 100
over 200# yellowfin tuna) I saw six served connections fail with a
fish on the other end of the hook. I never saw a bimini/albright
failure or a Sato failure.
The
Sato spectra to mono/fluorocarbon leader
connection system is hands-down the slickest way
to connect your mono to spectra. For most
applications a bimini to albright will get the
job done reliable if properly tied. But,
especially for the heavier tests, the smooth
connection possible using the crimp system is a
vast improvement over any other method. It's
also a preferred means of connection when you're
running a short top-shot since there's less
issue with casting, since the crimp is much
smaller than a knot as it moves across a rod
guide. Gary Sato came up with the system a very
few years ago, refined it, and it's now the best
connection, most reliable connection available.
From Gary Sato:
This project started over four years ago
when Dave Urodomo lent me his personal kit
to take on one of my first long range trips.
It was his spectra to mono connection kit.
Needless to say it was quite a revelation in
how easy and how well it worked, I had to
get one of my own. After much inquiry I
found that the major parts of the kit were
no longer available at any price. And at
that time the crimping sleeve system was
falling into disfavor because of failures of
one kind or another.
So my objective was to build my own set
of pliers that would accomplish the
following: Have exact tolerances to have
consistent results and be versatile for a
variety of sizes.
What
followed was the beginning of a long
journey, too long to go into here. But what
I finally ended up with was what some say is
as good as it gets. The pliers are cast from
hardened chrome steel. Machined 8 times for
the shapes and tolerances. Laser etched,
with dipped handles, and then personally
hand inspected for 13 different
measurements. The tolerances are held to
.005" for consistency. I designed the pliers
so that one could not over crimp the
sleeves, which would result in cracking &
failure of the connection. That is why the
tight tolerances are so important.
With the help and oversight of Stas
Velonkanis, I started manufacturing sleeves
that are matched to the pliers. The
tolerances are held to .005", so consistency
is assured. Each sleeve is individually
machined in a multi step process then
specially heat treated to prevent cracking.
By popular demand, the kit was developed.
The kit contains all the state of the art,
tricks, gadgets, illustrated instructions,
and products to make the connections easy
and quick. One could gather all the items
themselves but not without some time and
experience. The kit has everything one would
need to get right on the boat and fish.
The Sato
Pro Crimp Kit
For the Long Range Angler who wants
everything needed in one stop to be able to
make knotless, low-profile spectra/mono
connections.
Crimp Kit Contents
Sato Crimping pliers, over 100 crimps, (12
each of 40# thru 300#), hand labeled crimp
storage case, Sato Spectra opener, Sato 4
way mono buffer, crimp threader, 3x loop for
inspecting your work, spectra
adhesive, 3 spools of hollow spectra, (80#,
135#, 200#) for making top-shots and
connectors, illustrated instruction book,
storage case, and reference charts. The kit
now comes with a Daho Starter Needle kit
consisting of 50 & 60# threading needles and
one small latch needle.
- The kit contents have changed, the small
magnifier glass is NOT included, also Sato
has shifted to the one-part adhesive (like
the CharkBait product).
Regular price
$279.99
Sato Starter Crimp Kit
For the Long Ranger Angler who wants to try
the crimping system but can't spend a lot of
money. The starter kit contains all the
tools and gizmos needed to make knotless
connections with spectra and mono.
Regular price
$179.99
View Your Shopping Cart
For
folks making up wind-on leaders, or other
splicing techniques, Cortland offers their
hollow spectra in convenient and economical
100 foot spools. Their Master Braid is an 12
carrier Spectra, while the C16 is 16 strands
of state of the art Spectra. The C16 is very
easy to work with, and it's excellent stuff!
View Your Shopping Cart
DaHo Spectra Threading and Loop Splicing
Needles
In the past there have been
too few options available for fishermen in terms of Spectra
rigging needles. Generally you had to buy the full kit which cost
close to $100. Further, if you broke a needle you couldn't buy a
replacement. It has been a "sellers market." Well, that's changed.
One of our clients, an avid fisherman, started a business recently
to supply something that's becoming increasingly necessary -
Spectra rigging needles for use making wind-on leaders and
"finger-cuff" style Spectra to mono connections. The fellow behind
this product wasn't happy with what's been available, both in
terms of the design and lack of individual sales of needles. So,
he did some work and came up with something better and more
fisherman-friendly.
Hollow Spectra Threading Needles
(pictured top, loop needle lower item) Hollow
Spectra Threading Needles are hollow inside, except for
the point, so additional material, typically
monofilament line, can be inserted into the needle.
Then, the needle with the inserted mono line, is
inserted, or threaded, into the hollow center section of
the spectra line. The needle, and attached mono line, is
typically inserted inside of the spectra from 3 to 5
feet to provide the best strength of the join. Because
of the slick surface of the mono line, the end point of
the spectra must be finished to secure it to the mono.
This finishing is usually done by gluing, serving, or
crimping the spectra line end. This ensures the join
will not slip before the compression pressure occurs to
hold the joined lines together.
The primary size of
the threading needle is the ID, or Internal Dimension,
indicating how large of monofilament line that it will
hold inside. The needle size you need is determined by
the size of the monofilament line you are using.
Typically, these sizes can be found on the spool the
line was purchased on, or by visiting the line
manufacturer’s website. You will usually want to get a
needle that will fit the line you are using, without
going over in size. If the monofilament line is too
large for the needle, you will have to cut it down,
which is not much fun to do… The needles will hold
smaller sizes of monofilament line, to a point, without
issue. We offer most typically used sizes in our
standard product offerings. If you have a special need,
we can make custom sizes for you, that will exactly fit
your specific needs, at minimal additional cost.
In this
type of needle, we typically use thinner walled tubing
to manufacture the needle. This is so the overall size
of the needle will remain as small as possible, while
offering the largest interior size to hold the
monofilament line. Thinner is definitely better in this
case, and our needles are the thinnest available…
Loop Splicing Needles (pictured left) Loop Splicing
Needles are used to insert one piece of spectra line
inside another. Instead of being hollow inside, the
loop splicing needle has a wire loop attached to its
trailing end. The needle is inserted into the Spectra
line being spliced, and the end of the other piece of
spectra line is inserted into the needle’s wire loop.
As the needle is inserted into the line being spliced,
the other piece of line is pulled along with it. When
done, the needle is brought out of the line being
spliced, and the end of the line attached to the
needle wire loop is tightened to complete one side of
the splice, or the terminating loop, as the case may
be.
Typically,
thicker walled tubing is used for these needles, as
the focus is not on the needle’s internal open size,
but on strength, and the always important overall
small size. The primary size of the needle is the OD,
or Outside Dimension, and what sizes of spectra lines
it would best be used with.
In the picture below you can see the various
terminating ends of DaHo products, except for the
hollow tube end of their threading needles. To the
left is an example of the point that we put on
all their needle products. It's shape makes the
job of insertion much easier than other
competing needles. In the center is the
latch mechanism that is used on the trailing
end of the Reverse Latch needle products. And,
on the right is the loop that's put into the
trailing end of the Loop Splicing needles.
The newest item from DaHo is their reverse
latch needle. This is a design owing to Jerry Brown's hunt for an
easier way to make use of his hollow Spectra lines. The new latch
needle can save you up to 50% in terms of rigging up a loop splice.
It's a unique product, one that's been tried before in imperfect
fashion. This time, someone got it right.
* Double check your
line diameters. From our measurements, the
lighter line threading needles work with IGFA
lines, but are too small for most mono lines on
the market. We advise bumping up one size.
CharkBait
One-Part
Spectra Adhesive!
CHARKBAIT SPECTRA ADHESIVE!
Here's another GREAT exclusive. In the past
ALL products used as an adhesive for mono/spectra connections have
been two part formulas costing about $25. Two bottles, EXTENDED
drying time, hassles... We learned of another product that
was a one part formula, NO ACTIVATORS REQUIRED. ( It
pays to know the right people. )
The new product is FAST DRYING. The CharkBait Adhesive is also
thin, for better penetration through the line. Further, the new
product allows some flex without cracking and flaking-off. This is
a major long term benefit. In all ways: IT'S BETTER, EASIER TO WORK WITH, AND IT'S A
BETTER VALUE!
This is not your basic "super-glue," it's a
unique new product that will work in water and retain some
flexibility when used as directed. For best long term storage
please keep in the refrigerator or freezer.
The
folks at Izorline sure know what fishermen need....
Flexx-Rap ,
Izorlines finger protection wrap, is a very useful product.
Like their gloves, these help protect an angler from the common cuts
associated with lipping a bass, leveling line, line cuts and blisters.
The material improves your grip, is waterproof and hypoallergenic.
Each roll is 1" wide and 5 yards long, enough to last a good long time.
It can also be used as a base prior to winding on your spectra to a
reel's spool.
Buy It! Flexx-Rap @$3.50 / roll
Thumb Dinger Spectra Burn
Prevention!
Here's
a strange new product that just might find a home with some of our
clients. Slicing through a finger, or getting spectra burn while
leveling line on a conventional reel is not uncommon. Some guys use
Izor's Flex Wrap, some use a glove, some take their chances... But, for
I think this little device might be something well worth considering.
It's a one-finger-glove, just covering up to the first joint with a
small leather cap. The product is MADE in the USA, designed by
fishermen, works on either the left or right hand, and available in
three sizes. The large size will work for most of us, the small for
women and kids, the extra large for guys with major league mitts.
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