Stocking your tackle box: Crimping tools

Every fisherman needs a trusty well stocked tackle box. The most asked question I get is what should you keep in it? A very good question in deed, and if you asked 10 different fishermen you might get 15 different answers. To keep things simple I am going to use the example of Big Game Fishing (which is probably how you have come to visit this website today). Whether you have a tackle box, backpack, or duffle bag you are going to need the same things, how you want to organize them is personal preference. One thing to consider when choosing your container is whether or not you travel with your tackle, either on an airplane or to and from your vehicle and the boat. Keep in mind comfort, convenience, and ease of use.

You should have enough leader for replacing a few lures if you need to, and replace it often, you don't want that stuff getting old and brittle on you, its either 10 cents for the line or $70.00 for the lure. You should also have a variety of crimps, swivels, and hooks, not to mention a good crimping tool and either some mono cutters or a really sharp knife. I would suggest having some pliers also, they can come in handy for a variety of different uses. Here's a tip, try to find tools that have multiple tools in one, for instance if you can find crimping tools that also include some type of mono cutter, it saves on the money you spend and the weight you have to lug around. A Leatherman is a great all in one type of tool, you'd be amazed at what the are putting in those things now a days. Make sure that when you are looking for crimping tools or any other tools for that matter, that you try and find some that are corrosion resistant. You'll want to make sure that they can take some abuse. Rigging floss is another very handy item to have, the Hawaiian fishermen use it for all sorts of things, anything from tying skirts to the lure head to securing the live bait to the hook. These are just some of the basic essentials tools, you might also consider personal needs when packing your tackle such as sunscreen, extra sunglasses, or even a spare water bottle. Good luck out there., don't forget that the best lure you can use, is in the fishes mouth, the rest is just hearsay.

Crimp tools have many uses on a fishing boat. They are most often used for attaching leader to hooks and for making cable hook rigs but you can also use them to fix outrigger lines and even small electrical connections if needed. These multi-use tools are a must have for any avid fisherman.

There are several ways to make hook rigs for your lures. You can make a single set-back hook rig, a double offset hook rig, a double inverse hook rig, and a double trailing hook rig. The most popular setup in Hawaii is the double inverse hook rig, that means that the hooks are opposing each other 180 degrees. The offset hooks are at 90 degrees, and the trailing hooks are in line, both of which are popular on the east coast and California.

Sleeves come in several different varieties, the most popular are; brass, double sleeve, aluminum, and barrel. They all have different qualities that make them better for certain crimps than others. Brass, aluminum, and barrel sleeves are great for cable crimping and hook rigs. Aluminum is special though, when it is crimped it heats up and actually gets pressed into the cable, it makes for a very secure crimp but it a little bulky because of the size of the crimps. There really is no "right" way to go, it is just a matter of preference, and the right combination of sleeves and a good crimp will get you there.

Double sleeves are great to use on mono. You don't need the sleeve to be that thick to get the job done. These sleeves are generally longer than the others so you can get two crimps on the sleeve before you run out of room. Each end of the sleeve should be crimped and a good crimp will flare out the end of the sleeve a little bit and give you a small "bulb" in the middle. A crimp like that will never fail. Crimps tools are great tools to have on board, they have many uses, and they may just save your fish one day.