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.

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.

Buy		Description	Price
		Braid Super Cutter Cuts Spectra and Wire up to 60# #32908	$3.99
		Braid Super Heavy Duty Cutter For wire up to 200# and Spectra #32907	$14.99
		Braid Multi-Plier Cuts Spectra, Wire, opens Split rings... #32909	$34.99

Jerry Brown's Ideal Scissors

Cutting Spectra isn't so easy sometimes, like when you're trying to splice lines and need a clean cut. There have been a number of scissors on the market, and we've used 'em at the shop...all for limited duration. Once the blades dull a bit, their effectiveness diminishes rapidly. Typically the scissors we've seen were not really intended to cut Spectra for any length in time, they were probably designed for thread... That's one reason we haven't posted them on our website - they really kind of sucked and a blade worked better. We sold some at the shop, for those that wanted 'em. We hadn't come across anything that really pleased us until Jerry shipped us a pair of his pliers. They are darn good. I like their larger handle, better grip, made for a man's size hand not the delicate fingers of a gal or kid. They have been with us for over a month's time and still perform well. (a month for us represents a lot of rigging/spooling/cutting-time). At almost $30 they're not inexpensive, but when compared to other products claiming to do the same thing, but quickly falling short, JB's Ideal Spectra Scissors are worth the money.

Buy	Description	Price
	Jerry Brown Ideal Spectra Scissors	$29.99

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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 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
NEW! 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. Contents: Crimping pliers, 50 crimps, (10 each of 40# thru 100#), hand labeled crimp storage case, Sato Spectra opener, Sato 4 way mono buffer, crimp threader, illustrated instruction book, storage case, and reference charts. The Starter kit comes in a 3600 size Plano box for storage.   Regular price $179.99

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.

Buy	Description	Price
	Splicing Needles N05026 50lb mono threading needle .026 inside diameter	$15.00
	Splicing Needles N06032 60lb mono threading needle .032	$15.00
	Splicing Needles N08038 80lb mono threading needle .038	$15.00
	Splicing Needles N10042 100lb mono threading needle .042	$15.00
	Splicing Needles N13047 130lb mono threading needle .047	$15.00
	Splicing  Needles N15053 150lb mono threading needle .053	$15.00
	Splicing  Needles N20060 200lb mono threading needle .060	$15.00
	LS0250 Small Spectra Loop Splicing Needle .025 OD	$20.00
	LS0355 Medium Spectra Loop Splicing Needle .0355 OD	$20.00
	LS0500 Large Spectra Loop Splicing Needle .050 OD	$20.00
	RL0500 Medium Reverse Latch Splicing Needle .042 OD	$20.00
	RL0420 Large Reverse Latch  Splicing Needle .050 OD	$20.00
	Set of all three Loop Splicing Needles	$50.00
	Set of both Reverse Latch Needles	$35.00
	Set of all seven Threading Needles	$80.00
	Complete set of all seven threading and all three loop needles.	$105.00

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.

Buy	Description	Price
	CharkBait Spectra Adhesive	$14.99