At what pound test do you stop with knots and start with crimps? I'm making my first tuna squid rigs w/ 130lb test and used crimps, but my first pull test failed, second one seems to hold, but I still don't trust it.

I'b be interested in knowing the answer to this one also.

Hey Jim when we are setting up our tuna rigs at the shop we use this knot to tie to the main swivel http://www.fish4fun.com/swivel.htm. I have seen this knot tied using up to 80lb mono. For 130# I would probably crimp it, but you could give this knot a shot.

I use crimps for 100# and up. As far as crimp failure goes: Practice, practice, practice and be positive of proper crimp size. Too large, slippage. Too small, line damage.

Hey Jim when we are setting up our tuna rigs at the shop we use this knot to tie to the main swivel http://www.fish4fun.com/swivel.htm. I have seen this knot tied using up to 80lb mono. For 130# I would probably crimp it, but you could give this knot a shot.

Nice knot, I'm gonna try that for 80# fluoro leaders.

100# and up.
use the right size crimps and the right size tool. don't guess.

i can tie/snell 400# no problem.
whatever your comfortable with.

I tie 80 and then start crimping at 130. Smaller diameters such as 130/150 are much harder to crimp properly than 200 to 400 lb.

This sounds obvious, but make sure your sleeves and mono are correctly sized - there are variations between the different manufacturers. When your first starting out, its easiest to use momoi crimps with momoi line - jinkai w/jinkai etc.

Stay away from the brass crimps - they are just not as easy to use as aluminum, and imho are more likely to fail.

This sounds obvious, but make sure you are using the correct slot on the crimper - read the guide that comes with the tool. Over or Under compression is often due to using the wrong slot - sometimes the correct setting just looks wrong but isn't.

Basic Hand crimpers will all work, but they take some trial and error to know properly. Kind of a bummer when the error is a lost fish.

There is a new crimper out there made by Braid Products that is very easy to use if you are new to crimping. It is pressure loaded so that when you crimp down, it will automatically release at the proper compression. I own one, and its pretty much idiot proof. I also have the monster 16" Billfisher Model (weighs 5 lbs) essentially a hand held bench crimper - great for big mono and you can set it for the proper compression.

One more thing - make sure you leave a small flare at each end of the crimp - and on long sleeves, if you make 3 crimps - space them evenly. And if it doesn't look right - it isn't. Cut it off and start over, even if its the last crimp on a complete bar - you'll be pissed later if you don't.

For all my tuna gear I use crimps. On the back of the crimp packaging it will tell you what size to use. It is a good guide. Also if you are using Jinkai 130 use Jinkai crimps. If you are using Moimoi use Moimoi crimps. They are not the same size. When crimping make sure you use the appropriate crimper notch and apply the appropriate pressure. Too much and the line will fail when you dont want it too and too little and it will slip. I use a very firm handshake pressure to do my crimps and have never had one fail. There are other tricks pm me and i'll explain in more detail. -Matt

GREAT INFO - STRIPED-BASS.COM ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll be dismantling everything as I put the ASS in assume. I'm not 100% on the size of the sleeves and they were brass, so this isn't a bad loss, far better than a screaming reel going silent.

Thanks again guys - Go Pats!!!!!!!!!!!

80 LB and up. Never had a problem with one of my 80 LB crimps. I also use 2 crimps and never just one.

Basically I tie anything I can and crimp when I can't tie. What I can and can't tie depends on which mono I'm using. Some I can't tie 130 with Jinkai I can tie 200. Pay attention to what everyone said about crimp sizes and pressure.