Crimps

[Tat]

Does anyone have any opinions,for or against, using crimps when making rigs up yourself?

[MikeR]

They are obviously really easy to use but one problem I\'ve found is that when you set say a 1 hook flapper for rock fishing, and the hook gets caught on rock,kelp etc the bottom snood swivel crimp can be dragged down toward the lead as you pull out of the snag. The crimp won\'t slide back into position and can damage the line. To get around this I\'ve started using 2 crimps below the swivel, and although it does improve things it still doesn\'t prevent it happening all the time.

[Patrick_Pending]

I use them on my rigs but I have found that they do introduce a weak point on the line, despite the fact that I am very careful not to over squeeze the crimp. There is a tendency for the sharp inner edge of the crimp to abrade the line and weaken it. When pulling out of snags I have had quite a few rigs come back severed at the crimp.

I did see a program on TV where they were using flared crimps on steel traces. The flaring prevented the crimp cutting into the trace. I am not sure whether it would be possible to flare the small mono crimps though.

Despite that, I do find them very handy and will continue using them until I find a better alternative.

[Tat]

I thought about that,and have decided to try a sliding stop knot or some of that silicon tube as an added stop.

[Tat]

Another thought,fidgety but workable.Get slightly bigger crimps than required and fit some silicon tube down the middle then crimp.Granted you have to crimp a tad harder,but it should\'nt cut the line if there is a bit of overhang at each end.

[Ell]

I always use them, does anyone know which causes the greater weakness in your line. A crimp or a knot. Dropper loops and blood loops are cheaper than crimps? I normally crimp mine on at a mid point with pointyish pliers which sort of flairs the ends anyway. I also reckon if you\'ve had to winch your rig back through a load of snags, sufficient to slip your crimp down then maybe it\'s a good idea to bin the rig anyway!

[Edited on 8/2/2004 by Ell]

[MikeR]

Definately Ell. If my line is damaged it gets replaced. I\'d rather the hook straighten a bit under a lot of pressure though than the rig get knackered.

[Ell]

Right enough Mike

[peter.m]

I use crimps but prefer them small and neat like the Gemini ones (although I think they\'re too expensive). I use the mini crimps from Veals because I\'ve yet to find a local shop that doesn\'t sell the longer ones.

From the rocks I dont bother and nearly always use a mono paternoster with the hook snood attatched loop to loop. I if do use crimps or 2 hook from the rocks it is for lighter stuff such as small codling or coalies and where it\'s not very heavy.

[peter.m]

Through the cider and reading the posts a bit more I can only suggest that crimps or knots are going to weaken the line so take it into account.

If the crimps are long and squeezing them flares them out I crimp lightly at both ends as opposed to in the middle and always use pliers designed for the job. Too pointy and it could cut into the line and you don\'t want to loose those all to rare decent fish.

[Ant]

I crimp at both ends without any hassle but then again I use proper crimping pliers. You get the odd one that slides down but surely getting that back is better than one that doesn\'t give and you lose all your gear?

[markpenman]

use telephone wire strip it back to the different coloured wires and wrap around something thin (i use a bait needle) into coils pushing the coils tight together then cut into 1/2\" lengths and drop on to your rig same as a crimp instead of crimping you just twist between fingers to tighten your rig is always adjustable if hook snoods snap on a clipped down rig instead of trying to tie hook snoods exactly the same length you can just move the coil crimps up and down the rig body a lot softer and wont damage the rig body

[Patrick_Pending]

I always use them, does anyone know which causes the greater weakness in your line. A crimp or a knot. Dropper loops and blood loops are cheaper than crimps?

Ell, I tested both dropper loops and crimps with a pair of 50llb scales. The crimps were definitely better than the dropper loop which failed at half the breaking strain of the line

[Topecatcher]

Try a 10mm length of neoprane tubing simply pass the rig mono through the tubing twice and pull tight, don\'t knot the mono though.