Q: “I keep reading how important it is to use an 80- to 100-pound bite tippet for toothy fish and billfish. However, I’m not sure what knot works best when using heavy leader material. I know that some individuals recommend using crimps. Can you clarify for me what knot to use or whether to use crimps?”
_-Dr. Gary Hall
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**A: Proper crimps are easy to install and work well with heavy monofilament. But you should use cup-to-cup crimps instead of the standard ones used to hold braided wire, which will often cut the mono. You will need a special cup-to-cup crimping tool to properly close the crimps. Most saltwater shops have these, or you can order one on the Internet.
