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Silica packets are used to control moisture and mold and don’t take up much space
Being able to see where and how well the fish is hooked is relevant to how much drag pressure an angler may choose to put on a fish
Recently, I have replaced the stainless-steel rings with medium-size carabiner (Pelican) clips.
Ideally, you want the line to flow out as fast and freely as possible without getting a backlash.
Now that circle hooks must be used in all the billfish tournaments held in the Atlantic Ocean when using natural baits, more and more competitors choose to fish with lures rather than try to figure out the best way to rig baits on circle hooks. With lures, all you have to decide is what style and size of hook you prefer and whether you want to use one or two in the hook-set - pretty simple.
For some, that simple approach may be the way to go, but for those who troll artificial lures regularly, there is more to it than that - much more. Here at Tournament Cable, I've spent my life trying to find ways to improve and enhance existing terminal tackle, and recently I decided to take a long, hard look at the design of hook-sets for artificial lures. After several months of experimentation, I think I've come up with one of the most innovative design changes in years.
To build our new Offset Double hook-set, I take the Mustad No. 7691 Southern Tuna Style hooks, arguably one of the best hooks for lures, and precisely offset them by 15 degrees. (Don't try this with stainless-steel hooks - they are too brittle and will break.) We then secure them together with a section of cable and shrink wrap in an up-and-down configuration: front hook down, back hook up. This provides 360-degree coverage and is sure to snag any critter that gives your lure a chomp. To check out these rigs, visit www.tournamentcable.com.
Chuck Richardson
Burleigh, New Jersey
