Sometimes it’s a big deal and sometimes it’s something pretty small that makes fishing easier. When it comes to handling fluoro leader material for all the splices to braid, the Shark Tooth is one of those small pleasures. After just a couple of trips, I can say this: the thing works.
Of course, it doesn’t look like much (frankly, like something little girls use to hold their hair in place) and it was devised by fly fishermen, so we would never think to look in that direction, but it’s handy and complete. It allows you to pull off just what you need, provides a protected stainless steel blade to cut the line, and keeps the tag end under control.
As you can (sorta) see from the photos, the components are pretty simple. A length elastic with the cutter (shark tooth) riveted on with two hollow fasteners. The “holes” through the shark tooth (the one behind the blade, is the key one) serve to feed line, which you then draw across the blade and while thumbing the plastic protector, to cut cleanly.
Things to note. First, wrap the Shark Tooth strap around the spool with the blade pointed in the same direction as the line unwinds. Then stretch the band out and take the tag line and thread it through the “back” hole from underneath. Finally, when you dispense line by pulling the tag in one hand, use your thumb and forefinger of the other hand to serve as spindle or axle so the spool turns.
I had thought there might be a risk of abrasion as the leader goes through the metal grommet, but I can’t see or feel anything with the leaders. And, when you think of how fussy the fly guys are, including their use of a lot lighter material than we like, I think we’re going to be just fine with these–for less than 5 bucks, too.
Another thing it’s done for me is let me use every yard of a spool of fluorocarbon. When you use “whole spool” fluoro, unless you’ve measured out pretty closely, you always end up with line at the end of the spool. Now I don’t waste those last few turns.
Works great for me. I’ve been using them since the last Fred Hall show in Long Beach.