DECOY - T-3 SHRINK TUBE MADE IN JAPAN

Decoy T-3 Shrink Tube (Made In Japan)

The T-3 is a heat shrink tube made for tackle rather than electrical work, used to protect and stiffen the base of an assist hook where the cord is whipped to the shank. Slid over the finished knot and shrunk with heat, it seals the whipping from abrasion, stops the cord fraying at the eye, and holds the hook at a set angle so it stands proud of the jig instead of collapsing against it. It is equally useful for tidying any knot or wrap on a jigging rig, and because it shrinks with a hair dryer or heat gun it is easy to work with at the bench — a standard item for anglers building their own assist rigs. This listing covers the 6.5 mm internal diameter in a 70 cm length.

Key Features

• Heat shrink tube for protecting and reinforcing the base of assist hooks
• Seals the assist cord whipping against abrasion
• Holds the hook at a set angle on the jig for consistent hook-up posture
• Shrinks from 90°C; rated shrink ratio reached at approximately 115°C
• Works with a hair dryer or heat gun — no special tooling needed
• 6.5 mm size supplied in a 70 cm length; made in Japan by Katsuichi

How To Rig It

• Cut and slide first — Slide the tube onto the assist cord before you tie anything; once the loop is whipped and glued you cannot get it on.
• Shrink it gently — Use a hair dryer or heat gun and keep the tube moving in the airflow. A lighter works, but direct flame damages the assist cord and reduces its strength — never let the tube scorch or blister.
• Match diameter to the build — The tube must slide over the finished knot before heat and still pull down tight afterwards. Katsuichi's guide puts 6.5 mm at the Cutlass JS-2 #6/0 to #8/0 class, but thicker cord, a bulkier whipping or a longer tube all shift the fit.
• Setting hook angle — Shrink the tube over the shank while holding the hook in the position you want; once cool it holds that angle through casting and retrieve.

Target Species By Region

• Southeast Asia — Assist rigs for reef and drop-off jigging: amberjack, dogtooth tuna, giant trevally (gerepoh) and grouper.
• North America — Vertical and slow-pitch jig assists for amberjack, yellowtail, grouper and lingcod on both coasts.
• Japan & East Asia — Standard in slow pitch, offshore and shore jigging assist builds for buri, hiramasa, kanpachi and kue.
• Australia, Middle East & Europe — Kingfish and Spanish mackerel assists in Australia; king mackerel and GT on Gulf reefs; cod and pollack on North Atlantic jigging marks.

Specifications

Katsuichi's full range also lists 3.5 mm, 4.0 mm and 4.5 mm (1 m lengths) and 5.5 mm (70 cm). The fit guide is a reference only — actual fit varies with assist line thickness, knot size and the length of tube used.

Recommended Pairing

• Assist hooks and assist cord for 100–300 g metal jigs in the #6/0 to #8/0 hook class
• Solid rings such as the Decoy GP Ring R-6 and heavy split rings such as the R-5 or R-11 EX to complete the assist rig
• A hair dryer or low-setting heat gun, plus a sharp blade for a clean square cut