Making a wire trace for pike fishing

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Making a wire trace for pike fishing
Ok heres a little post on how to make a wire trace for pike fishing.It will cover the basics in making a wire trace for pike and please add your tips on making wire traces as every little tip helps. Will redo the pictures as trying to take pictures whilst making a wire trace can turn the air blue.

Wire trace for pike fishing

Hooks - Now there are two types of hooks on the market these being the traditional treble and the newer double hook. Trebles are the big favourite with most anglers although the double hook is a good alternative when hunting zanders.The rule of thumb for pike is size 6 trebles



Wire trace or also know as steel leader
There are many makes on the market but my two favourites are fox carbo flex which is a real good wire and holds up to any pikes set of teeth but is also flexible. Second is fox soft steel wire which is much thinner and is great for dead baits but be careful as its really designed for zander fishing and do not use this wire for live baiting as it’s just to fine.


The two wires next to each other


Crimps and covers
Make sure you get good quality crimps designed for the job and the covers just tidy the rig up. Once again fox crimps are very good.


The Hardware
Now for the actual tools. I’ve gone for a crimping tool by Fox purely because I’m a tackle tart although they are very good. You can get crimps a bit cheaper from any hardware store. Then of course you need wire clippers super glue and forceps which I forgot to put in the picture.


Making the Pike Trace
Ok now we have got everything laid out on the kitchen table we can now have a go at making a pike trace.

Step 1
Select your wire and cut off 18 inches of wire. The reason for this length is that the length from a pikes teeth to it stomach can be a good length so better to air on the safe side of things for the Pikes sake. Get your trable and crimp at the ready.



Thread the wire through the hook and the crimp as in the picture



Then with the wire end thread that back through into the crimp.



You should end up with something like this below making sure you have a loop for the trable as this will help it have a bit of movement. If your wire end is a bit long just trim it to length. Now the first time I did this the air turned blue but it is really easy to master and a little tip is to use your forceps to help you thread the wire back through the crimp.



Now just crimp your wire trace



There you have it



Now to put a tiny bit of super glue into the crimp just to make it super strong (there are other glues on the market it’s just my choice. IMPORTANT when handling glues be very careful and do not let any contact to you skin - like what I do every time I make traces



Now simply slide on your crimp cover over the crimp to make it all nice and neat. I cut mine in half to cover the trebles as the extra is not needed.



Adding the second trable
Right now to add the second treble to your wire trace. First thing is the distance between the first and second treble as this depicts the presentation of your bait. The main factor to determine this is the size of this is the bait you will be using and this is a major upside of making your own wire traces when targeting pike. Rule of thumb is 3 inches ish. But I carry a variety of setup lengths as you can never catch fish all the same size.

Take not of how the treble is laid on the wire as this helps its presentation.



Now whip the wire along the shank of the treble for about 5 turns keeping it nice and tight!! Then thread the wire end back through the eye of the treble. (Sorry could not take a more in-depth picture of this happening but trying to do this all one handed was a challenge)



Keeping it all nice and tight just dam some glue on and set. There is another way of adding a second treble with I will show in another post.



Once the glue has gone off the trim a crimp cover and slide it down to cover the treble shank



Now the business end has been done it’s time to get the other end sorted out. What you need is a swivel, crimp and crimp cover.

First slide on the crimp cover (do not trim this one down) Then add the swivel and slide on the treble.



Crimping the swivel is done exactly the same way as crimping the treble and you will end up with the swivel end looking like below. Just cut any access end wire , glue and slide the crimp cover over the crimp.



You can add flash covers that add alittle atraction in clear water



That’s it!! Once you have made a few you will soon master making your own traces for pike fishing. I love making traces it’s a cheaper and you can tailor the pike traces to your style of fishing.

Please add your tips or how you make your pike traces

[Norfolkboy]

Superb post Rich, I've just learnt a lot!

[pingu]

top top post boss

never used the super glue but makes good sence

the only thing i do any different is add a poly ball float to some rigs, works really good on canal to get bait above weed or higher up in water, alternative to using float device in baits, also works as an attractant

attatched with crimp so as does not get loose and swallowed by pike


then both top and bottom treble attatched as per 2nd treble in your post


sorry looks scrappy as is gash one that caught pike last week and about to be cut up to re use ball

dave

[birdy29]

Spooky, this was a job for the weekend to make some, havnt done it in years. Thanks for the assistance.

[fishypaul]

superb stuff rich,why buy your traces when you can make them for a fraction of the cost,

[guppyman]

thanks for the great post m8!!!

and for the speed of posting it!! if it were me trying to tie rigs and take pictures i woulda ended up in hospital :-) .

just in time for the weekend as well.


cheers m8

[Twiddler]

Great step by step Richard and Dave, might even have a try to make one myself.


Anyone know where the first Aid box is?

[Droppenfish]

Great advice and super photos!! when I'm making lure traces I tend to use Fox easy twist wire and the twizzle technique!! good explanation here...

http://fjames.proboards6.com/index.c...ead=1106406878

[peakoverload]

Excellent thread! I'm sitting here following it making my own traces

Just one question though. You say that the position of the 2nd set of trebles is critical for correct bait presentation and that you make up different traces with different spacing between the two sets of hooks. So why do you fix both hooks? Surely by leaving the 2nd treble (the one nearest the swivel) to run free you can move the hook to match whatever size bait you are using?

I'm totally new to Pike fishing so I'm probably missing something fundamental but it just something that occurred to me as I was making my first trace.

EDIT: I've just used a piece of silicon tubing on the upper treble to keep the trace wire flush to the hook and it slides nicely up and down. Once the hook is set into my dead bait it shouldn't then move at all.....should it? Like I say, I'm probably missing something.

[tat]

Just like a pennel rig but with trebles?
If you have'nt already,get a patent on that lol