Keeping mackerel on the line

[_Glad_]

ello all,

Last week was properly the first time I went Pike fishing, dont know whys its took me this long. Anyway I was dead-baiting with mackerel both 6" off the bottom and float fishing. I used the 2 treble leaving 1 barb on each hook, then I used 10lb fishing line to tie the bait to the wire-trace

After so many casts I started getting problems with the mackerel, as one of the hooks is a sliding hook, it started moving closer to the other hook making the mackerel bend. At one point it was almost bent in 2. No matter how many times I tied the thing on it kept on bending.

I must be doing something wrong here, I know that having both hooks fixed would fix the problem but then why would it be a sliding wire-trace?

What am I doing wrong? Any ideas on how to stop this from happening?

Regards

Glad

[_Glad_]

I never knew how cocky Pike were, until a few days ago when one followed my lure right to my feet and stayed by my feet for about 5 mins. I even touched its tail and still it didn't move, after a bit it just slowly swam away.

If it would have stayed there longer I would have named it and got it a dog collar.

[blackwater]

Originally Posted by _Glad_

What am I doing wrong? Any ideas on how to stop this from happening?

Fix the sliding hook and you should have your problem sorted, its sliding probably for different bait sizes also some people dont like fixing one cause they believe fixing it weakens the trace but all my fishing is done with 2 fixed hooks,

Hope this helps,

BW

[_Glad_]

Yeah I thought Fixed hooks would sort it, but many people must use sliding hooks, so I thought there much be a better way of fixing dead-bait to sliding hooks?

Thanks bud..

[blackwater]

Others on here maybe use that set-up and will be able to help further,

Tightlines

[_Glad_]

I think fixed hooks are the best way, well for me anyway. Thank you

[simon1968]

if you wind the trace round the flying hook a few times it doesnt move voila

[_Glad_]

yeah I did that m8, towards the end I wind the trace around the tail then hooked the last hook just under it, but that then started to dig into the tail and after a couple of casts I lost the tail...

[headless]

Your best bet is to make your own trace's, you can then have fixed trebles at what ever distance apart you require, If you are not keen on this cut your baits to the size for fixed the traces you purchase

If you are winding a trace around baits it is going to cause problems, Hooking rates as well as potentially weakening the trace with the loss of a trace which could lead to the loss of a pike

Fox do good trace wire and crimps,

Darrell

[simon1968]

i think you misunderstood me so have done a diagram, you dont wrap the trace round the fish