Pike Trace Material

4. "I like 20lb Marlin Steel and untill my last few hundred metres runs out I aint going to worry to much about other matirels!Used it for years!

A couple of my mates like useing plastic coated wire for uptraces.

Jerk baiting I like solid traces other lure fishing just use my normal wire."

 

5. "I like 49 strand wire. Although more expensive per metre it just lasts and lasts and lasts. In fact in the long run it works out less than any other wire I've ever used. This is because it's very kink-resistant, which has also got to be a big plus for pike safety.

It's so supple you can tie knots in it. It can also be crimped, although not twisted as it's supplenes means that it comes undone.

The best knot I've used is an untucked half blood knot. On the 15lb I use 4 turns, but 2 turns are best for the 25 & 40lb. It's important when tightening to pull on the short tag end otherwise you get a curly bit next to the knot.

It's extremely supple, so much so that on the 15lb b.s. I can catch perch on it - and that's very unusual! However, it's still nowhere near as good as nylon for perch. Some have reported that this extra suppleness has resulted in more pike on hard-fished waters. I can't confirm this myself as I never fish such waters.

For bait fishing I used to use the 25lb b.s. the most but have recently switched to the 40lb, although I still like the 25lb for uptraces.

For lure fishing I use it in 15, 25 & 40lb, mainly the latter. I don't use jerk baits but if I did I'd use a single strand wire.

 

6. "All my lure and fly fishing traces are made with Malin titanium single strand, 20lb-50lb. I also buy ready made 100lb titanium jerkbait traces from Dave Lumb. It's very durable, kink resistant and last longer than the swivels and clips on the end. Titanium does not work so well with 'two hook' traces (its difficult to fix the top hook) so whilst I continue to use it on single hook bait traces, I use 49 strand ET wire on two hook set-ups. As Peter points out coating wire only serves to increase the bulk, it has no usuful function. It also occurs to me that if you use the same trace for any length of time it could deteriorate under the coating without you noticing it."