Fishing How To - Pike Traces

As many an angler has found out the hard way, pike have very sharp teeth, sharp enough to tear through nylon monofilament and even braided line, leaving the fisherman empty handed and the fish with a mouthful of hook and wire. To avoid such disasters, anglers can make use of traces, in this case a pike trace. Different traces are appropriate for different fish due to size and bait used.

A trace is a metal wire attached to the bait end of the line. It is made out of stainless steel, titanium, or carbon fiber and may be nylon coated. Ready-made pike traces can be purchased with pre-fitted snaps, hooks, or swivels, but the angler may fairly easily make his own.

The job of making a pike trace will require strong trace wire (brands include Fox and Drennan, and are available up to about 30 lb. test strength), as well as two strong, sharp hooks and a swivel. A pair of scissors and twiddling stick (a hook with a handle) will come in handy as well.

Using the scissors, cut off about two feet of wire from the spool. Attach one hook to an end, leaving enough tag to wrap several times around the hook shaft after passing it through the eyelet, and another further up before cutting off the tag end to avoid added harm to fish, line or hands. They should be spaced according the type of fish, and with pike about three inches between hooks is ideal. To the other end attach the swivel, again using several firm wraps. When handling and twisting wire it is important to avoid kinks at all costs as they create a critical weak point in the line, and the twiddling stick will help avoid injury to fingers.

Crimps may be used rather than knots and wraps as they will do a tidier job, hold faster and provide added structural integrity. For this a crimp tool and sleeves will be needed. While any kind of sleeve will do, double barrels may keep the trace straighter and more streamlined for a smooth reel. As with tag ends, care is needed with crimps. Sleeves should not be crimped all the way to the ends as they will flare in and may cut into the trace, leaving it vulnerable to breakage.

When fishing for pike or any other predator with sharp teeth, a trace wire is a must, for the angler and for the fish.