Trace wire

[Grumpy]

Some interesting comments here Gents,particularly regarding trace bs.As stated,I use Drennan 7 strand in 15lb bs.I have never had a trace break whilst in use.Now and again the trace can get a bit mangled by Pikes teeth but not frayed or anything like that.Damaged traces are always discarded.
I have never had a Pike that has suffered damage by wire,in fact I have never seen a Pike "roll" in the wire.
Balanced tackle,as always,is the key.Most of my piking is done on small/medium gravel pits,rivers and drains max range approx 50 yards.If I were to fish large reservoirs or huge pits at long range gear would be upgraded accordingly.
I have never been a fan of the so called "knotable" trace materials.I have tested a fair few of them and they always break at the knot at less than the stated bs.
Please keep the posts coming.
Grumpy.

[Tizer]

I have seen pike roll quite a few times ,always reminds me of a crocodile ,it is one of the reasons why I use a min 18" trace , when they had rolled a 12" trace might have then been used up and the line could come into contact with the teeth. On a different forum they are talking about using flurocarbon instead of wire , I said to them to put a razor blade in a vice and run a bit of fluro across it and see what happens.

[Grumpy]

Flurocarbon!!What is wrong with these people?Wire versus nylon etc is a debate that has rumbled on for years.In my opinion there is no better trace material than quality wire for avoiding bite offs.

[Tizer]

The bloke said I use it for lure fishing for chub and perch and if a pike comes into the swim he will put a trace on, I could not say what I wanted to say which was ,are you some kind of idiot? is a pike going to show its self to you before taking that perch/chub lure

[BoltonBullfinch]

15lb is too light in my opinion. I wouldn't consider anything under the 27lb I use.

Thanks
BB

Why?

A couple of reasons, first, just take a look in a decent sized pikes mouth, any help is gratefully received, I have had 27lb traces mangled/damaged and in need of disposal, I'm not sure a 15lb trace would have survived
such treatment.
Second, the thinner the wire the more damage it can cause to the pikes mouth, and it's body if it rolls itself in the wire.

Thanks
BB

Hmmm. I've never once experienced a pike being cut by a wire trace despite catching the odd one in the past. The difference between 15lb and the 27lb version is exactly .01mm. Not sure if that is significant enough to prevent these cuts if they occur? As a side note I've used braided hook lengths extensively for both carp and tench fishing and never suffered a "cut" despite there thin diameter. Hook damage yes, but not obviously ones from the line.

I also think that thicker wire is far more likely to get kinked than its thinner and more supply equivalent. I'm happy to change my trace after each fish of required but haven't found kinking to be an issue after every fish. The material is stainless steel so durability should be no issue. I've certainly not found that 15lb is less durable than a higher breaking strain. Indeed I've never suffered a break with it.

Interesting comment about leaving hooks in fish. Is it not better for a trace to break rather than the mainline? A fish trailing any length of line can't be good, nor can leaving any form of tackle in a fish, hooks and traces included.
I think heavy lines and braid need careful consideration. Modern rods, braid and mega strength line give some anglers the opportunity to really bully fish. This is where I have seen much damage done. Unfortunately the "fish at all cost" brigade seem to still exist. Although thankfully not on this forum.

I obviously bow to your superior knowledge hovis, but, I have seen pike roll in a trace quite a few times, some wounds sustained, from my experience these tend to be the larger jacks, I have never seen it with a larger fish.
I can't comment on the actual use of 15lb wire trace as I would rather not ever fish for pike again if I had to use such wire, and i said 27lb wire trace as a minimum.

Thanks
BB

[Olly]

Well! Fluorocarbon in 40+ breaking strain is regularly used when piking - lure fishing - on the Continent. Diameters are used not b/s it seems.

I have never seen a pike harmed by a wire trace - - or a braid line. In fact nothing by braid line - although I am not a regular carpist!

Some clubs/societies have strict rules regarding pike tackle especially the length of trace!! One requires 24in trace and a showing of your competence handling a fish as well as your tackle, landing net, unhooking mat, forceps, etc to include wire (hook) cutters - - prior to being able to fish for them!

A 12in trace could be in the gillrakers on a big pike - the females - the very ones that keep the species viable.

When this kind of discussion previously occurred The Pike Anglers guidance was put on here. https:// pacgb.com/fishing-for-pike/

[Mr B]

I enjoyed listening to Ritchard Walker and Fred J Pike fishing...

There is a link on the TFF somewhere...it was cut on a Record one winter.
Dick talks about Pike traces as well as his favourite Pike recipe.
Dicks traces were longer and home made.
He knew what he was doing and had a good track recourd.

Mr B.

[Hovis]

15lb is too light in my opinion. I wouldn't consider anything under the 27lb I use.

Thanks
BB

Why?

A couple of reasons, first, just take a look in a decent sized pikes mouth, any help is gratefully received, I have had 27lb traces mangled/damaged and in need of disposal, I'm not sure a 15lb trace would have survived
such treatment.
Second, the thinner the wire the more damage it can cause to the pikes mouth, and it's body if it rolls itself in the wire.

Thanks
BB

Hmmm. I've never once experienced a pike being cut by a wire trace despite catching the odd one in the past. The difference between 15lb and the 27lb version is exactly .01mm. Not sure if that is significant enough to prevent these cuts if they occur? As a side note I've used braided hook lengths extensively for both carp and tench fishing and never suffered a "cut" despite there thin diameter. Hook damage yes, but not obviously ones from the line.

I also think that thicker wire is far more likely to get kinked than its thinner and more supply equivalent. I'm happy to change my trace after each fish of required but haven't found kinking to be an issue after every fish. The material is stainless steel so durability should be no issue. I've certainly not found that 15lb is less durable than a higher breaking strain. Indeed I've never suffered a break with it.

Interesting comment about leaving hooks in fish. Is it not better for a trace to break rather than the mainline? A fish trailing any length of line can't be good, nor can leaving any form of tackle in a fish, hooks and traces included.
I think heavy lines and braid need careful consideration. Modern rods, braid and mega strength line give some anglers the opportunity to really bully fish. This is where I have seen much damage done. Unfortunately the "fish at all cost" brigade seem to still exist. Although thankfully not on this forum.

I obviously bow to your superior knowledge hovis, but, I have seen pike roll in a trace quite a few times, some wounds sustained, from my experience these tend to be the larger jacks, I have never seen it with a larger fish.
I can't comment on the actual use of 15lb wire trace as I would rather not ever fish for pike again if I had to use such wire, and i said 27lb wire trace as a minimum.

Thanks
BB

Not superior knowledge, just my own experience. No more, no less.

[BoltonBullfinch]

15lb is too light in my opinion. I wouldn't consider anything under the 27lb I use.

Thanks
BB

Why?

A couple of reasons, first, just take a look in a decent sized pikes mouth, any help is gratefully received, I have had 27lb traces mangled/damaged and in need of disposal, I'm not sure a 15lb trace would have survived
such treatment.
Second, the thinner the wire the more damage it can cause to the pikes mouth, and it's body if it rolls itself in the wire.

Thanks
BB

Hmmm. I've never once experienced a pike being cut by a wire trace despite catching the odd one in the past. The difference between 15lb and the 27lb version is exactly .01mm. Not sure if that is significant enough to prevent these cuts if they occur? As a side note I've used braided hook lengths extensively for both carp and tench fishing and never suffered a "cut" despite there thin diameter. Hook damage yes, but not obviously ones from the line.

I also think that thicker wire is far more likely to get kinked than its thinner and more supply equivalent. I'm happy to change my trace after each fish of required but haven't found kinking to be an issue after every fish. The material is stainless steel so durability should be no issue. I've certainly not found that 15lb is less durable than a higher breaking strain. Indeed I've never suffered a break with it.

Interesting comment about leaving hooks in fish. Is it not better for a trace to break rather than the mainline? A fish trailing any length of line can't be good, nor can leaving any form of tackle in a fish, hooks and traces included.
I think heavy lines and braid need careful consideration. Modern rods, braid and mega strength line give some anglers the opportunity to really bully fish. This is where I have seen much damage done. Unfortunately the "fish at all cost" brigade seem to still exist. Although thankfully not on this forum.

I obviously bow to your superior knowledge hovis, but, I have seen pike roll in a trace quite a few times, some wounds sustained, from my experience these tend to be the larger jacks, I have never seen it with a larger fish.
I can't comment on the actual use of 15lb wire trace as I would rather not ever fish for pike again if I had to use such wire, and i said 27lb wire trace as a minimum.

Thanks
BB

Not superior knowledge, just my own experience. No more, no less.

Exactly....

[Liphook]

Is there ever a need to fish lighter than is safe for any fish? Not in my book. I certainly don't see the need with pike and I've done a bit albeit not on 'pressurised' waters. Leads me back to a previous conversations regarding IGFA line classes and their inherent stupidity