A wire trace is essential when fishing for pike or other toothy fish. A pike’s sharp teeth will easily bite through standard monofilament or braided line so using a wire trace is required to prevent this. Pike fishing wire traces come in two main types, lure fishing traces and bait fishing traces.
Should I use wire trace?
In waters that do not contain any pike, you do not need to use a wire trace for perch, as their teeth simply won’t be able to bite through your line. However, if the venue you are fishing for perch in also holds pike, you should always use a thin wire trace in order to protect the fish and save your lures.
Can pike bite through braid line?
As braid has fairly low abrasion resistance, pike will have an easy time biting through it. And therefore, it is absolutely not suitable as a leader material when the target fish is northern pike. Many people prefer this material over monofilament for their mainline.
Should you use a steel leader for pike?
Both stainless steel and titanium wires are great choices for northern pike, as they will be able to withstand those ultra-sharp pike teeth. Such wire leaders are extremely strong, smooth, and flexible, allowing for an optimal bait and lure presentation.
Do you need a wire trace for trout?
A wire trace is not needed for salmon and sea trout and is only used for fish with sharp teeth, ie Pike and zander. A length of normal mono (slightly lower B/S than main line) between the swivel on the main line and your lure will be fine.
How long should a pike trace be?
18 inches long
For the safety of the pike, should it swallow your bait a too deeply, your wire trace should be at least 18 inches long (45 cm) whenever bait or lure fishing.
How long does it take to trace a wire?
Look to make your trace around 16inches in length – go longer than you think as it’s better to be safe rather than sorry. Using 49 strand wire makes for a much more supple trace that won’t kink and bend as easily as with other wire types.
What Colours can pike see?
When a pike looks towards the surface, all colours look the same against the sky. They only see a black silhouette! The only colour thing that does pop out on the surface is reflective material.
What line should I use for pike fishing?
Both braid and mono are ideal for pike fishing so long as they are up to the job. If you intend fishing with a mono mainline then opt for a line of 12lb or even 15lb breaking strain, and if you’re intending to use braid, go for a 30lb breaking strain.
What bait is best for northern pike?
Soft rayed fish that have lots of natural oil in the skin and flesh make the best dead baits for pike fishing. These natural oils leech into the water and help to attract pike that may be cruising in the area. Some of the best dead baits are smelt, alewives, small whitefish, chubs, and the always popular sucker.
What pound line should I use for northern pike?
You’ll need a stiff rod, 14 to 17 pound test line, and 9 to 12 inch steel leaders. Every pike fisherman has caught his share of northern from 4 to 10 pounds. Most of these fish are caught in shallow water.
Can fish see leaders?
If the fish sees the leader line or mainline it may get spooked, or the lure will not look as natural and the fish will be less inclined to bite it. Leader lines with can also absorb the torque or impact on the mainline or knots by having a little stretch to them.
Do you need a trace for zander?
Most zander venues also hold a lot of pike, which is why you should always use a wire trace when fishing for zander. As they are fairly precautious and line-shy hunters, your best choice is a soft 15lb titanium or steel trace, as these materials are very smooth, flexible, and barely noticeable underwater.
When should I strike pike?
Personally, when float fishing (which is what I do probably 80-90% of my piking), you will see the float start to twitch as a pike picks up the bait. As soon as it starts to move off, it’s strike time.
Can you use barbed hooks for pike?
Not only should a crushed barb penetrate easily, but it should cause no tearing on removal from a pike.
What size swivels for pike fishing?
Fox Power Swivels in size 5 or 7, Korda Swivels in size 6 or 8, and similar models are perfect for pike traces.
How do you trace a wire?
Start with all the breakers off and plug a lamp — turned on — into an outlet. Flip breakers on and off one at a time until the lamp lights up. Next, plug the lamp into the other nearby outlets to determine which ones are on the same circuit. Flip nearby light switches on and off to see which circuit the lights are on.
How do you make wire traces for sea fishing?
TYING A WIRE TRACE FOR LURE FISHING
- You will need 18 inches of wire, a swivel, a snap link swivel, wire cutters and a pair of forceps.
- Bend an inch of wire and pass the formed loop through the eye of your swivel.
- Now pass the wire loop back over the swivel and pull it tight.
What is the best color lure for pike?
The very best lures to use for pike in clear water are swimbaits, softbaits, and crankbaits with an authentic pattern and swimming action. Natural lure colors that resemble the pike’s prey, such as white, silver, green, or black, have proven most effective.
What color are pike most attracted to?
The ability of slower retrieve along with a softer underwater tone gives you the injured fish action northern pike prey upon. Best pike lure colors: Red/Black or White (sunny days), Chartreuse/Blue (cloudy days).
What size lures for pike?
Go for lures in the 6-inch / 16cm range as these will be easy to cast and will catch pike of all sizes.