Pike traces

[slick2199]

Yes I select hook size according to bait size.In practice though this breaks down to size 6 for everything other than Trout Res's where I use bigger baits and therefore size 4's.I always make sure I have the same sized baits for each type of water though.

 

I used to use smaller trebles for Zeds but Ive not really targeted any other than very big ones for a long time though so stick normally with the 6's.

 

I do a lot of dead baiting and wobbled dead's after spending over 5 years trying out various types of traces ect i have a lot of sucess with using size 6 barbless in the tail of the dead bait and a size 4 in the back and i use a 20 inch trace witha bit of elasticated thread (red in colour)round the tail and treble that way if you go for distance casting the baits don't fly off .The 3 most productive baits i have used are lamprey sections ,pollen,smelti do use others but having a choise these are my first choise baits .I am trying a new bait at the moment a bluey excellent for wobbling due to there shape and even after 6 hours in the water blood still ooozzzies out have had mixed results will try for this season and review next Jan Slick

[Neil G]

In all honesty I don't think it would matter what size hook I use at the moment as the pike aren't coming anywhere near my baits!

[Dick Dastardly]

Jan,Ive not tried Blueys yet are they quite tough then?

[Steve Burke]

Jan,Ive not tried Blueys yet are they quite tough then?

 

Quite a lot about blueys on this thread: http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/forums/Grand-D...l=grand+day+out

 

They're not only oily, but also ooze blood. They also stay on the hook nicely. Last year on the Carp Lake at Wingham they were my second most successful bait after lamprey and beat mackeral. OTOH this year on the Coarse Lake mackeral has done best so far.

[Andy Macfarlane]

Jan,Ive not tried Blueys yet are they quite tough then?

 

They don't have anything going for them that other baits do IMHO. I can't see the advantage in using them Budgie. If and when i have used them, I cut them in half so i suppose you get 6 baits out of a packet, as long as you don't mind using head sections but as far as being a wonder bait....no, they most definitely are not.

 

PS: They're no tougher than mackerel.

[Steve Burke]

They don't have anything going for them that other baits do IMHO. I can't see the advantage in using them Budgie. If and when i have used them, I cut them in half so i suppose you get 6 baits out of a packet, as long as you don't mind using head sections but as far as being a wonder bait....no, they most definitely are not.

 

PS: They're no tougher than mackerel.

 

I agree, they're no wonder bait. No bait is of course. However they're another alternative, and an excellent one at that. It's not just on hard-fished waters either; the Carp Lake at Wingham has rarely ever been fished.

 

I certainly don't mind using head sections, in fact I marginally prefer them, and many of my best pike including my pb have come on them.

 

Isn't it interesting that we all have different experiences with bait? In fact I'm going to start another topic on this subject.