Making Traces (Tracelets)

Ive been making wire traces from fox carboflex,im a crimper not a twister ,i was really happy with the carboflex.The only problem that occured was once you had a lively fish in the net,this ruined or kinked the trace,meaning a new one would have to be used.I then stumbled upon a thread on the old Pike & Predator forum about tracelets.These were the idea of Mark Houghton,and was featured at a later date in the magazine.How they are constructed is by making a seperate trace from Titanium then adding your tracelet,which is made up to suit the deadbaits you are using,this is the part that normally gets ruined and you can clip one one after each fish if damaged,and the trace stays intact.Ive made up the tracelets with e.t 7 strand wire and have become a twister,this is due to the fact,crimping is to fiddley.

The components to make the traces.

The Hooks,i use eagle claw in size 4 or 6.

E.T 7 strand for the tracelets.

Components to make the main trace,E.T.double crimps,Crimp Rubber sleeves and a Gemini clip.

This is the wire,enough to make 5 traces...

Here the wire is put through the crimp twice.

Here the wire has been pushed through 3 times.Then trim tag end.

Here is the crimp once its been crimped with double crimp pliers.....

Once you have trimmed the tag end,slide crimp rubber on for neater presentation..

The completed trace,at the bottom you can see the gemini clip which is crimped exactly same way.

The pliers needed to crimp the double crimps,forget anything else..................

The Tracelets,made to various lengths to suit the baits i use...........................

As you can see in the picture,attach main trace to tracelet,slide tail rubber over crimp and on to hook. .

Pike Fishing

Finally managed to get out.A change of plan was needed due to others not turning out.I went to a small water near home.cleaned the frost of the car and the day looked promising.Arrived at the water,chose my spot and cast in my first rod,smelt as bait on a float,poured a coffee and was just baiting the ledger rod up,when the float went.Nice jack of around 9lb.I had 2 more takes on the float,but failed to hook the fish both times.I moved to another area that has produced,but not a touch,so packed up and went home,Till the next time.....................

The Jack,did a self take but cant get pic of other camera................................................

The Swim................................

The Treble-7 roll arm indicator,no runs today,just field testing

New Stretch Of The Ribble

Got asked if id fancy a trip to a private stretch of the ribble,didnt need asking twice,so back out with the barbel gear,as if id put it away.We arrived at the river just as the light was fading,it was a warm evening ,well i thought it was,Chas an Lee didnt think so.we all spaced out about 100yrds apart.i decided to fish boilie and paste on one rod,and on the other with pellet paste and a p.v.a bag with crushed chain reactions.after a call from chas,we decided to go on a long walk up river,a nice area of gravel,looked real barbelly.As we were to set up,Lee phoned said he had a good fish,chas walked all the way back,which was really good of him,so i st up my two rods cast one across river and the other downstream.It seemed like forever before chas came back and Lee had a new PB 10.8,Well done mate.Chas moved down river,wasnt long now as i made a bag ,my right hand rod went,and soon a small barbel was netted.Rang chas and he,d had a small fish too.At midnight we packed up,made the long walk back ,and was home for 1-15am,tired,but at least not a blank.

Hereee Pikey

Well its that time of the year now,Pike Pike ,oh and More Pike/lol.Started off on the canal at first light.2 floats one armed with smelt,the other sardine.Wasnt long before the smelt float bobbed and sailed away.I kept leap frogging my way up and back down the canal,the bright sunshine wasnt helping,and i did get fed up with having to reel in on numerous occasions due to boat traffic.Packed up at 12-45 and headed for plan B,a water that i know holds a few pike and some good perch,on arrival there were 5 cars parked up .So drove off to plan c.set up in one swim for 30 mins,then moved camp,same set up sardine and smelt.Got the lure rod out and worked my way through various lures and spinners.I changed back to a lure and bang,big perch,my drag was set too lose and it headed for the bank and came off,gutted.wasnt long before my float bobbed on the smelt rod,hit it,the fish took line,wound down the spare line and the fish came off,felt good aswell.Decided to stay till the sun went down and had another take,a Jack,repeat capture from last yr.Had a good day and at least banked 2 fish...........................

The canal fish fell to a Smelt.....................................................................................

Stefan Jarl float makes its Debut,no fish but well pleased..........................................

Final Fish Of the day from a different venue,fell to a Smelt........................................

Pike Floats

My new floats arrived today from sweeden made by Stefan Jarl and there awesome.I cant wait to use them.Theres a funny story behind the posting of these but i wont tell Stefan,honest,lol

The floats can make there debut on the water below,watch this space........................

Here,s the link to Stefan,s Blog,you can translate to english.http://thespecimenhunter.blogspot.se/http://thespecimenhunter.blogspot.se/

Greys Prodigy Tackle Base Compact

I sent a letter in to the anglers mail in the Q&A section asking about cat fish rigs and they published a rig and i won a greys compact tackle box.

I was really chuffed and will come in very handy for my bream & tench sessions next year.......

My Barbel season

Im just goin to reflect on my 2nd  season as a barbel angler.Ive thouroughly enjoyed it discovering new spots on the river and moving swims to find fish.Ive kept it simple all season,running feeder  or lead,with all my fish falling to Pellet,cant seem to catch them on boilie or dumbells.Im really pleased now with my paste mix which i now have spot on.My last 4 sessions have  all produced blanks for barbel,but thats fishing.The river has been low most of the year apart from one decent flood,saw it run off and i had my new pb of 8.8.Ive had 3 8,s this season which is pleasing.I enjoyed rolling meat on the trent which is something i will do more next season.I also had a new pb Chub of 4.12.Ive now packed away my gear,but can put my hands on it should the winter temps allow for some winter barbel,maybe January ,who knows.Its time for Pike now .

A lovely view on an earlier session this season,peace and a lovely view...................