is it nowhere near as easy as the hype suggests? i have been experimenting with some tiny plugs (2cm-ish) and amusing myself with some ferocious jack pike in a local ("fishless" :roll:) pond.
using a traditional style trace meant that the plugs sank. so i thought it was about time i tried some of this knottable wire on the market ( i think Scotty9 tried it for pike fly traces?). after a bit of research, i came up with "knot 2 kinky", which is a titanium wire, very thin. not 2 cheap, either...
its also a b*%$@#&! to knot. it's very resistant to being bent, virtually friction free and is incredibly sharp! i tried using the illustrations on the pack but have eventually resorted to using a standard 4 turn tucked half blood knot and using a pair of pliers to try and get it anywhere near tight. this is definitely not what's recommended by the manufacturers, but at least it works. sort of... even with the pliers it's difficult to keep hold of.
am i missing something here? what does anyone else use? i certainly wouldn't want to be making up a new trace with cold fingers at the waterside! :?
A mate of mine uses wire that can be tied in a knot but I have lost the names of them :(
This might be it.
http://www.pikeflyrod.com/509-authanic-wire-pike-trace-wire.html (http://www.pikeflyrod.com/509-authanic-wire-pike-trace-wire.html)
Use crimps;
http://www.harrissportsmail.com/Categories.aspx?CategoryID=2284 (http://www.harrissportsmail.com/Categories.aspx?CategoryID=2284)
the standard tinned copper cable crimp sleeves found at any electrical supplier work well for wire pike traces and are nice and cheap. You can use ordinary pliers to crimp them.
They look like this;
http://www.tecni-cable.co.uk/Tecni-Cable-Crimp-Tool-for-Double-Copper-Ferrules-115-007-023 (http://www.tecni-cable.co.uk/Tecni-Cable-Crimp-Tool-for-Double-Copper-Ferrules-115-007-023)
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10pcs-crimp-sleeve-ferrule-tube-pipe-LMR240-cable-connector-/150929959639?_trksid=p2045573.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D3128222798221599450%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D250778988287%26 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10pcs-crimp-sleeve-ferrule-tube-pipe-LMR240-cable-connector-/150929959639?_trksid=p2045573.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D3128222798221599450%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D250778988287%26)
I twist them like this-
http://www.fishingmagic.com/features/rigs/predator_rigs/11086-twisting-a-pike-trace.html (http://www.fishingmagic.com/features/rigs/predator_rigs/11086-twisting-a-pike-trace.html)
And add a crimp.
For a final finish I add heatshrink tubing.
Some UK suppliers for you;
http://prowla.greysfishing.com/en-gb/products/traces-trace-making/traces-trace-making/prowla-trace-crimp/ (http://prowla.greysfishing.com/en-gb/products/traces-trace-making/traces-trace-making/prowla-trace-crimp/)
http://www.tacklebargains.co.uk/acatalog/Trace-Wire-and-Crimps-Kit--Coated-.html (http://www.tacklebargains.co.uk/acatalog/Trace-Wire-and-Crimps-Kit--Coated-.html)
How to use;
http://www.pikeonline.co.uk/rigs/traces/trace-crimped-lure (http://www.pikeonline.co.uk/rigs/traces/trace-crimped-lure)
Guy who used to work at Caffarros, Glasgow, told me he used drennan pike wire, its knotable, he used a single overhand knot, put the fly into a fence post, branch ect and simply tie the knot, pulling it tight, when it beds in that's it solid. I was sceptical but have used that now for over 10years and never lost a fly. He has had Canadian pike over 30lb on this knot, it may only work with the drennan wire, try it and you will be surprised.
I have used the stuff Sandy linked to,just used it the same way as standard nylon tippet and did not have any problems.
The various wires differ, here a demo for the wire you have;
Knot 2 Kinky by Goya Trading South Africa (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgBx0vjr6mg#ws)
You can tie SOME knots in some wires, you have to twist other wires, and you have to crimp others.
Here is the Uni knot shown in the demo which is a bit clearer to follow;
http://www.animatedknots.com/uniknot/index.php (http://www.animatedknots.com/uniknot/index.php)
This is the Albright knot,
http://www.animatedknots.com/albright/index.php?Categ=fishing&LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com (http://www.animatedknots.com/albright/index.php?Categ=fishing&LogoImage=LogoGrog.jpg&Website=www.animatedknots.com)
but I would not try to connect wire directly to mono etc. I would use a swivel instead.
These knots will only work properly on SOME wires. Usually the maker will recommend a knot or other method for his own wires. You can use crimps on anything, and they are a lot faster and more convenient than any knots.
Quote from: guest on October 31, 2012, 01:43:26 PM
I used t use Drennan pike wire which is braided and knotable, it doesn't kink but does suffer a bit from memory
Sounds similar to the authanic wire stuff I have used, also found that it caught on heather quite a lot. Also used it with a small popper it it did not sink the fly.
Ever thought of something like this? Titanium Wire married to a Furled leader, No knot, a snap link instead.
Overall length 6ft 6ins with 10ins. of kink resistant medical grade titanium
superior casting
high durability & toughness
maximum corrosion resistance & strength
overstrike protection, high stretch & recovery
black oxide bite guard reduces underwater visibility
cuts through weeds
ready to use, for 7wt lines & above
breaking strain 20lb
Excuse the blurb
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Algie123/tooth1.jpg)
Tight Lines
Quote from: Highlander on October 31, 2012, 06:58:02 PM
Ever thought of something like this? Titanium Wire married to a Furled leader, No knot, a snap link instead.
Overall length 6ft 6ins with 10ins. of kink resistant medical grade titanium
superior casting
high durability & toughness
maximum corrosion resistance & strength
overstrike protection, high stretch & recovery
black oxide bite guard reduces underwater visibility
cuts through weeds
ready to use, for 7wt lines & above
breaking strain 20lb
Excuse the blurb
(http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Algie123/tooth1.jpg)
Tight Lines
That looks good. How much?
I tried this stuff and found it knots just like heavy nylon using 3 turn tucked blood knot and the same knot i use to make a loop in nylon:
http://mikestackleshop.com/surflon-micro-ultra-knottable-leader-wire (http://mikestackleshop.com/surflon-micro-ultra-knottable-leader-wire)
Its not cheap but I didn't want the hassle of crimps etc.
I should qualify the above by saying I've only got round to using it a few times and have not actually caught a pike on it yet :roll: - knots just fine though :)
I'll drop off a piece for you to try next time I'm passing
Quote from: guest on October 31, 2012, 01:43:26 PM
I used t use Drennan pike wire which is braided and knotable, it doesn't kink but does suffer a bit from memory
Is that the seven strand stuff ?
Ive used this stuff for ages and i like it its nice and thin and knots and crimps well.I got some Savage gear knotable "Clear " wire its ok but if you dont get the knot exactly right you cant correct it and it ruins the end of the trace or at the very least leaves a wee twist or kink in it .I just crimp that too now and its been fine.
thanks folks!
i'll try the overhand knot approach and maybe also the surflon and/or the furled leader.
using crimps is definitely out. the additional weight drags the plugs straight down. i'd seen the video (which is pretty much the same as the illustrations on the packet): looks easy doesn't it? i can assure you it's not! probably a lot easier if you're not paying 50p a foot....
just to give you an idea, i'm using plugs that are the same size as the smallest floating rapala ie 5g (and caught a few this afternoon :8))
If you are using small stuff then try Kevlar. It does fray and you have to check it regularly but I have never had a bite off with it. It's easy to knot.
http://www.rodgersfishingtackle.co.uk/product_catalogue.php?sec=5&cat=15&product=3968 (http://www.rodgersfishingtackle.co.uk/product_catalogue.php?sec=5&cat=15&product=3968)
that looks like a winner, mike! :8)
okay guys, i took on board your advice and have made up a number of leaders, all with lineaffe target line rolling swivel+ snap, size 20 at the business end and fish eagle rolling swivel size 10 (which are actually only slightly larger than the 20s) at the line end.
results so far:
surflon micro supreme: quite flexible, a bit prone to loosen off. catches fish (lost count on thursday :8)). still a shade on the heavy side
ron thompson hard mono: not the most supple. knots easily. no fish yet. quite light (ie doesn't drag the micro lures under)
kevlar tress: very light and super supple. looks like the out and out winner BUT; no fish yet and it doesn't inspire confidence re. bite-offs. have to wait until next friday for a proper test!
many thanks for your input. i'll keep you posted. i have to say the presentation on the kevlar tress is fantastic and would be ideal with flies (provided it's fish-proof) surprisingly little info about this on the net...
I might just get a spool of that kevlar tress myself to try next season. :D
Quote from: corsican dave on November 10, 2012, 10:51:16 PM
kevlar tress: very light and super supple. looks like the out and out winner BUT; no fish yet and it doesn't inspire confidence re. bite-offs. have to wait until next friday for a proper test!
Although it looks fragile it is virtually indestructible. I have had a trace fray a bit when going over the teeth of a fish but I have never had a bite-off. Obviously, if it does get frayed then it is better to change it. As long as it doesn't fray much you can catch fish after fish with it. It wont fray at all on most fish. It's only now and again that a fish manages to fray it at all.
the pike weren't playing today, so i thought i'd show you what i'm playing about with
from the top:
a tsunami micro crank on kevlar tress. the lure sinks like a stone so the kevlar tress is irrelevant!
a bigysmal micro crawfish on ron thompson hard mono. as you can see, this is quite springy. the lure is deadly. lost count of the pike caught on this!
an hrf micro crucian on surflon. sinks/neutral on surflon, but floats on kevlar tress. the other pic shows its effectiveness!
for comparison, a classic shakespeare little s on knot 2 kinky titanium. as you can see, it's awkward to knot neatly
the kevlar tress casts these small lures a treat. i caught one small jack today with the leader firmly in the scissors. on a previous occasion i've had a similar fish slice straight through 30lb spectra braid, but one fish is hardly conclusive....
i've got a lot of my lures from allan mee of agm lures http://www.agmdiscountfishing.co.uk/index.php (http://www.agmdiscountfishing.co.uk/index.php)
allan's products are excellent and his service is nothing short of amazing. and he doesn't rip us off for being north of the border :8)
It's best for fly-fishing as well. Doesn't interfere with the action of the lures so much as wire,