advice needed on wire traces

[markpierce]

I am a learner fisherman, and need a few tips on using wire traces and ganged hooks for tailor fishing.

1. STORAGE OF TRACES. I have been told that the clips on the end of traces are weak, so I cut them off, and open the eye of the top hook of the gang to hold the wire loop. This means that I have a half a dozen or so pre-prepared traces to take on an outing. I try putting them all in a plastic box, but invariably they get tangled when I try to take one out. Any suggestions for storage and transport?

2. BENT TRACES. After landing a fish, the trace is often bent and twisted. Any opinions on whether these are still usable, or able to be straightened?

3. BLACK vs SILVER? Reliable sources tell me that black traces put the fish off, and are to be avoided. Any opinions?

4. EXTRA LEADER? I have been advised use line to extend the wire trace length to about 60cm below the sinker. What do you think?

Thanks in advance for any tips.

Cheers

H-L-S

[disorderly]

Hi H-L-S,
Dont do any tailor fishing but fish regularly for spanish mackeral(been plenty around this year).
When I first started getting into them a couple of years ago I used commercially made coated wire traces.However I soon found them to have a high failure rate.Mostly bent snap swivels and crimps letting go.Very annoying to get a good fish boatside and lose it because of trace failure.
So I went and bought some single strand trace wire,swivels and a box off 6-0s ready to gang.I do without crimps by neatly wrapping the wire around maybe 15 times or so and cut off flush with sidecutters.A simple yet very strong rig,little chance of failure.
So to answer your questions-
1.You can put them individually into a ziplock bag.
2. Use your own discretion.If not to badly bent and everything looks okay use again.If kinked however,then replace.
3. I personally use black,dont use brass unless it is blackened.Fish can and do chomp off shiny swivels.
4.Not qutie sure what you mean but if you make your own you can experiment to find the best length.

cheers and good luck
Scott

[nofrills]

Hi hls

Another option for tailor is to forget about the wire traces.You will improve your strike rate considerably buy losing the wire.Dont even get caught up using big mono leaders.It all about making your baits look as natural as possible.

Talor disable the fish the are about to eat buy chopping their tails off so they cant escape.So if you are using gangs 9 times out of 10 you will hook the tailor buy the rear hook of your set of gangs so the other hooks will prevent you being bitten off.Just put a swivel on your front hook and that will give you another CM of bite off insurance.

cheers scotty

[Freeeedom]

I agree with Nofrills - forget about wire when fishing for tailor. I use 3 x 5/0's when using pilchards and 4 X 5/0s when using gar or pike and always hook the tailor on the trailing or second last hook. The only time I would bother with wire is when I expect to encounter mackerel in the location I am fishing
Cheers Freeeedom

[backhoe]

Hi H-L-S,
Dont do any tailor fishing but fish regularly for spanish mackeral(been plenty around this year).
When I first started getting into them a couple of years ago I used commercially made coated wire traces.However I soon found them to have a high failure rate.Mostly bent snap swivels and crimps letting go.Very annoying to get a good fish boatside and lose it because of trace failure.
So I went and bought some single strand trace wire,swivels and a box off 6-0s ready to gang.I do without crimps by neatly wrapping the wire around maybe 15 times or so and cut off flush with sidecutters.A simple yet very strong rig,little chance of failure.
So to answer your questions-
1.You can put them individually into a ziplock bag.
2. Use your own discretion.If not to badly bent and everything looks okay use again.If kinked however,then replace.
3. I personally use black,dont use brass unless it is blackened.Fish can and do chomp off shiny swivels.
4.Not qutie sure what you mean but if you make your own you can experiment to find the best length.

cheers and good luck
Scott

Shouldn't need to cut it off. This usually leaves a spike of wire.
If doing a haywire twist at the end just work it back and forth a few times and it will break off and won;t leave a tag. You'll be able to run your hand over kkt and not feel a sharp end

[disorderly]

Yeah Backhoe,your spot on,I generally wind it around till i can do no more without puncturing my thumb and then cut it ,leaving a spiky end.
So what is a haywire twist?
Looks like you enjoy those blistering initial runs of the spaniards also.

cheers Scott

[backhoe]

Yeah Backhoe,your spot on,I generally wind it around till i can do no more without puncturing my thumb and then cut it ,leaving a spiky end.
So what is a haywire twist?
Looks like you enjoy those blistering initial runs of the spaniards also.

cheers Scott

Haywire twist is on this page
http://www.ausfish.com.au/knots/
I like to do a few more of the square twists though. DO about 12 of the 45 degree ones then the same number of square ones. Then just bend it back and forth a couple of times and it'll break off neatly.
DO more twists in lighter wire and less in heavier wire.

[killitfillit]

yeah scotty forget the wire,if you get bitten off use bigger hooks.better to get bit off than not get bitten at all.with tailor it is important to put the last hook right in the tail of the bait no matter how big or small so you catch the tail tappers when they are shy.

[markpierce]

Hey Thanks Guys,

Scott, I have put all the traces in individual zip-lock bags with great success - thanks

I will try the haywire twist, Backhoe, thanks ( and thanks to Ausfish for the great animated knots resource).

Thanks Scotty and Freedom, I will try the "no-trace" tailor rig.

Watch out tailor,

Here I come!!!

Ciao

H-L-S

[imnotoriginal]

I tried for a long time to make those twists work in the wire, just couldn't get the hang of it. I stick with mono for all my fishing now. I fish doubles when I need to and just live with a few lost fish. You'll get more bites without the stuff.
Joel

[markpierce]

Thanks Joel,

But what do you mean by "doubles"

Mark

[imnotoriginal]

I double the line. There's a few ways you can do this. If you want the easier way (it's not as strong as other ways in mono, but works well in braid) try a spider hitch. You can also use a bimini twist, but this is a knot I'm yet to master. Try the knots section for a few more hints on tying doubles in your line.
Joel

[markpierce]

Thanks Joel,

will check out the knots,

Mark