Carp Catchers Blog

Oliver just keeps catching here’s a nice 10lb pike he had recently. The venue was the local canal and the bait was an eel section from our deadbait department.

Well done Oliver.

Best fishes,

John

The best pike of the season by a Carp Catchers customer so far was reported to us recently by Tom Cox. Toms’ monster pike weighed 25lb 4oz and was caught on a legered roach from our deadbaits section. Tom has been tying his own traces using Drennan Barbed Carbon Trebles  , Drennan Slim Crimps and Drennan 7 Strand Pike Wire. Well done Tom that is one big, toothy pike.

Best fishes,

John

Oliver has been putting in a lot of time and effort into his pike fishing over the winter and it has paid off. Below is a nice clean pike of 11lb caught from the local canal, a decent size fish from a canal. Oliver caught his pike on a roach from our deadbait section. Nice one Oliver!

Best fishes,

John

Here’s a nice photo from customer Rob of a pike he caught recently. Robs pike weighed 10lb and was caught from a small weir pool on the River Welland. Float fished mackerel from our deadbait section was the successful method for Rob.

Spinning Traces

The components used in this demonstration were E-SOX Titanium Pike Wire, Berkley Cross-lok Snap Swivels,  Drennan Micro Crimps and ESP Hi Performance Swivels. (See picture below)

As with the deadbait traces, a good pair of wire cutters and crimping pliers are needed.

Step 1.

Cut a 12 inch length of pike wire and thread a crimp onto the wire. (See picture below)

Step 2.

Now thread a snap swivel onto the wire and thread the pike wire back through the crimp. (See picture below)

Step 3.

Then using the crimping pliers, flatten the crimp in three central positions. (See picture below)

Step 4.

Repeat the past three steps with a normal swivel on the other end of the pike wire. (See picture below)

The finished trace should look like this. (See picture below)

The normal swivel can be tied to your mainline with the snap link at the other end being used to quick hassle free lure changes.

Tight Lines

David

That fella Oliver has been at it again. Using his trusty bike to keep mobile Oliver tempted this 8lb pike with a roach from our deadbait section. Well done Oliver!

Best fishes,

John

Customer Lee bought some roach deadbaits from us and helped himself to this nice clean 9lb 14oz pike from a stretch of the local canal.
Nice one Lee!

Best fishes,
John

Deadbait Traces

Being able to make your own pike traces can allow you to be a lot more versatile in your fishing as you can alter your trace length and the distance between the hooks to suit your fishing. Making your own pike traces will also save you more money in the long run and can be a lot more satisfying when you land fish on them. To make your own traces you will need a good pair of wire cutters and crimping pliers. (See picture below)

The rig components used in this demonstration were Drennan 7 strand pike wire, Drennan semi barbed trebles, Drennan slim crimps and ESP Hi Performance Carp Swivels. (See picture below) 

Step 1.

Cut a 13-14 inch length of pike wire off the spool and thread a crimp on to one end. (See picture below)

Step 2.

Now thread a treble hook on and double the pike wire over. (See picture below)

Step 3.

Now thread the other end of the pike wire through the crimp. (See picture below)

Step 4.

Then using the crimping pliers flatten the crimp in three central places making sure that no wire protrudes beyond the crimp as your mainline could catch on this during the cast. (See picture below)

Once crimped the hook should look like this. (See picture below)

Step 5.

Now cut a small 1-2 inch length of pike wire from the spool and bend it in the middle passing it through the eye of another treble hook. (See picture below)

Step 6.

Then thread another crimp down the pike wire to your desired distance away from the bottom treble and thread the two tag ends of wire holding the second treble through the crimp and crimp in three central positions again. Making sure that no wire protrudes like before so it doesn’t catch your mainline. The method of using another piece of wire to attach the second hook avoids kinking the main pike wire. (See picture below)

Step 7.

Now thread another crimp down the wire followed by a swivel, then thread the last tag end of wire back through the crimp and flatten in three central places to finish the trace. Again making sure that no wire protrudes beyond the crimp as your mainline will catch on it. (See picture below)

The finished trace will look like this. (See picture below)

You can make your traces to your own desired length to suit bait choice and fishing situation.

Tight lines

Dave

Customer Ben also had a pike fishing trip to Pitsford Reservoir recently. Ben tempted this 21lb beauty of a pike whilst fishing a copper spoon lure from the back of a boat. The capture was featured in the Angling Times recently and was a Drennan Cup contender. Bens winter fishing goal was a 20lb pike and he achieved it at the first time of asking. Well done Ben!!

Best fishes,

John