some more q's from a novice

hi again, ive started making my own traces up and wondered what type of trebles to get. the ones i bought were 5.50 for ten. they are predator ones. bit dear but it got me started. the wire i got is nylon coated and ive tied them up as per diagram on packet and melted the end instead of using crimps. is this method ok?? thanks , brian

Size 4 VMC trebles will land anything and melting isn't good enough IMO. A decent pike will make mincemeat of a melted connection I reckon.
Crimp or twist but plastic coated wire is fine

"Melted the ends instead of using crimps?".

Usually the coated wires are designed for crimping, do you mean you have twisted the end loop etc.. & then melted the coating?

The Fox Predator hooks are fine, use them myself, the semi-barbless ones, I stick the barbed hook in the bait & leave the others to hook the fish

People have their favourites & others will make their recommendations.

Bazz

As far as I am aware, coated wire works best when crimped.

I use uncoated wire and use the twist method.

http://www.foxint.com/articles.php?lang=&article=48 for info on how to 'tie' using the twist method. I use this exact same method (but use barbless singles) and have never been let down once.

As Andy says, if using trebles go for a size 4 and, as bazz says, semi barbed are ideal.

Briand has just been following the instructions. Some wires do claim that you can melt the end of the wire to fuse it together but I'm not convinced.
I do however heat crimps to fuse the plastic inside the crimp though because I feel that adds to the solidity of the fixing but on it's own....no....use crimps.

coated wires twist ok if you use the spinny forcep method



40lb carboflex

hi, sorry for the confusion in my post . it was late last night after a long days work. i use the twist method as per noodles picture then heat the bit where the two are twisted together about 8 turns to stop it undoing itself. im just knot sure if im doing it correctly(see what i did there). . ive been piking about 4 times now and still to catch more than a jack. thanks for the help and pics. brian. p.s. should have a little face thingy for 'no fish'.. i could use it..

Hi Brian and welcome to the forum

I used plastic coated wire many years ago for piking, although I got it through sea fishing. The joint was twisted then the plastic melted with a lighter. The result was a rock solid knot. The twist alone looked as though it could unravel. The melt was required to lock the knot.

Andy Webster

andy for twisting did you use a twiddling stick?

i have had those unravel unless i anneal (spp?) the wire 1st

with the spinny forceps it doesnt unwrap, or at least it hasnt on me yet

The twist was very loose, Noodle. Five or six turns no tighter than a corkscrew. I couldn't believe how strong it was. The melted plastic provided the strength. I never saw the product in this country though.

Andy Webster

[quote="Andy Macfarlane"]Size 4 VMC trebles..

used them for a season now, no probs. good price on ebay for 50. and thay are VMC.