ULTIMATE ANGLING - the Ultimate SA Fishing website
OFFSHORE ANGLING => Offshore Traces, Rigs and Baits => Topic started by: Capt. Hook on September 14, 2011, 05:08:43 PM
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:FST:
There are many ways to rig a trace up for Queen Mackerel, so I thought that I would share mine. Queen Mackerel are finicky and fussy and so the only way to target them is to go light, the trace I am going to share is what I have developed with the experience gained after many bad days and lost fish and so far has produced the best results as you have to try harder and harder to deceive these fish.
1.
Materials – No. 8 Swivel, 4/0-5/0 narrow gauge chemically sharpened hook, Yamashita Squid, Duster, No.10 Wire, 20-30lb Fluorocarbon
I use the No. 10 Wire to make my whole trace stiff in order to easily bind the strip bait, which then keeps it all straight to prevent spinning.
I know Yamashita squids are expensive, but they are the best and produce more fish.
2.
Make a 180 degree loop in the wire about 50mm long
3.
Push the loop through the bottom of the hooks eye
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4.
Pull the loop over the bend of the hook
5.
Pull the loop tight back to the eye
6.
Make a Haywire twist with the 2 ends and line it up with the shank of the hook
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7.
Measure the length of your wire trace so that the hook extends past the skirt but the eye of the hook remains in the skirt; remember when measuring to allow for the swivel and the knot and reduce accordingly
8.
Do a Haywire twist on the loose end and include the No. 8 swivel, leave a small tag on the end of the twist to incorporate a point where you can affix your strip bait to so that it will prevent it from sliding down the trace when trolling and when the strip bait is bound properly here it will also reduce wash-out.
9.
Insert the Duster into the Yamashita Squid
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10.
Push your 20-30lb Fluorocarbon leader through the squid and the duster and tie to your swivel using a fig. 8 knot. I like to use a fluorocarbon leader of about 4m so that there are no knots near the lure creating small bubbles that could make the fish wary.
11.
The fished product should look like this
12.
The trace is on the rod and ready to fish.
With this trace you can prepare all your strip baits the night before and you only need to tie them onto your line with the skirt sliding directly on the fluorocarbon.
To prevent the lure from sliding up the trace when fighting your fish, you use a small rubber stop that is used in Bass fishing, this will prevent the lure being far up you leader where another fish following the one you are fighting can take a bite at the lure and parting your line.
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(clap) +cred Mike. I saw Mike making traces like these in a matter of minutes.
Question:
Do you use offset hooks as well?
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(clap) +cred Mike. I saw Mike making traces like these in a matter of minutes.
Question:
Do you use offset hooks as well?
No, I never use offset hooks on any lure, feather skirt that will be trolled, it cause the lure to be unbalanced IMO.
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:shre:
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excellent - thanks :-)
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Thanks Mike, have so much to learn - this certainly helps.
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Nnice post :shre: :shre: :udman:
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:tkx: FA!
:win:
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Thanks guys, keep a look out for my "Dorado Tactics" post coming soon, I am too tired now to complete it.
Just remember :FST:
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Nice post Mike... +cred
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Nice one Mike- anyone got a trace that we can use from the surf?
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FA, are there any particular colours of dusters that you favour?
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FA, are there any particular colours of dusters that you favour?
Yes, I have 3 favorite colours, the white/clear as shown, but I also like the green-yellow yamashita which also glows in the dark and so wroks well before full sun up and the hot pink yamashita which Saily's love also.
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Thanks Mike.
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Nice one Mike- anyone got a trace that we can use from the surf?
Best to cast spoons from the surf for snoek
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Thanks Mike just finished making a couple of traces, will try it this Sunday. :sreel:
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:welc: Looking forward to your snoek catching report.
Read the "KZN Offshore - Whatzup?" thread for the latest snoek catching reports.
Do you launch at Vetche's?