Trace for Steenbras using bloodworm.

[Sailfish]

On all my rigs i use a bite trace. This 8-10cm line is tied to the main trace line via fig 8 knot. Helps to keep the bait more straight and give you the edge with a bit more line dia. with toothy critters. Top hook slides loose between the fig 8 knot and the main hook. Can either be circle or normal J-hook. I thread the bottom hook through with a bait needle inserted about 1cm from the worms mouth and then slide the second hook gently to halfway of the worm and only let the hook tip and barb threw the worms skin. The bottom hook must be proud. I then bind the worm top section round the fig 8 knot with cotton. Now the worm will not slide down on the hooks and will be presented nice and natural.

[tubs the sea saver]

baie mooi oom 

[Marthin]

Ek kannie so mooi teken nie.  My trace is basically the same as Sailfish.  I just like the have the skellum hook semi fixed so it can't move further down.  In this way the worm always stays nice and straight.  I use exactly the same trace for kob exept that i put foam where the snapback is in this picture for pilchard/chokka combos., or with the snapback if fishing with an octopus leg.

Steenbras i use 2/o octopus skellum and a 4/0 short shank bandit.

Kob 4/0 octopus skellum and 7/0 or 8/0 short shank bandit.

All 10 of my last fish from sand shark, kob steenbras etc were all caught on the skellum hook when using this trace.

[REEFMAN]

I agree Marthin... the skelm hook is a much underestimated and much underused part of an edibles trace. It's amazing how many fish are hooked on a small little skelm... why that is...    ? Maybe someone can answer that for us....??

[Marthin]

i think

1.  bloodworm i think the softer part is usually at the top
2.  Chokka bait... we usually imitate a chokka, and i think the kob takes them from the back.  Before having a skelm hook i missed a few fish where all the chokka was pulled down into the gape of the big hook leaving it very "unproud"
3.  Again kob, i think the smaller ones takes a fish side on and then repositions it for swallowing.  Arch had a nice picture last year of the big hook hanging completely on the side and the small hook in the corner of the mouth.  With flotation and the way we attach it... the hook point is always pointing towards the bottom...