Pre-made traces?!

[John F]

I always believed in having traces for live baits, dead baits, etc. pre made and packed ready to go.

So throughout the years in those calm periods I made them and "tried" to have them organized and packed!

Eish... now after a lot of commotion and working on the boat, trailer and storing junk into the shed I just can't find the stuff!!! 

So, I'm thinking... I should just make them the night/a few days before the fishing trip... and make only whatever I need or will use on the planned trip, instead of having lot's of terminal tackle rigged and "lost" somewhere....

How do you guys manage it?!?

[WalkersKiller]

Marcos, used to tie tons of rigs when ever I had time, for carp, rock and surf and live bait fishing. I lost a lot of the rigs somewhere, no idea where, will most likely find them one day  but also (Its in my mind I think) when I fish with traces I have tied 6 months prior I really worry about them when I use them, and I keep asking myself (Even though I have checked and tested the traces), is the hook still sharp enough? Has some of the trace line been frayed, did I check the knots properly etc etc. So now I only tie traces the night before a session, just spend a little more time, but at least I feel confident and I do not loose any lol.

[Trevour]

I tie traces every time before a trip, and then cut them up every time after a trip. Bit silly I guess, but preparing for the trip does get the excitement going. Its crazy how much effort we put into a trip. We've already got the tackle boxes out, checking stock etc for a two week trip to Mazeppa in December.

[CLS]

I have to tie traces the night before a trip as all my traces are buggered from catching fish the last trip 

[dugong]

One of the best additions to my tackle are these trace pouches, worth every cent at about R250. They cover most bases for the fishing I do and I have one more with bottom traces and some leader and fluro spools. They have 10 ziplocks on each side with two storage pouches in the middle.
The pouches are kept in plastic containers along with sinkers, other lures etc...


Included: 10-15 couta live bait traces of different sizes for anything from small mozzies to big shad to bonnies.
               10-15 couta deadbait traces of different sizes.
                Sabakis for bait
                2 daisy chains for catching bonnies.
                Elastics for downrigging
                About 10 fluro snoek traces(skirts and dusters)
                Snoek hook traces
                Various Clark spoons and small minieyes
                15-20 Mono and fluro dollie traces for(also for tuna Garrick) in various hook sizes and styles in 40lb/50lb/60lb/100lb
These stay on the boat and are on my trip checklist(anyone who has been fishing without traces will know what I mean )
After every trip I will clean, dry and inspect used traces and they will go back - whilst couta fishing I will use a new trace after boating a fish, traces that have caught fish will be cut up and completely remade - no exceptions!!
               
                 

[dugong]

.

[super_daav]

Marcos, I did what you did in huge variety of size and colours. I find that I only fish a couple of different colours so have a mass of unused traces with the "wrong" colours.


Probably should change them.


I try and sit for a week now pre the season and build a good handful (read 10 or so each "common" trace). Some come with me and rest surplus. Periodically during the season, I need to remake.


Eish...

[Cam Mundy]

I prefer to prepare the components of my traces so I'll have a bunch of trebles with wire in different lengths and "leader with skirts and swivels. I find it much easy to store and once I've caught my live bait I can make up traces very quickly that will fit the bait perfectly. 

[John F]

Thanks guys... looks like making them just before the trip is the way to go...