With the traditional pike season underway, it’s time to tie up some new traces and prepare the predator gear.

Having strong tackle is a must whilst pike fishing. I use an E-Sox Piker 12ft Bait Rod with 60lb E-Sox Piker Braided Reel Line loaded onto a strong and reliable reel. The most important part though has to be the trace. For my traces I like to use 28lb Soft Strand Pike Wire and rather than crimping the hooks and swivel into place, I opt for twisting. Twisting has never failed me and is both strong and reliable.

Big fish legend, and 7-times Drennan Cup winner, Terry Lampard, demonstrates how to tie a wire trace for fishing dead baits.