This method has been around a long time and has been the choice of many experienced pike anglers for it strength and security. It provides a fixed upper treble on what can been known as a 'snap tackle'. This term has been around for a couple of centuries and it has in its older style, had a special hook called a 'Ryder hook' created to hold it in position on the trace after the line was twisted around the shank. This was achieved by the placing of another eye on the hook between the bends.

It was in its day an effective way of allowing a trace to have its hook spacing 'adjusted' to suit the bait size. However the ability for the hook to slide had it problems! One the regular movement of the hook position would lead to fraying of the wire strands leading to a weakness and the likely hood of a breakage. Two it could if not set up properly slip on the strike and this could reduce the efficiency of hooking and if weakened already as discussed earlier, break the trace wire with disastrous results.

The addition of the extra loop has been abandoned by the hook manufacturers and the free sliding upper treble has no security when the wire is twisted around the hook shamk and even if silicon rubber or shrink tube is applied it fails to provide the required security. Hooking was poor and could easily slip under pressure continuing the problem of wire damage as well.

The method is not the simplest but is undoubtedly the strongest if made correctly. The biggest secret in its durability is to ensure the wire that comes back under the bends passes under the wire going to the end hook which you should put on the wire before the upper hook. This allows you to set the space between the hooks accurately. The secret to success is to practice making the traces this way and then practice some more!

Keep the twists around the shank tight and tidy and then carefully feed the loose end through the eye again, avoiding kinking it, pull firmly to bed the wire down on the hook.

The now available Fox silicone trace sleeves, Korda Anti-tangle Sleeves can be used to cover these whippings and tidy them up, optionally you can cover and secure these with shrink tube. You can also use these on all hooks and swivel fixings for tidy traces.

Selection of items for trace making available from the Pike Online Amazon store, click an image to view prices and availability.