long traces

. I've made my first attempt at one last night using normal 30lb ulima as the trace mono, hiro tube beads and 10lb fluoro sure catch with size 4 b940s. I have micro beads with granny knots on the snoods to trap them in the hiro beads. Have a 12 foot trace length, bottom snood 5 feet and top two snoods 3 feet. Wrapped them up in a rig bin.

Is this ok?
Should I be using fluoro for the main trace line?
Where to you get trace winders?
Any advise on long traces for competitions for fishing off the surf for flats?

Donagh

Hi Donagh,

That sounds perfect , Have started using the Hiro pipe beads recently myself. 4 beads for €1.60 was a bit expensive so bought a packet of ordinary clear 4 way beads and with a micro drill bit to drill one of the holes wide enough to take the Hiro pipe. Works well. You can make them more secure by using superglue aswell.

I just use a crimp either side of the hiro pipe beads, I make sure that there is no gap between the crimps and the beads so that they will stand out better.

As I said your rigs sounds perfect for calm/clear conditions but alway have a good selection of flappers to suit every condition that you could come across. For ballyheigue on sunday the wind will be up a bit and therefore the surf might be, so have a few rigs with heavier and shorter snoods also.


Excellent first effort all the same.

I use rubber tubing to form a stop to crimp the beads. The advise in the mags was to be light mono stops or powergum but I went the easy root. I have the grauvall 4 way beads as well and used them to make up few 6 foot lenght versions of the trace for rougher conditions with 2 foot snoods and 15lb varivas fluoro which is stiffer. Also my normal 6 foot flatty rig with swivels and crimps and 15lb amnesia. The advise seems to be to use 4 way beads for lighter snoods but I'm not sure when swivels are better.

Not to sure when to use what as I do very little open sea beach fishing.

Thanks
Donagh

I either use crimps or silicone/rubber stops because I think that either using powergum or rubber tubing tends to put a slight kink on the snood or rig body.

Have you been using the varivas flurocarbon much, is it stiff compared to others that you have seen?

I've only started using fluoro to make up traces in the past couple of weeks. The 15lb varivas is is stiffer than the sure catch 10lb but like with like isn't being compared. I'll have them with me sunday.

Donagh