Trace length

[Psion]

I was making up some traces for my up coming trip and I was thinking what length of trace do most people use for Catfish.
Mine are between 12 and 15 inches.

[Roger5]

I see nobody else has bothered to answer this ( they probably will now though ) I'd say 12/15" is fine, for me this is using size 2/0 circles, works ok for me

[Ian Crook]

Wire causes bad damage to catfish pads, best avoided if possible

[Muskie]

Most catfish traces are made from dyneema braid or heavy mono. In uk 40lbs Quicksilver is ok as is 40lbs/50lbs mono with good abrasion resistance

Ebro they use 150lbs plus dyneema.

Wire should not be used for making catfish traces as correctly stated above.

[Roger5]

I wasn't aware that the original post was suggesting using wire, I took trace to mean something like ton up, trace doesn't always mean wire.

[Happy Hayes]

I do believe you can get a wire trace coated with plastic ( catfish pro ) I think.
Regards
Tom

[Roger5]

I do believe you can get a wire trace coated with plastic ( catfish pro ) I think.
Regards
Tom

Yes catfish pro does one, not that impressed to be honest, Eddie Turner does AFW Surflon nylon coated wire in higher breaking strains 30/40/60lb I've used it quite a bit for pike, and I'd certainly use it on cat waters if there are pike present. Rog

[Happy Hayes]

Cheers for the heads up on the Eddie Turner coated trace wire , I’ll have a look
Because like yourself I didn’t think the cat pro one was strong enough.
Regards
Tom

[Steve Dennington]

I do believe you can get a wire trace coated with plastic ( catfish pro ) I think.
Regards
Tom

Loads of coated wire options these days that would work well

Surflon is my favourite, but I got some of this in 50lb and can't see why it wouldn't work well for cats in waters that hold pike.

https://www.fishingmegastore.com/wire/s ... 34871.html

[Neville Fickling]

Wire causes bad damage to catfish pads, best avoided if possible

. Coated wire does no damage. Though there are some pike proof cat leaders where you are catting and there are pike you need to use something pike proof

[Happy Hayes]

I do believe you can get a wire trace coated with plastic ( catfish pro ) I think.
Regards
Tom

Loads of coated wire options these days that would work well

Surflon is my favourite, but I got some of this in 50lb and can't see why it wouldn't work well for cats in waters that hold pike.

https://www.fishingmegastore.com/wire/s ... 34871.html

Thanks Steve
Another to look at .
Regards
Tom

[Psion]

Thank you for all your replies looks like I have got things about right. I don't know about coated wire, most places are carp waters so draid is fine.
I have caught pike on catfish traces all hooked in the scissors, coated wire maybe something to consider on them waters.

[Ian Crook]

Wire causes bad damage to catfish pads, best avoided if possible

. Coated wire does no damage. Though there are some pike proof cat leaders where you are catting and there are pike you need to use something pike proof

Good point Nev, agreed, actually AFW 49 strand coated would make a good leader if necessary

[Neville Fickling]

Yes Ian you are looking to avoid the cheese wire effect. Coated wire is just a bit thicker