Combination leader provides the advantages of monofilament and the safety of wire

By George Poveromo

Wire-Trace Trolling Rig The wire trace works well with either natural

baits or trolling lures.

HOW TO RIG: Follows the steps above to see

how Ray McConnell fabricates his wire-trace

trolling leader.

STEP ONE For general offshore trolling, Haywire-Twist a

length of No. 7 single-strand wire to a long-

shank 6/0 or 7/0 hook. Leave the tag end long

to form a pin at 90 degrees to the hook point.

At this stage, trim the wire trace to the

preferred length.

STEP TWO

Fold back a few inches of the tag end of the

wire opposite the

STEP THREE

Pass several inches of the main leader through

the “loop” formed by bending the wire. Hold

hook, which will be used to Albright-Knot the

wire to the nylon or fluorocarbon leader.

the mono in place alongside the wire loop, then

reverse its direction to head back down over

itself toward the loop in the wire.

STEP FOUR

Wrap the end of the mono leader, closely

spaced, back toward the bend in wire, wrapping

it snugly six or seven times. Make sure to

wrap around both strands of wire and the leader

with these turns.

STEP FIVE

Pass the tag end of the main leader back

through the loop in the wire the same way it

came through originally, and cinch down the

knot by pulling the wire leader and the primary

leader in opposite directions. To facilitate the

connection, moisten it with saliva. Then apply

pressure on the opposite strands until the

compact knot sets.

STEP SIX

The connection is complete. Trim the excess

tags as close to the

STEP SEVEN

Rig a ballyhoo on the wire pin rig. Laying the

rig alongside the bait, visualize where the hook

knot as possible. will protrude, then thread the ballyhoo onto the

hook and run the pin through the center of both

jaws, and wrap the copper wire over the head

behind the pin, and then forward and down the

beak to secure the leader to the bait.

When you’re trolling for cagey game fish like sailfish, white marlin and tuna, nylon or

fluorocarbon monofilament leaders are the norm. The breaking strength of these leaders and

accompanying hook size often diminishes accordingly, based on the aggressiveness of the

targeted species; it’s all about drawing the strike.

But what happens when a wahoo or trophy king mackerel intercepts one of these baits, clipping

it off at the leader? From personal experience, it’s a gut-wrenching loss.

So how do you maintain the minimal visibility and action provided by monofilament nylon and

fluorocarbon leaders without sacrificing the rig to those toothy predators? Consider

incorporating a wire trace into your leader, fine-tuning the length of the wire so it remains

hidden under the bait’s beak or chin, protruding a few inches beyond its head for cutoff

protection. This setup is ideal for ballyhoo, as well as trolling feathers, strip baits and lures.

Best of Both Rigs Ray McConnell, proprietor of Ray’s Offshore Bait and Tackle in Boca Raton, Florida, is an

authority on selecting and rigging trolling baits and lures, and he has a wealth of fishing

experience, especially in the Bahamas. During a trip to San Salvador aboard Don Strom’s Foxy

Lady II, with Capt. George Gardner behind the wheel, Strom asked McConnell to put out a

couple of his Kingfisher tuna lures. Aware that they were traversing big wahoo waters,

McConnell added a trace of No. 10 wire to the 150-pound fluorocarbon leader on one lure, and

fished the other lure on a straight fluorocarbon leader. They were using 80-pound-class tackle.

Shortly thereafter, they hooked into a doubleheader. One fish immediately bit through the -

fluorocarbon leader; the other fish, on the leader with the wire trace, was solidly hooked. “It was

a huge fish,” says McConnell. “Strom fought that fish with 80-pound-class gear and with heavy

pressure for exactly 49 minutes before it got free. What exactly was it? I’m thinking maybe a

huge yellowfin. If it was a wahoo, it was a real monster. Regardless of the outcome, that wire

trace gave us a shot at that fish, while the pure fluorocarbon leader did not.”

Custom Fit McConnell rigs a lot of trolling ballyhoo, as well as his line of tuna lures, with wire-trace

leaders. He claims it’s imperative to match the wire to the mono leader. Wire that is heavier than

the main leader could cut through the mono. He advises using No. 6 single-strand wire with a

60-pound-test nylon or fluorocarbon leader for king mackerel, and No. 7 wire with 80-pound-

test mono for general offshore trolling, where wahoo are a possibility.