Photos: Drennan · supplied retailer imagery
Predator tackle · Pike wire · Our take
Drennan 7 Strand Pike Wire
15m spool, available from 15lb to 28lb
A proper versatile trace-making wire for building neat, reliable pike hooklinks without paying over the odds.
- Seven-strand stainless steel wire with a dark bronze finish.
- Supplied as 15m of loose wire on a spool.
- Available in 15lb, 20lb, 24lb and 28lb breaking strains.
- Designed for trace making, with 0.75mm crimps suggested and compatibility with Drennan Slim Crimps.
Make sure it’s the right one. This is loose trace-making wire on a spool, not a ready-made pike trace or hooklink.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A sound, versatile spool of pike wire that offers proper flexibility for homemade traces and good value for anglers happy to do a little terminal-tackle faff.
- Product Quality9/10
- Performance8.8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.6/10
- Ease of Use7.8/10
- Value for Money9.1/10
If you buy through our links, we might get a small kickback, but it won’t cost you a penny extra. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The full story
Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Pike anglers who make their own traces. You get the freedom to choose trace length, terminal components and connection style rather than relying on fixed ready-made hooklinks.
- Lure and deadbait anglers who fish different venues. The range of breaking strains lets you tailor the wire to the job, from lighter general use through to tougher snaggy situations.
Maybe skip if
- Anglers wanting a trace straight out of the packet. This is loose wire, so you’ll still need to make the trace and add the hooks, swivels and connections.
- Anyone who dislikes fiddly terminal work. Crimping or twisting wire neatly takes patience, especially when you’re trying to make a tidy, reliable connection.
The lowdown
Introducing the Drennan 7 Strand Pike Wire
A proper versatile trace-making wire for building neat, reliable pike hooklinks without paying over the odds.
- Seven-strand stainless steel wire with a dark bronze finish.
- Supplied as 15m of loose wire on a spool.
- Available in 15lb, 20lb, 24lb and 28lb breaking strains.
- Designed for trace making, with 0.75mm crimps suggested and compatibility with Drennan Slim Crimps.
Quick verdict
A cracking all-rounder for making your own pike traces
Drennan 7 Strand Pike Wire is simple, dependable stuff. The seven-strand stainless construction gives you a tough, flexible wire for building traces around your own hooks, swivels and lure setup.
The dark bronze finish is nicely understated, and the choice of breaking strains covers a fair chunk of pike fishing. Just remember, mate, you’ll need crimps and a bit of care to turn the spool into a finished hooklink.
A sound, versatile spool of pike wire that offers proper flexibility for homemade traces and good value for anglers happy to do a little terminal-tackle faff.
- Product Quality
- 9/10
- Performance
- 8.8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.6/10
- Ease of Use
- 7.8/10
- Value for Money
- 9.1/10
Seven-strand stainless construction, a sensible finish and an extra-tough design make it a dependable piece of predator tackle.
The flexible wire and choice of breaking strains suit a broad spread of pike-trace jobs.
A tidy, appropriately chosen trace helps protect against teeth while keeping the terminal setup practical and discreet.
The wire is straightforward to work with, but making neat crimped or twisted connections takes care and practice.
A 15m spool can make multiple custom traces, giving strong value if you regularly build or replace your own hooklinks.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Drennan
Drennan 7 Strand Pike Wire (this one)
Top scorer
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Drennan 7 Strand Pike Wire
If you’re making your own pike traces, Drennan 7 Strand Pike Wire is the sort of tackle that just gets on with the job. No daft bells and whistles. Just a spool of stainless wire, ready to turn into hooklinks for deadbaits, lures or whatever predator plan you’ve got brewing.
The wire is woven from seven strands, which gives it a useful mix of toughness and flexibility. That matters on the bank. Pike traces need to cope with sharp teeth, but they also need to behave properly around hooks, swivels and baits. A wire that’s too stiff can be a right faff, especially when you’re building something neat.
Drennan gives this wire a dark bronze finish. That’s a sensible choice for predator fishing. It’s not shouting bright silver underwater, and it sits nicely among natural-looking terminal tackle. It won’t magically make a pike ignore your rig, of course, but discreet wire is generally a bob-on place to start.
You get 15 metres on the spool, which is plenty for a good batch of traces. That makes it handy for keeping a few different lengths in the box. Shorter hooklinks can suit lure work or compact deadbait rigs, while a longer trace may be useful when you want more separation between the bait and the main line.
There are four breaking strains to choose from: 15lb, 20lb, 24lb and 28lb. The 15lb version is 0.25mm in diameter, while the range tops out at 0.35mm for the 28lb option. In between sit 20lb at 0.28mm and 24lb at 0.31mm. So, you can match the wire to the water rather than using the same trace for every swim.
For general pike fishing, that choice is dead handy. A lighter trace can keep a lure or bait moving naturally, while a heavier one gives you extra confidence when there’s weed, snags or a chance of a proper lump. Don’t just pick the strongest because it sounds safest, though. Build the whole terminal setup sensibly, including hooks, swivels and knots or crimps.
This is wire for anglers who like having a tinker. You can make traces to your preferred length, fit the exact hook arrangement you want and replace one component without binning a complete ready-made trace. That’s particularly useful if you switch between single hooks, trebles, deadbait rigs and lure setups through the season.
Drennan says the wire is extra tough and ultra reliable, and the seven-strand stainless construction is aimed squarely at that dependable pike-trace role. It’s also suitable for the twisted wire method, so you’re not locked into crimps. That said, neat connections still matter. Take your time, keep everything tidy and check the finished trace before it goes anywhere near a live bait or lure.
If you prefer crimping, the suggested size is 0.75mm, and the wire is compatible with Drennan’s 15lb and 28lb Slim Crimps. You’ll need proper crimping tools and a bit of practice to get consistent connections. It’s not hard, but rushing it at bite-time is asking for a bit of grief.
The main thing to understand is what you’re buying. This isn’t a finished hooklink tucked into a packet. It’s raw trace wire, so you’ll also need your hooks, swivels and other bits. For the keen predator angler, that’s a positive. For anyone wanting instant, ready-to-fish tackle, it adds a little faff.
Overall, this is a proper practical spool for building reliable pike traces without spending a load of quid. The range is useful, the finish is sensible and the wire can be crimped or twisted. Get your connections right and it’s a cracking bit of kit for the predator box.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Construction
- Woven from seven strands of stainless steel wire
- Length
- 15m spool
- Breaking strains
- 15lb, 20lb, 24lb and 28lb
- Diameter range
- 0.25mm to 0.35mm, depending on breaking strain
- Finish
- Dark bronze
- Recommended crimps
- 0.75mm; compatible with 15lb and 28lb Drennan Slim Crimps
Specs checked with Drennan, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
Why this wire makes sense on the predator tackle bench
The big appeal is control. You decide the trace length, the terminal components and whether you’re making a twisted-wire connection or using crimps. That’s handy when you’re switching between deadbaits, lures and different hook arrangements.
It isn’t fancy, and that’s the point. This is the sort of wire you keep in the box for making a fresh trace before a session, replacing a chewed-up hooklink or matching the terminal end to a particular bait and rig.
What you’re buying
A spool of flexible, seven-strand trace wire
Drennan 7 Strand Pike Wire is woven from seven strands of stainless steel and supplied as 15m on a spool. That gives it the flexibility needed for homemade pike traces, while the stainless construction provides the tough wire barrier you need when sharp teeth are involved.
The dark bronze finish keeps things fairly discreet. You can choose from 15lb, 20lb, 24lb and 28lb breaking strains, with diameters running from 0.25mm to 0.35mm. That’s enough range to tailor a trace for lighter lure work, general deadbaiting or more demanding, snaggy swims.
Worth knowing. This is loose wire, not a finished trace. You’ll need to add your own hooks, swivels and connections. For crimped traces, Drennan suggests 0.75mm crimps and lists compatibility with its 15lb and 28lb Slim Crimps.
Best uses on the bank
For anglers who like making their own terminal tackle
This wire suits pike anglers who want control over trace length and components. It works for deadbait traces, lure hooklinks and the twisted wire method, so you can build tackle around the way you actually fish rather than forcing every setup into the same pattern.
It’s also handy as a workshop staple. Keep the spool with spare hooks, swivels and crimps, and you can knock up a fresh trace before a session or replace a damaged one without relying on a tackle-shop run. The heavier strains make sense where weed, snags or hard fighting conditions are part of the swim.
It’s less suited to the angler who wants to open a packet and clip on a trace immediately. Homemade traces reward care, but poor crimps or scruffy twists can undermine the whole setup. Take your time and inspect every connection before fishing.
Pike wire questions
The bits anglers usually want to know
Yes, that’s one of the reasons to choose a multi-strand construction. It offers more flexibility than a single, stiff wire, helping the terminal end behave naturally. Match the breaking strain and trace length to the lure and venue.
Not automatically. The 28lb option gives you a tougher trace, but the right choice depends on the water, snags, bait and presentation. A lighter option can be more suitable when you want a less bulky terminal end, provided it gives enough security for the situation.
Yes. The wire is suitable for the twisted wire method as well as crimped connections. Whichever method you use, make the connection neatly and check the finished trace for damaged strands, sharp ends or anything that could catch during a cast.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Flexible seven-strand construction is well suited to homemade pike traces.
- Four breaking strains give you useful choice for different waters and methods.
- Dark bronze finish is discreet around baits and terminal tackle.
- A 15m spool gives you plenty of material for multiple traces.
- Works with both crimped and twisted-wire methods.
Worth knowing
- You need to buy suitable crimps, hooks, swivels and tools separately.
- Making neat, secure traces takes a little practice and care.
- The 15lb version leaves less margin for error than the heavier options when fishing around snags or big pike.
Want one?
Add it to your Wanted list or join a Group Buy — shops see anonymous totals only.
Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01Is Drennan 7 Strand Pike Wire a ready-made trace?
Is Drennan 7 Strand Pike Wire a ready-made trace?
No, mate. It’s 15m of loose wire on a spool for making your own pike traces. You’ll need to add your own hooks, swivels and connections.
02Which breaking strain should I choose?
Which breaking strain should I choose?
The 15lb, 20lb, 24lb and 28lb options cover different needs. The lighter wire suits less demanding general work, while the heavier versions give you more security around snags, weed and bigger fish. Pick to suit the water, bait and terminal setup rather than simply grabbing the heaviest spool.
03Can it be used with the twisted wire method?
Can it be used with the twisted wire method?
Yes. It’s suitable for the twisted-wire method, and it can also be used with suitable crimps. Drennan suggests 0.75mm crimps and lists compatibility with its 15lb and 28lb Slim Crimps.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: a cracking all-rounder for making your own pike traces. The strongest reasons to choose it are flexible seven-strand construction is well suited to homemade pike traces. and four breaking strains give you useful choice for different waters and methods.; the main trade-off is you need to buy suitable crimps, hooks, swivels and tools separately..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Flexible seven-strand construction is well suited to homemade pike traces.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Pike anglers who make their own traces: You get the freedom to choose trace length, terminal components and connection style rather than relying on fixed ready-made hooklinks.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “You need to buy suitable crimps, hooks, swivels and tools separately.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate Drennan 7 Strand Pike Wire
No angler score yet — nobody's reviewed Drennan 7 Strand Pike Wire here. Be the first and get the score started.
Owner reports
Own this? Help the next angler.
Quick multiple-choice reports from people who say they own the Drennan 7 Strand Pike Wire. Not verified purchases, and kept separate from our score.
No owner reports yet.
Alternatives & go-withs
