Photos: Drennan · supplied retailer imagery
Predator tackle · Pike traces · Our take
Drennan E-Sox Pike Trace
Livebait and deadbait trace
A ready-made pike trace for livebaits and deadbaits, with sensible hook spacing, coated wire and less faff when you’re keen to get a bait out.
- 46cm (18in) trace made from nylon-coated 34lb (15kg) Super Trace wire.
- Fitted with extra-strong trebles for livebait and deadbait presentations.
- Available in hook sizes 4, 6 and 8, with barbed or semi-barbed options.
- Hook spacing and recommended bait size are matched: size 4 for roughly 16–20cm baits, size 6 for 13–17cm, and size 8 for 10–13cm.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the Drennan E-Sox Pike Trace, a 46cm nylon-coated wire trace fitted with two trebles, available in hook sizes 4, 6 and 8, plus barbed or semi-barbed versions.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A cracking ready-made trace for everyday pike bait fishing, with useful size choices and sensible construction.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality8.8/10
- Performance8.8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.6/10
- Ease of Use9.9/10
- Value for Money8.8/10
Price alerts are coming soon — we don't track live retailer prices yet, so we'll never guess one.
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 using ordinary livebaits and deadbaits. The three sizes make it easy to match the trace to the bait rather than forcing one rig to do everything.
- Anglers who want a quick, tidy setup. It’s ready-made, so you can clip it on and get the bait fishing without a load of terminal-tackle faff.
Maybe skip if
- Specialist anglers who build every trace from scratch. The fixed hook arrangement leaves less room to fine-tune hook positions and components.
- Fishing situations needing a very short or unusually long trace. The standard 46cm length won’t suit every swim, bait presentation or local rig preference.
The lowdown
Introducing the Drennan E-Sox Pike Trace
A ready-made pike trace for livebaits and deadbaits, with sensible hook spacing, coated wire and less faff when you’re keen to get a bait out.
- 46cm (18in) trace made from nylon-coated 34lb (15kg) Super Trace wire.
- Fitted with extra-strong trebles for livebait and deadbait presentations.
- Available in hook sizes 4, 6 and 8, with barbed or semi-barbed options.
- Hook spacing and recommended bait size are matched: size 4 for roughly 16–20cm baits, size 6 for 13–17cm, and size 8 for 10–13cm.
Quick verdict
A proper handy pike trace
The Drennan E-Sox Pike Trace keeps things simple: tough coated wire, extra-strong trebles and hook spacing matched to three useful bait sizes. It’s ready to fish straight from the packet, which is spot on when you want to spend more time finding a bite-time swim and less time faffing with crimps.
It won’t replace carefully tied-up traces for every specialist situation, but for everyday livebait and deadbait work it’s a cracking, sensible option. Pick the size to suit your bait, choose barbed or semi-barbed to match your rules, and you’re away.
A cracking ready-made trace for everyday pike bait fishing, with useful size choices and sensible construction.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality
- 8.8/10
- Performance
- 8.8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.6/10
- Ease of Use
- 9.9/10
- Value for Money
- 8.8/10
Nylon-coated 34lb wire, extra-strong trebles and covered crimps make this a tidy, purposeful trace.
The fixed 46cm length and matched hook spacing suit common livebait and deadbait presentations.
Correctly matching the trace size to the bait should give a neat presentation and sensible hook placement.
It arrives ready-made, with clear bait guidance that cuts out a load of bank-side faff.
For anglers happy with a standard trace layout, the convenience and choice of sizes make it a strong-value option.
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 E-Sox Pike Trace (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 E-Sox Pike Trace
If you’re heading out for pike and want a trace that’s ready to clip on, the Drennan E-Sox Pike Trace is bang on the sort of tackle that keeps things simple. No sitting at home with a spool of wire, crimps and a pair of pliers while the weather closes in. Pick your size, attach it to your mainline setup and get the bait in the water.
Each trace is 46cm long, or 18in in old money. That’s a useful all-round length for livebait and deadbait work, giving the pike’s teeth a decent distance from your main line. It’s made from nylon-coated 34lb, or 15kg, Super Trace wire. In plain English, you get a bite-resistant trace with a coating that should help keep the wire a little tidier than completely bare wire.
The trace comes fitted with extra-strong trebles, and there are three hook sizes to choose from: 4, 6 and 8. That matters more than it might first appear. Pike baits vary massively, from a small roach-sized offering to a chunky deadbait, and the trebles need to sit in sensible positions rather than ending up bunched at one end.
Size 4 has an 11cm gap between the trebles and is aimed at baits around 16–20cm long. That’s the one to look at when you’re fishing a larger deadbait or a decent-sized livebait. The extra spacing helps cover more of the bait without making the rig look like a comedy chandelier hanging off the end of it.
Size 6 drops the gap to 9cm and suits baits of roughly 13–17cm. For many everyday pike sessions, that’ll be the useful middle ground. If you’re fishing typical deadbaits in canals, drains, lakes or reservoirs, this is likely to be the size you reach for most often.
Then there’s size 8, with a 7cm gap between trebles, for baits around 10–13cm. That gives you a more compact presentation for smaller baits. It’s handy when pike are picking off little prey items or when a smaller, neater bait is the order of the day. Don’t be tempted to match a tiny bait with massive hooks just because you can — keep the rig balanced.
The trebles have Blood Red crimp sleeves, while the swivel has a Camo Brown crimp sleeve. That gives the trace a neat, finished look and helps cover the crimped areas. The colours aren’t going to magically make a pike take, mind, but a tidy rig is always preferable to a rough-looking bodge job when you’re setting up in the margins.
You can choose between barbed and semi-barbed versions, which is dead handy because pike rules aren’t the same everywhere. Some waters have firm requirements, so check before you go. Picking the right pattern from the start saves a last-minute dash around the tackle box when you should be getting your rods out.
For the bank angler, the main attraction is convenience. Keep a couple of different sizes in the predator box, match the trace to the bait in front of you and crack on. Use a proper pike-safe setup around it, handle the fish carefully and keep the unhooking gear close. There’s no point saving five minutes on rig tying only to faff about when a proper lump rolls in the net.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Trace length
- 46cm (18in)
- Trace material
- Nylon-coated 34lb (15kg) Super Trace wire
- Hook sizes
- 4, 6 and 8
- Hook spacing
- Size 4: 11cm; size 6: 9cm; size 8: 7cm between trebles
- Bait guidance
- Size 4: approximately 16–20cm; size 6: 13–17cm; size 8: 10–13cm
- Options
- Barbed or semi-barbed; Blood Red treble sleeves and Camo Brown swivel sleeve
Specs checked with Drennan, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
The useful bit is the hook spacing
Pike traces can look much of a muchness, but the gap between the trebles matters when you’re presenting a deadbait or a lively little baitfish. The E-Sox gives you three clear size options, so the rig doesn’t end up too bunched up or stretched awkwardly.
The nylon coating should help keep the trace tidy and reduce the usual wire snarl, while the coloured crimp sleeves give the finished trace a neat appearance. Nothing overcomplicated here — just a ready-made rig designed to get a bait fishing quickly.
What you’re buying
A neat, ready-made pike trace
The E-Sox Pike Trace is a 46cm nylon-coated wire trace made from 34lb (15kg) Super Trace wire. It comes ready fitted with two extra-strong trebles and a swivel, so the job is largely done before you even open the packet.
The important choice is hook size. Size 4 has 11cm between the trebles for approximately 16–20cm baits. Size 6 has 9cm spacing for roughly 13–17cm baits, while size 8 has 7cm spacing for around 10–13cm baits. That’s a useful, logical spread rather than three versions that barely differ.
Blood Red crimp sleeves cover the treble crimps, and the swivel has a Camo Brown sleeve. You can also choose barbed or semi-barbed trebles, depending on the water’s rules and your preferred presentation.
Worth knowing. Match the trace to the bait length, not just the size of pike you expect. The trebles should sit naturally along the bait, with neither hook dangling miles away nor both hooks crammed into the same spot.
On the bank
Ideal for straightforward predator sessions
This is a good fit for anglers fishing livebaits and deadbaits who want a reliable, no-nonsense trace without tying one from scratch. It’s especially useful when you’re carrying a few bait sizes and want the option to swap quickly as the pike’s mood changes.
For a small deadbait, the size 8 keeps things compact. Move up to size 6 for a medium bait, or size 4 when you’re presenting something longer and chunkier. That simple matching system takes the guesswork out of setting the hooks along the bait.
Use it with a suitable pike setup, whether that’s a float, leger or a controlled margin presentation. The 46cm length gives a reasonable bite-resistant section between the bait and your main line, but always think about snags, weed and the exact demands of the swim.
Worth knowing. Keep forceps, an unhooking mat and side cutters within arm’s reach. A ready-made trace makes rigging quick, but safe pike handling still needs proper preparation when the rods are off.
Quick answers
The bits anglers usually ask
Size 4 is for approximately 16–20cm baits, size 6 for about 13–17cm, and size 8 for around 10–13cm. Those recommendations follow the spacing between the two trebles.
The trace uses nylon-coated 34lb (15kg) Super Trace wire, designed for pike trace work. As with any wire trace, inspect it for kinks, damage or coating wear and replace it if anything looks suspect.
Yes. The E-Sox Pike Trace is available in barbed and semi-barbed versions. Check the rules on your chosen water before buying and fishing.
Worth knowing. Don’t leave a pike rig unattended while a bait is fishing. Stay in control of the setup, watch for a run and deal with the fish promptly and carefully.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Ready-made and quick to attach — less faff on the bank.
- 34lb nylon-coated wire gives a sensible balance of bite protection and flexibility.
- Three hook sizes and two hook patterns cover a useful spread of pike baits.
- Clear hook-spacing guidance makes choosing the right version straightforward.
Worth knowing
- A 46cm trace may be longer than some anglers want for very close-range or highly snaggy work.
- Pre-made traces offer less scope for custom hook placement than tying your own.
- You’ll still need to check local rules on treble hooks, barbs and pike rigs before fishing.
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.
01Which Drennan E-Sox Pike Trace size should I choose?
Which Drennan E-Sox Pike Trace size should I choose?
Match the trace to the length of your bait. Size 4 suits approximately 16–20cm baits, size 6 suits roughly 13–17cm, and size 8 is aimed at around 10–13cm baits. The treble spacing reduces as the hook size gets smaller.
02Can I use the E-Sox Pike Trace with both livebaits and deadbaits?
Can I use the E-Sox Pike Trace with both livebaits and deadbaits?
Yes. It’s designed for both presentations. For a deadbait, position the trebles so they sit sensibly along the bait rather than bunching together. With a livebait, keep the presentation neat and check the bait is moving naturally.
03Should I choose barbed or semi-barbed?
Should I choose barbed or semi-barbed?
That depends on the rules where you fish and your own rig preference. Always check the fishery’s predator-fishing regulations before choosing, as hook and barb restrictions can vary.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: a proper handy pike trace. The strongest reasons to choose it are ready-made and quick to attach — less faff on the bank. and 34lb nylon-coated wire gives a sensible balance of bite protection and flexibility.; the main trade-off is a 46cm trace may be longer than some anglers want for very close-range or highly snaggy work..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Ready-made and quick to attach — less faff on the bank.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Pike anglers using ordinary livebaits and deadbaits: The three sizes make it easy to match the trace to the bait rather than forcing one rig to do everything.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “A 46cm trace may be longer than some anglers want for very close-range or highly snaggy work.”
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 E-Sox Pike Trace
No angler score yet — nobody's reviewed Drennan E-Sox Pike Trace 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 E-Sox Pike Trace. Not verified purchases, and kept separate from our score.
No owner reports yet.
Alternatives & go-withs
