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Predator rigs · Pike bait traces · Our take
Drennan E-Sox Semi Barbed Treble Trace
Semi-barbed twin-treble trace · Sizes 4, 6 and 8
A ready-tied twin-treble pike trace with sensible bait-size options. Dead handy if you want the wire and hooks sorted before you reach the swim.
- 46cm / 18in trace made from 34lb / 15kg nylon-coated Super Trace wire.
- Two extra-strong trebles, each with one barbed point and two barbless points.
- Sizes 4, 6 and 8 have treble spacings of 11cm, 9cm and 7cm respectively.
- Suitable for livebait and deadbait presentations, subject to venue rules.
Make sure it’s the right one. This is the E-Sox semi-barbed bait trace: two trebles on 46cm of 34lb nylon-coated Super Trace wire, rather than a lure trace.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A sensible ready-tied pike trace whose main strengths are convenience and clear bait matching; scores reflect its design and intended use.
- Product Quality8.8/10
- Performance8.8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8/10
- Ease of Use9.4/10
- Value for Money8.3/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Occasional pike anglers with the right handling kit. A ready-tied trace removes one preparation job without asking you to build your own wire rigs.
- Bait anglers carrying a few consistent bait sizes. The three hook-and-spacing combinations make it straightforward to pack traces that suit your usual baits.
Maybe skip if
- Anglers on strictly barbless waters. Each treble still has a barbed bait-holding point, so check the rules rather than assuming it's allowed.
- Anglers wanting bespoke hook positions. A purpose-made trace offers more freedom when bait lengths and shapes fall outside these spacing options.
The lowdown
Introducing the Drennan E-Sox Semi Barbed Treble Trace
A ready-tied twin-treble pike trace with sensible bait-size options. Dead handy if you want the wire and hooks sorted before you reach the swim.
- 46cm / 18in trace made from 34lb / 15kg nylon-coated Super Trace wire.
- Two extra-strong trebles, each with one barbed point and two barbless points.
- Sizes 4, 6 and 8 have treble spacings of 11cm, 9cm and 7cm respectively.
- Suitable for livebait and deadbait presentations, subject to venue rules.
Quick verdict
A tidy shortcut, provided you match the bait
The Drennan E-Sox Semi Barbed Treble Trace makes sense for pike anglers who want a ready-tied bait rig without the wire-working faff. Three hook-and-spacing options give you a useful way to match the trace to your bait.
The catch? You need to choose by bait length as well as hook size, and semi-barbed doesn't mean fully barbless. Get those details right and it's a straightforward addition to the predator wallet.
A sensible ready-tied pike trace whose main strengths are convenience and clear bait matching; scores reflect its design and intended use.
- Product Quality
- 8.8/10
- Performance
- 8.8/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8/10
- Ease of Use
- 9.4/10
- Value for Money
- 8.3/10
Coated Super Trace wire, extra-strong trebles and sleeved crimps make a well-considered bait-trace package.
Three hook-and-spacing combinations support sensible bait presentation, provided you choose the right match.
Appropriate hook placement helps the rig do its job, but location, bait choice and bite response remain bigger influences.
Ready-tied construction and clear bait-length guidance remove much of the preparation faff.
The convenience is useful for occasional trips and spares, although frequent trace makers may prefer buying components.
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 Semi Barbed Treble Trace (this one)
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 Semi Barbed Treble Trace
Pike bait fishing has enough little jobs without making every trace from scratch. You've got bait to keep in decent nick, a swim to work out and bite indication to get bob on before a rod goes out. The Drennan E-Sox Semi Barbed Treble Trace takes one of those jobs off your hands. It's a ready-tied, twin-treble wire trace for presenting livebaits or deadbaits, with three hook-size options. Nothing wildly complicated, mate. Just a recognisable pike bait rig with the key choices laid out clearly.
The backbone is 46cm of nylon-coated Super Trace wire with a breaking strain of 34lb. That's your bite-resistant section between the bait and the rest of the tackle, not an invitation to fish any old mainline or drag fish through snags. Pike teeth are the reason wire belongs here. The trace carries two extra-strong trebles, with Blood Red sleeves covering their crimps and a Camo Brown sleeve at the swivel crimp. Those colours are finishing details, though. They aren't a reason to expect extra takes.
The semi-barbed bit is worth getting straight before you buy. Each treble has one barbed point and two barbless points. The barbed point is there to secure the bait; the other two remain available to hook the pike. That gives you some bait-holding purchase without having every point barbed. It doesn't make unhooking automatic, and it definitely doesn't mean the rig counts as fully barbless. If your water has strict hook rules, check the wording first. Turning up with the wrong traces is a properly avoidable bit of faff.
The biggest buying detail is actually the gap between the trebles. Size 4 comes with 11cm spacing for baits around 16–20cm long. Size 6 uses a 9cm gap for 13–17cm baits, while size 8 has 7cm spacing for 10–13cm baits. So don't pick a size purely because you're hoping for a lump. Start with the bait you're putting out. A smaller bait on an awkwardly spaced trace can leave you struggling to position both hooks neatly, even if the hook size itself looks perfectly reasonable.
On a deadbait setup, the aim is a secure bait with the working hook points clear, rather than hooks buried so deeply that they can't do their job. Bait shape and condition matter alongside length: a slim bait and a chunky section aren't identical rigging jobs. Use the size guide as a starting point, then look at how the actual bait sits. If you're casting soft, thawed bait, suitable bait elastic can help hold things together. Don't expect the single barbed point to rescue a bait that's already falling to bits.
There's scope to use this trace beneath a float or as part of a legered bait rig, provided the complete setup is put together properly. It also covers livebait presentations where those are allowed. That's not a reason to skip the extra safeguards livebait fishing can require, particularly an appropriate longer uptrace to stop a lively bait reaching unprotected mainline. The ready-tied trace sorts the hook end. You still need to think about the rest of the rig, the swim and how you'll spot a take promptly.
That last bit matters more than any tidy sleeve or hook-size choice. Pike need reliable bite indication, rods kept under close attention and a prompt response to a take rather than a deliberate wait for the bait to be swallowed. Have a suitable net, unhooking mat, long forceps and strong cutters ready before casting. If you're new to piking, go with someone experienced who can show you safe handling. A ready-made rig is a handy shortcut in preparation, not a shortcut around learning to look after the fish.
For an occasional winter pike trip, or simply keeping a few matching spares organised in a trace wallet, the E-Sox has an obvious place. You're buying convenience and a clear choice of bait-matched layouts. The compromise is less freedom over hook spacing than you'd get by making a trace for a particular bait. Check the wire, hooks and connections before use and after fish or snags; replace anything damaged or suspect. Choose the right size, keep the presentation tidy and you're concentrating on finding pike rather than fiddling with wire.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Trace length
- 46cm / 18in
- Wire
- 34lb / 15kg nylon-coated Super Trace wire
- Hooks
- Two extra-strong semi-barbed trebles; one barbed and two barbless points per treble
- Size and bait matching
- Size 4: 11cm spacing, 16–20cm baits; size 6: 9cm spacing, 13–17cm baits; size 8: 7cm spacing, 10–13cm baits
- Crimp sleeves
- Blood Red sleeves at the trebles; Camo Brown sleeve at the swivel
- Intended use
- Livebait and deadbait pike presentations
Specs checked with Drennan, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
Choose the spacing, not just the hook
Each hook size comes with a different distance between the trebles. That's the detail to pay attention to: a trace that fits your bait lets you position both hooks without bunching everything together or stretching the bait awkwardly.
The barbed point on each treble holds the bait, leaving the two barbless points available to hook the fish. Sensible, but still a rig that demands proper indication and prompt attention to takes.
The rig
What you're actually buying
This is a complete twin-treble bait trace, not a general-purpose lure leader. The 46cm coated-wire section provides bite protection, while the two trebles give you separate hook positions along a suitable bait. Sleeves cover the crimp areas at the hooks and swivel. It's a straightforward layout with no need to select wire and assemble the hook trace yourself.
The size options change the hook spacing as well as the hooks. That's useful when you're packing fairly consistent bait sizes, but less handy if you switch between wildly different baits throughout a session. Carrying more than one trace size makes more sense than trying to force every bait onto the same layout.
Worth knowing. Coated wire still needs a proper look over. If it develops a sharp kink, exposed damaged strands or a suspect connection, replace the trace. A doubtful bit of wire isn't worth risking a pike over.
On the bank
For anglers who'd rather prepare than tinker
This suits the angler who wants bait traces organised before leaving home. Match a few rigs to the baits in your cool bag and you've removed a fiddly job from a cold morning. It's also a sensible spare for someone who normally makes their own traces but wants a ready-tied replacement to hand.
It's less compelling if you enjoy tailoring every hook position or regularly use baits outside the listed length ranges. Making your own gives you more control over the layout. Likewise, anyone fishing a fully barbless venue needs to resolve the hook-rule question before buying this version.
For newcomers, the convenience is welcome, but get help with the fish-handling side. Knowing where to place your hands, how to reach a hook safely and when to cut a hook matters much more than saving a few minutes of rig-making. Have that sorted before the float slides away.
Quick answers
The details to sort before casting
What does semi-barbed mean? One point on each treble is barbed to hold the bait, while the other two are barbless. Keep those working points clear when mounting the bait. There are still barbs on the rig, so don't treat the name as a pass for a barbless-only water.
Which size should you choose? Size 4 pairs 11cm hook spacing with 16–20cm baits. Size 6 pairs 9cm spacing with 13–17cm baits. Size 8 pairs 7cm spacing with 10–13cm baits. Where the bait ranges overlap, consider the bait's shape and whether both hooks can sit securely without crowding or distorting it.
Can you use it for livebait and deadbait fishing? Yes, both are intended uses, subject to local and venue rules. The complete rig still needs to suit the method. In particular, livebait setups need protection against the bait doubling back towards the mainline, using an appropriate longer uptrace where needed. Don't assume the hook trace alone covers every eventuality.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Ready-tied construction saves making twin-treble traces from scratch.
- Three bait-matched spacing options make choosing a suitable rig easier.
- Barbed bait-holding points paired with barbless remaining points.
- Useful for both float and leger bait presentations.
Worth knowing
- Set treble spacings are less flexible than a trace made to fit a particular bait.
- Not suitable where the rules require every hook point to be barbless.
- Still needs checking after fish, snags and any damage to the wire.
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01What does semi-barbed mean?
What does semi-barbed mean?
Each treble has one barbed point for holding the bait and two barbless points. It isn't a fully barbless rig.
02Which size should I choose?
Which size should I choose?
Use bait length as your starting point: size 4 for 16–20cm baits, size 6 for 13–17cm baits and size 8 for 10–13cm baits. Check that both hooks sit sensibly with their working points exposed.
03Can it be used for livebait and deadbait fishing?
Can it be used for livebait and deadbait fishing?
Yes. It's intended for both, wherever permitted. For livebait rigs, use an appropriate longer uptrace where needed to prevent the bait reaching unprotected mainline.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: a tidy shortcut, provided you match the bait. The strongest reasons to choose it are ready-tied construction saves making twin-treble traces from scratch. and three bait-matched spacing options make choosing a suitable rig easier.; the main trade-off is set treble spacings are less flexible than a trace made to fit a particular bait..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Ready-tied construction saves making twin-treble traces from scratch.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Occasional pike anglers with the right handling kit: A ready-tied trace removes one preparation job without asking you to build your own wire rigs.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “Set treble spacings are less flexible than a trace made to fit a particular bait.”
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 Semi Barbed Treble Trace
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