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Predator tackle · Pike trace wire · Our take
Drennan Pike Trace Wire
Drennan 7 Strand Pike Trace Wire / E-SOX 7 Strand Pike Wire
Want to tie your own pike traces without faffing about with bargain-bin wire? Drennan’s 7 Strand Pike Trace Wire gives you a tough, dark bronze hooklink in four useful breaking strains.
- Seven-strand stainless-steel wire with a dark bronze finish.
- Supplied on a 15m spool for making your own pike traces.
- Available in 15lb, 20lb, 24lb and 28lb breaking strains.
- Use 0.75mm crimps, or Drennan 15lb–28lb Slim Crimps; crimps aren’t included.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the 15m spool of Drennan 7 Strand Pike Trace Wire, also sold as E-SOX 7 Strand Pike Wire. It’s trace wire only; crimps aren’t included.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A dependable, flexible option for anglers who want to make their own pike traces rather than buy ready-made rigs.
- Product Quality9.2/10
- Performance9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.7/10
- Ease of Use7.8/10
- Value for Money8.9/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Pike anglers who make their own traces. You can choose the trace length and build the end tackle around the swim, bait or lure you’re using.
- Anglers wanting a dependable spool of wire for regular sessions. The 15m length and four breaking strains make it handy for building a batch of traces and keeping spares in the tackle box.
Maybe skip if
- Anyone wanting a ready-to-fish trace. This is raw trace wire, so you’ll still need crimps and the rest of your terminal components.
- Anglers who hate fiddly terminal-tackle jobs. Crimping or twisting traces takes a bit of patience and care compared with using pre-made rigs.
The lowdown
Introducing the Drennan Pike Trace Wire
Want to tie your own pike traces without faffing about with bargain-bin wire? Drennan’s 7 Strand Pike Trace Wire gives you a tough, dark bronze hooklink in four useful breaking strains.
- Seven-strand stainless-steel wire with a dark bronze finish.
- Supplied on a 15m spool for making your own pike traces.
- Available in 15lb, 20lb, 24lb and 28lb breaking strains.
- Use 0.75mm crimps, or Drennan 15lb–28lb Slim Crimps; crimps aren’t included.
Quick verdict
The verdict
A cracking choice if you make your own pike traces and want a sensible, dependable wire rather than something overly stiff or a bit suspect. The seven-strand stainless construction gives you a practical balance of toughness and flexibility.
Just remember, mate, this is only the wire. You’ll need crimps, tools and your chosen swivels, clips or hooks to finish the trace. Pick the breaking strain to suit the pike fishing you’re doing, and it’s a proper bob-on bit of terminal tackle.
A dependable, flexible option for anglers who want to make their own pike traces rather than buy ready-made rigs.
- Product Quality
- 9.2/10
- Performance
- 9/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.7/10
- Ease of Use
- 7.8/10
- Value for Money
- 8.9/10
Seven-strand stainless construction and a dark bronze finish make this a well-considered trace wire.
The range of breaking strains and flexible multi-strand build suit a broad spread of pike trace jobs.
A dark finish and choice of wire diameter let you tailor the trace to the presentation, though the result depends on how well the trace is made.
It’s straightforward for experienced rig makers, but crimping or twisting adds work compared with a ready-made trace.
A 15m spool can produce plenty of traces, although you must budget separately for crimps and other 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 Pike Trace 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 Pike Trace Wire
Pike trace wire isn’t the glamorous bit of predator tackle, is it? No one’s stood on the bank admiring a spool of wire while the rods are off. But get this stuff wrong and a cracking take can turn into a proper gutting moment. That’s where Drennan’s 7 Strand Pike Trace Wire comes in. It’s a sensible, no-nonsense spool for making your own pike traces.
The clue’s in the name. This is woven from seven strands of stainless steel, rather than being a single stiff length of wire. That construction gives it the sort of tough, flexible feel you want around sharp pike teeth. It’s described as extra tough and ultra reliable, and that’s exactly the job brief here: keep the fish attached when everything gets lively at the business end.
You get 15 metres on the spool, which is plenty of material for making a batch of traces rather than just one emergency rig. That’s handy if you fish for pike regularly, or like having a few different setups ready to go. Make a couple for deadbaits, a few for lures and keep some spares tucked away. Nothing worse than finding a damaged trace when the fish are on the munch.
There are four breaking strains to choose from: 15lb, 20lb, 24lb and 28lb. The matching diameters run from 0.25mm through to 0.35mm. So, whether you’re putting together a lighter, more discreet setup or want a beefier trace for heavier work, there’s a sensible spread in the range. You’re not forced into one size for every swim and situation.
The dark bronze finish is a nice touch, too. It isn’t magic camouflage, and pike aren’t going to hold a committee meeting about trace colour, but a darker finish is less visually shouty than bright silver wire. For clear water, cautious fish and smaller lures, that can feel like a more considered choice. It also looks a bit more tidy when you’re building your terminal tackle.
This isn’t a ready-made hooklink, though. You’re buying the wire only, mate. Crimps, swivels, clips and hooks all need sorting separately. Drennan recommends 0.75mm crimps, or its 15lb–28lb Slim Crimps, so don’t chuck the spool in your basket and forget the bits that actually finish the trace. That would be a classic tackle-shop faff.
You can also use the twisted-wire trace-making method, which gives you an alternative to crimping. If you’re comfortable making your own traces, that’s dead handy. It lets you adjust the finished length and build the trace around the exact end tackle you prefer. Just keep your loops neat and make sure every connection is properly formed before it goes anywhere near a pike.
In practical terms, this wire suits both lure and deadbait anglers who like having control over their terminal tackle. A longer trace can be useful around a big deadbait, while a shorter, tidier one may fit better with a compact lure setup. The key is matching the wire size to the rest of the rig, rather than automatically grabbing the heaviest option in the range.
So, is it worth having in the predator box? Yes, if you’re happy making traces. The seven-strand stainless build, dark bronze finish, useful range of breaking strains and generous 15m spool all make good sense. It’s not the quickest route from tackle box to first cast, but for dependable home-made traces, it’s a proper bit of kit rather than a naff afterthought.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Construction
- Seven strands of stainless steel
- Finish
- Dark bronze
- Spool length
- 15m
- Breaking strains
- 15lb, 20lb, 24lb and 28lb
- Diameters
- 0.25mm, 0.28mm, 0.31mm and 0.35mm respectively
- Crimps
- 0.75mm or 15lb–28lb Slim Crimps; not included
Specs checked with Drennan, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
Why this wire makes sense for pike traces
The big appeal is control. You can build traces to the length and end arrangement you actually fish, whether that’s a straightforward deadbait trace, a lure setup or a spare made up ready for a bite-time switch.
It’s not a ready-made trace, so there’s a little more faff involved. For anglers happy to crimp or use the twisted-wire trace-making method, though, that’s hardly a deal-breaker. A 15m spool should keep you making traces for a fair few sessions.
The wire itself
A flexible, tough base for home-made traces
The Drennan wire uses seven strands of stainless steel woven together, giving it a useful balance between strength and flexibility. It’s supplied in a dark bronze finish and on a 15m spool. That makes it easy to cut traces to your preferred length and keep several spares ready for the next pike session.
The four options cover 15lb, 20lb, 24lb and 28lb breaking strains. Their diameters are 0.25mm, 0.28mm, 0.31mm and 0.35mm respectively. The choice is straightforward: go lighter for a more compact presentation, or step up when the venue and end tackle call for a chunkier trace.
Worth knowing. This product is trace wire only. Drennan suggests 0.75mm crimps or its 15lb–28lb Slim Crimps, but neither the crimps nor the rest of the rig components are included.
On the pike bank
Best for anglers who like building their own rigs
It’s aimed squarely at predator anglers who don’t mind a bit of terminal-tackle work. You can build traces for lure fishing, deadbaiting or both, then tailor the length and components to the swim. A few made-up traces in the box can save a load of faff when a trace gets damaged or you want to change tactics quickly.
The wire also suits anglers who prefer the twisted-wire method rather than crimping. If you’re new to trace making, practise at home first and inspect every connection carefully. Your trace is the final link between the fish and your landing net, so neat work matters far more than saving a few minutes.
It’s less suited to anyone who wants to open a packet and fish immediately. A ready-made trace is quicker. This spool gives you more control and potentially better value across multiple rigs, but you’ll need the tools, components and patience to make that benefit count.
Quick answers
The bits anglers usually want to know
Which size should you pick? Start with the style of fishing you do and the rest of your setup. The 15lb and 20lb options keep things relatively compact, while 24lb and 28lb offer a more robust choice. There’s no need to blindly use the thickest wire if your fishing doesn’t call for it.
Can the wire be used for both lure and deadbait traces? Yes. Its seven-strand construction and range of breaking strains make it suitable for building different pike traces. The exact length and component arrangement are down to your hooks, swivels, clips and preferred presentation.
How should you look after finished traces? Keep them tidy, avoid crushing the wire or crimps in a packed box, and check the trace before each session. After a fish or any contact with snags, inspect it closely and replace anything that looks marked, kinked or damaged. A fresh trace is cheap insurance when a proper lump takes.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Tough, reliable seven-strand stainless construction.
- Four breaking strains cover lighter and more robust pike trace jobs.
- Dark bronze finish is less glaring than shiny bright wire.
- 15m spool gives you plenty of trace-making material.
- Works with both crimping and the twisted-wire trace method.
Worth knowing
- You need to buy crimps and other components separately.
- Making traces takes more time than simply clipping on a ready-made one.
- The heavier versions may feel less supple for delicate lure presentations.
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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 breaking strain of Drennan Pike Trace Wire should I use?
What breaking strain of Drennan Pike Trace Wire should I use?
The range runs from 15lb to 28lb. The lighter 15lb option suits more compact trace work, while the heavier sizes give you extra margin for robust pike setups. Match it to your lure or deadbait fishing, hooks and the snaggy nature of the venue.
02Which crimps fit this wire?
Which crimps fit this wire?
Drennan suggests 0.75mm crimps, or its 15lb–28lb Slim Crimps. The crimps aren’t supplied, so add them to your shopping list before you start building traces.
03Can I make a trace without crimps?
Can I make a trace without crimps?
Yes. This wire is suitable for the twisted-wire trace-making method. That gives you an alternative if you prefer twisting the wire rather than using sleeves, although neat, careful work still matters around hooks, swivels and clips.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: the verdict. The strongest reasons to choose it are tough, reliable seven-strand stainless construction. and four breaking strains cover lighter and more robust pike trace jobs.; the main trade-off is you need to buy crimps and other components separately..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Tough, reliable seven-strand stainless construction.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Pike anglers who make their own traces: You can choose the trace length and build the end tackle around the swim, bait or lure you’re using.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “You need to buy crimps and other components 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 Pike Trace Wire
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