Should I trim my spinnerbait skirt?

[Bassmaster3616]

I was just wondering if I should trim my spinnerbait skirt

[buzzed bait]

i only do if the skirt has a long "tail".  as in part of the skirt is longer than the rest of it, if so i trim to meet the rest of the skirt, but that's it.  you trim it too much and it flares out too far for my liking.

[jkoz88]

I cut mostly everything that has a skirt to about a 1/4 inch past the hook or even with the hook. Since I have started that I've seen an increase in fish, not size, but fish. This is just all my opinion of course but I think if you keep them as is out of the box the skirt tends to just stick together and not flair out as much as it could for my liking, especially when you stall or twitch. The way I found out how much I wanted to cut was to fill up the kitchen sink or bathtub (pool preferably) and do your cutting and test it out in that clear water to see how it looks then go from there. Good Luck

[WRB]

Not needed for spinnerbaits, adding a stinger hook is needed at times.

Tom

[S. Sass]

As most answers here show its a owner preference. Spinnerbaits I don't generally cut. Some Jigs and Chatter baits if I feel they are to much I trim. Only as already stated right past the hook or depending on the type of skirt, or material maybe, if that is the look I want. But heck the fish might say different I just do it because in my mind it is better. 

[the reel ess]

Just use a trailer hook

[burrows]

A lot of new spinner baits have that longer trailer like skirt. I don't like it. I trim the the tail skirt not all the way but I trim it and I'll also still add a trailer hook.

[kickerfish1]

For spinnerbaits like the War Eagle, I leave the skirt as is and typically don't add a trailer.

[Mike L]

I personally like the longer skirt on a SB. Especially Strike King. It hides the trailer hook a little and when useing a stop and go or jigging type retrieve, the extra strands give it more flair. 

 

Mike