Opinions of trailer hooks on spinner baits

[pauldconyers]

Got in a discussion with a guy today that said he pretty much always uses a trailer hook when throwing a spinner bait. I said I rarely do and if I do it's only early in the year when the water is cold. Just curious where most of you guys come out on this topic?

[Sam]

Always use a trailer hook on spinnerbaits, Chatterbaits and buzzbaits plus toads.

 

Even have added a trailer hook to a frog.

 

Personal preference.

 

 

[A-Jay]

Not in the trailer hook camp.

A-Jay

[AggieBassin10]

I'm on the trailer hook train. Not for chatterbaits or frogs just for spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. That being said I fished a buzzbait this morning (with a trailer hook) and all three fish I caught had the main hook in 'em. I missed three more on the buzzbait... 

A little food for thought ?

[LonnieP]

I don’t use trailer hooks. I’ve never really seen the need for them.

[keagbassr]

For spinnerbait and buzzbaits always and trim skirts back

[Ariffy]

Honestly, I don't think they help much  

[CroakHunter]

I'd rather put a swimbait trailer on mine and catch em on the normal hook than use a trailer. 

[Mike L]

Always 

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[thinkingredneck]

No.  I am afraid they'll get hung up in the weeds and pads.

[MassYak85]

I like to fish spinnerbaits around cover, bumping it into submerged branches, stumps, or just over weed beds. A trailer hook is a big no-go in that situation. The only time I might consider using one is if I was burning it back to the boat just below the surface or something. 

[scaleface]

I usually dont on spinnerbaits usually do on buzzbaits .

[Log Catcher]

I don't use trailer hooks. I would be getting hung up too much with spinnerbaits.

[kenmitch]

I've got spinnerbaits and buzzbaits along with some trailer hooks....Now if I could only get myself to throw them once in a while I'd be able to decide if I need the trailer hooks or not. Gonna have to make a mental note to at least try them out sometime or another. Not really sure why I don't use them as the largest bass I've ever hooked and sadly lost was on a spinnerbait way back in the late 80's....Don't remember if I had a trailer hook or not as it was many moons ago. I can to this day still visualize it, remember exactly what happened and see the huge bass getting away from me....Dang nammit! Thanks for making me relive the horror of that day!

[pauldconyers]

I find it EXTREMELY interesting that it is almost 50-50 on this topic. For those that use them what model/make do you like? Are they made in different sizes for different style lures or are they just one generic size?

[d-camarena]

No trailers here

[burrows]

I have a few packs I never use them because I don’t want to get hung up in grass and junk you add a trailer it defeats the purpose of a weedles bait.

[J.Vincent]

Interesting topic, and I've found its better to slow the retrieve speed on my spinnerbaits and tweak the color, instead of adding an insurance hook. However, for my BuzzBaits in dirty water, I almost always rig a trailer hook. 

[Bluebasser86]

Hate them, but I use them when I'm getting short strikes, and I always use them when I'm targeting smallies or spots that like to ram the bait instead of actually eating it. 

It occasionally pays off big to use one though.

 

[Quarry Man]

I typically use trailer hooks on all of my chatter baits, spinnerbaits, and buzz baits.  In open water i will sometimes use a treble hook on my chatterbaits an a curly tail grub as a trailer. These two do not interfere with each other. In ultra clear water, i don't use a trailer hook because they make the bait look more like a lure. In stained water, especially around cover i throw a spinnerbait with a trailer hook. I am not afraid to go get my lure that is snagged when im in the boat or on shore, so getting snagged isn't a big deal. 

 

I use trailer hooks because when i went to vermont last year, I had never fished spinnerbaits before, but had about 10 of them. Half already had a trailer hook that i put on, and the others didn't. I found myself catching more bass and pike with the trailer hook than the main hook itself. that is what led me to use trailer hooks.

 

i am also not a huge fan of the "what if" for example "what if i put on a trailer hook, would i have caught that fish.

 

i typically fish double willow spinnerbaits, in white, bluegill, or chartreuse. Some 1/4 - 1/2 oz baits. I like the KVD Finesse the best so far. 

 

As for trailer hooks, i like a free swinging trailer hook, so the hamamatsu 2/0 trailer hooks with surgical tubing work best for me.

[nosdog2]

I am a fan of free swinging trailer hooks as well.  Never noticed any difference when around weeds, docks, etc with the extra hook.  

[Mr Swim Jig]

Never use trailer hooks either...

[Team9nine]

I tend to lean toward not using them in many instances, but that's not the point I want to contend. Instead it is the size of the trailer hooks most commonly used - they're overkill.

 

Nearly all the manufacturers who provide or sell trailer hooks do so in sizes similar to the main hook, notably sizes 2/0 through 5/0. Big mistake in my opinion that will cost you fish. Same with the rubber sleeve they usually supply as a way to attach and lock the hook in place - again wrong IMO. The absolute best trailer hook I've used, and the only one I'll attach to any of my baits, is a smaller size 1 limerick style hook. I tend to use the Mustad version, models 31010 or 8260D, primarily because I have a lifetime supply of these hooks. These hooks cost $0.08 a piece and come in packages of 100 for $7.99. Compare that to a package of traditional trailer hooks which cost about $3.59 for 5 of them. I use the tin hooks just because that was what I could find in the area at the time, but they do make a bronze version if that is a psychological hangup for you. Being tin, you can also take a black Sharpie and easily color the metal as an option.

 

The picture below has the hook I use on top, and a traditional 2/0 trailer that comes packaged with many lures below. I wish I had a 3/0 or 4/0 size hook to compare against to show the differences more dramatically. Regardless, the advantages include a smaller diameter wire and smaller barb for better hook penetration. It still has a nearly 1.25" length though which is all the extra length you need in a trailer hook. Smaller size also means easier to hide on the bait, plus less weight to offset any possible running issues and more room for a plastic trailer if desired. Finally, smaller profile means it comes through heavier cover better which is a primary reason people tend to shy away from adding trailer hooks to many of their baits in the first place.

 

As for installation, forget the rubber or plastic rings that get supplied. Simply take a pliers and slightly offset the wire hook eye where it meets the main shaft and slip over the baits primary hook, then clamp to close the circular gap just small enough so that it can't slide back over the large main hook barb. Trust me, it won't go anywhere once you have it installed correctly. This will allow the hook to move around and swing as needed, plus the fish won't have any extra leverage to possibly throw the trailer should that be the only hook that sticks him.

 

 

 

 

[Way north bass guy]

I pretty much only throw spinnerbaits in open water burning fast for big smallies, so I always use a trailer hook. Sometimes I’ll even use a Mustad  kvd triple grip treble on the back if they’re just swiping at it, but usually just a free swinging single hook. 

[MIbassyaker]

I've gone back and forth on this, but have decided that I probably lose more fish with a trailer hook because of the casts I don't make while I'm spending time getting un-snagged, or removing the extra weeds, sticks, debris that I haul in on the trailer hook.