When to use a spinnerbait trailer 2024

redbirdsfan44 reply :

I've been fishing for quite a while and never really had much confidence in a spinnerbait. I started making myself throw it last spring and boosted my confidence to where I usually have one on the deck. My question is when should you use a soft plastic trailer (boogie tail/split tail)? I don't use trailer hooks that often but if I'm getting short strikes I will put one on. Do you use a plastic trailer with a trailer hook?

pawpaw reply :

On 11/17/2016 at 4:23 AM, redbirdsfan44 said:

I've been fishing for quite a while and never really had much confidence in a spinnerbait. I started making myself throw it last spring and boosted my confidence to where I usually have one on the deck. My question is when should you use a soft plastic trailer (boogie tail/split tail)? I don't use trailer hooks that often but if I'm getting short strikes I will put one on. Do you use a plastic trailer with a trailer hook?

I always use some sort of spinnerbait trailer. Even if it's just a piece of plastic worm that doesn't extend past the hook bend. It adds a little bulk and weight and it keeps the trailer hook that I ALWAYS use from riding up the hook. The only time I don't use a trailer hook is if the cover is too thick and it keeps hanging up.

J Francho reply :

I always use the same trailer - a trailer hook. No trailer bait for me, and I catch them fine. It's one of my more productive baits.

scaleface reply :

I dont use trailers . I use to put pork frogs on weedless short arm spinnerbaits and drop them in cover but I havent used them in many years . Its a good technique though , its just one of those things I have gotten away from .I have added a shot piece of Senko on something like a SK Mini Spin for added weight .

WRB reply :

#50 UJ white bass strip was one of the most productive spinner bait trailers, nothing moves like a pork strip in a blade wake. Not a option for anyone today so a simple pearl white single tail curl tail grub is a good choice. Adding a trailer hook is one option, changing to smaller blades or blade type also works for short strikes.

Tom

Hot Rod Johnson reply :

I have narrowed my choices down to a Yamamoto Light Wire Spinnerbait in 3/8oz and 1/2oz, color is White Shad. I use as a trailer a Zoom Swimmin Super Fluke Standard in the White Pearl color. Add some Edge Hot Sauce Fish Attractant or Megastrike Fish Attractant all over the Spinnerbait, Fluke and on the fishing line for 12" above the Spinnerbait. In most Shad based lakes this set up will work very well, I always use a trailer bait but never with a trailer hook.

BASS302 reply :

I do something different. Back when I was in college, one of the "Big Three" outdoor magazines had an article about spinnerbaits. The article suggested using, as a trailer, a willow-leaf spinner blade attached to a ball-bearing swivel attached to the hook with a piece of tubing to keep the swivel attached. I've been using a size 3 willow-leaf (sometimes a 3.5). I do this to 90% of my spinnerbaits.

junyer357 reply :

I ususally just have mine made by a coworker and have him leave a few peices of skirting extra long to help hide the stinger hook. Its the only trailer i use on a spinnerbait.

A-Jay reply :

Some type of trailer is used on the spinnerbaits I throw probably 75 % of the time. Fluke type & swimbait / paddle tails are a regular deal.

About the only time I don't use a trailer is when I'm really burning the bait - which is incidentally one of the few times I use a trailer hook.

A-Jay

Glenn reply :

I use a trailer all the time, every time. I never use trailer hooks. If the fish are short striking or just following the bait, then I change colors or blades until I figure out what they want.

redbirdsfan44 reply :

Thanks for all the information guys. I'm headed out to table rock this weekend so I will definitely be trying to boost confidence in chucking a spinnerbait. I've heard they are biting pretty well on them around the James river arm so we will see

everythingthatswims reply :

The only time I fish any trailer is if I'm trying to imitate very large forage and I'll put a swimbait as a trailer on the spinnerbait. Any other situation I use a trailer hook and no trailer.

J Francho reply :

On 11/18/2016 at 12:10 AM, Glenn said:

I use a trailer all the time, every time. I never use trailer hooks. If the fish are short striking or just following the bait, then I change colors or blades until I figure out what they want.

The reason for the trailer hook is not really for short strikes, it's for when the fish crashes the blades. You can tell, because they're hooked in the chin by the trailer. Take the trailer hook off, and you start getting what you think may be short strikes, and start changing blades, when you had the blade patter right all along...

Just another way to think of it. And I agree, trailer hook or not, getting short strikes means you got some part of the equation wrong. Probably the reason I have so many spinnerbaits - though they are all mostly white or white and chartreuse. Blade color and size seems to be a bigger influence on the bite in my waters.

WRB reply :

I don't intend to turn this thread into a spinnerbait tutorial, what do you think a spinnerbait looks like? Most bass anglers visualize the safety pin wire construction with a bullet head and skirt that has 2 blades. The blades are either 1 Colorado and 1 willow or double willows for the vast majority of anglers. What does a Colorado and willow blade combo do for you verses double willows?

Willow blades have the least water resistance and lift.

Colorado blades have the most water resistance and lift.

Larger size blades increase water resistance and lift.

If you want the spinnerbait to run shallower and faster double willows are the choice.

If you want to slow down the spinnerbait and run shallow a combination of Colorado and Willow blades are the choice.

What if you want to run deeper and maintain some speed without using a heavier head?

This where a different blade design works, the Indiana blade, longer than a Colorado, shorter than a Willow. Changing the Colorado to a Indiana blade with everything else being equal the spinner bait runs a little faster and deeper. Double Indiana blades runs a little slower and deeper than double willows.

When you get short strikes try changing the front blade to a Indiana, this usually works for me.

My go to spinnerbaits are a double Indiana blade spinnerbait, or a Indiana and wedge type Willow blade because I prefer deeper running spinnerbaits and don't use trailer hooks and always use a trailer of some type.

Tom

A-Jay reply :

On 11/18/2016 at 4:27 AM, J Francho said:

The reason for the trailer hook is not really for short strikes, it's for when the fish crashes the blades. You can tell, because they're hooked in the chin by the trailer. Take the trailer hook off, and you start getting what you think may be short strikes, and start changing blades, when you had the blade patter right all along...

Just another way to think of it. And I agree, trailer hook or not, getting short strikes means you got some part of the equation wrong. Probably the reason I have so many spinnerbaits - though they are all mostly white or white and chartreuse. Blade color and size seems to be a bigger influence on the bite in my waters.

Agreed.

I fish a spinnerbait at night quite a bit. Before I started upgrading the swivels & split rings on my favorite night baits, smallies were routinely tearing the single Oklahoma blade off. It was a little weird at first too as there would be this solid rod-thumping strike and then no hook up, only to get a bait back that was essentially done for the night at least. Trailer hook was no help there. Paddle / boot tail type trailer seemed to give them a more attractive "Target" - don't lose any where near as many blades now.

A-Jay

Robert Riley reply :

I fish War Eagle Spinnerbaits and I have a lot of trouble with the trailer hook getting caught in the blades/swivel. However, I do use a trailer, usually a skinny dipper or other paddletail swimbait if I want a larger profile. I've noticed that it tends to help if it's windy, probably just because it adds some more weight.

soflabasser reply :

I add a soft plastic trailer to a spinnerbait when I am targeting quality sized or bigger bass. I do not use trailer hooks since I have a good hookup rate with the spinnerbait hook.

Yeajray231 reply :

If they are just smashing the blades likes that id opt for an in-line spinner or spoon. My grand father swore by a spoon. And for good reason.

papajoe222 reply :

About the only two times I use a plastic trailer are in the spring to both slow the bait down and add bulk/size to the bait and when targeting pike and muskie for the same reasons. For bass in the spring my number one pick is a Kalin's Lunker Grub and for those toothy gals, it's a Fat Swing Impact or BPS Squirmin Shad. BTW, these are also my favorites for a swim jig trailer.

primetime reply :

I use the standard BPS split tail trailer if I use one at all. Or I use a grub. Standard single tail grub for more action, I don't like messing with a spinnerbait too much. Simple Grub or split tail does the job for me, if I want to fish a boot tail swimbait, I would fish that seperate, I don't like adding it to a spinnerbait. Too much imo.

If I can add a trailer hook and not get weeds, then I will but I seem to either hook them if they want it, or miss them if they are bumping it or hitting the blades.

Size matters with Spinnerbaits in terms of profile and blade type and size more than trailers imo. Colors are either white, White Chart, or something black based. Gold blades stained water, silver blades other times, I don't use many colored blades out of habit.

William Rossi reply :

Anyone run the skirt like I do to extend the bait and get better flare?

RHuff reply :

I have had the most success using the Keitech Paddle Tail Swimbaits as a trailer. The Easy shiner works well. I also always match the color as close as I can to the skirt color.

Hot Rod Johnson reply :

On 11/17/2016 at 11:16 AM, Hot Rod Johnson said:

I have narrowed my choices down to a Yamamoto Light Wire Spinnerbait in 3/8oz and 1/2oz, color is White Shad. I use as a trailer a Zoom Swimmin Super Fluke Standard in the White Pearl color. Add some Edge Hot Sauce Fish Attractant or Megastrike Fish Attractant all over the Spinnerbait, Fluke and on the fishing line for 12" above the Spinnerbait. In most Shad based lakes this set up will work very well, I always use a trailer bait but never with a trailer hook.

Mosster47 reply :

Always.

Trim the skirt about 1/4" past the main hook, add a trailer hook, and a split trailer. Catch fish.

"hamma" reply :

Always do I use a trailer, beit either a manns split tail trailer, sometimes dipping the very tips in red spike it, or a grub with a fat tail. This depends on season and conditions.

As for trailer hooks? only, and always in a tourney.

Bankbeater reply :

I never use a trailer on a spinnerbait.

Sam reply :

It boils down to confidence. What do you have confidence in?

Personally, I use a trailer and a trailer hook on all spinnerbaits. But that's me.

Experiment next year and find out what works for you, when and where.

Have fun and let us know what your preference will be.

Mr Swim Jig reply :

I don't use a trailer or a trailer hook, if I am getting hits but not catching any fish then I will change up the spinner bait. Size, blades, color etc...

Mike L reply :

On 11/20/2016 at 2:09 PM, William Rossi said:

Anyone run the skirt like I do to extend the bait and get better flare?

Stike King has a line of those. When I want to run a trailer I'll tie one of these on first.

Mike

iceintheveins reply :

The only time I don't use them is in heavy grass. I only occasionally have bass short strike spinnerbaits, but in most situations it's worth using a trailer for the other 20% of strikes because one of them could be a toad.

tcbass reply :

On 11/17/2016 at 11:31 AM, BASS302 said:

I do something different. Back when I was in college, one of the "Big Three" outdoor magazines had an article about spinnerbaits. The article suggested using, as a trailer, a willow-leaf spinner blade attached to a ball-bearing swivel attached to the hook with a piece of tubing to keep the swivel attached. I've been using a size 3 willow-leaf (sometimes a 3.5). I do this to 90% of my spinnerbaits.

Do you have a pic of this?

I'm trying to imagine where the tubing goes.

bchase44 reply :

On 11/25/2016 at 1:08 PM, tcbass said:

Do you have a pic of this?

I'm trying to imagine where the tubing goes.

I imagine the tube keeps the swivel from going up the business end of the main hook, similar to below but with a swivel/blade rather than the trailer hook.

scaleface reply :

I add blades to jig heads the same way . Instead of a piece of tube i use a disc made out of a plastic lid and a hole punch .

heavyduty reply :

Mods, if this is against any forum rule please delete but I'm simply sharing since it's applicable to this thread. Friend of mine developed and sells a tool that installs disc's like Scaleface posted above. It's called The Hook Pal. You can look it up online and see all of the uses for it. Secures trailer hooks, soft plastics, etc.

BASS302 reply :

tcbass,

Sorry, I've been offline for a while. Anyway, the tubing is just to keep the swivel & blade from flying off. So you can do it either way that bchase44 or scaleface showed. I started using a piece cut from those rubber tube-like things that are used to attach screen to screen doors (someone's suggestion). The attached picture is of a spinnerbait that was in my nearest tacklebox. I was experimenting using a snap swivel to allow changing the blade, but the hook sometimes snags the snap. It's probably better to use a swivel with split rings.

7600

When to use a spinnerbait trailer 2024

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