TRAILER HOOKS

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:09 am

FOR YEARS I HAVE USED SPINNER BAITS WITH NO TRAILER HOOKS.
LATELY IT SEEMS THAT EVERYONE IS USING TRAILER HOOKS AND STATE THAT THEY WOULD NOT GET HOOKED UP WITHOUT ONE.
INFACT THEY STATE THE FISH IS ALWAYS HOOKED ON THE TRAILERHOOK. IS'NT THIS TRUE BECAUSE THE FIRST THING THE FISH HITS WOULD BE THE TRAILER HOOK, SO SURE IT HOOKS THE FISH ?? I CAN NOT SAY THAT I HAVE EVER LOST OR MISSED A FISH BECAUSE OF NOT USING A TRAILER HOOK.. TO ME IT GETS IN THE WAY OF LURE PERFORMANCE AND CAUSES WAY MORE SNAGS ?

ANY INPUT PLEASE

JIGS

G-Ko · Post by **G-Ko** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:15 am

I feel that the trailer hook is helpful atleast 90% of the time. I really don't care what hook they are on as long as they get hooked. For me I like to have my hook be right at the end of the skirt or close to the end of any trailer on the spinnerbait. I feel that it helps a lot on short strikes. My feeling is that in the early morning while seeing how the fish react I don't want to miss 3 bites before I add a trailer. I would rather take a trailer hook off for any reason (cover, get a bite).

I say fish with whatever you have confidence in. I fish with a trailer about 90% becasue sometimes i don't like the action and looks of the bait when it has it. If I don't like it, how are the fish?

Greg

Jerry · Post by **Jerry** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:16 am

I seldom use a trailer hook anymore. If your hooks are sharp you'll "hook" up.

phill strader · Post by **phill strader** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 10:15 am

when you are fishing largemouth, and they are eating a spinnerbait, no trailer is necessary....however spotted bass and smallmouth are a different story.(largemouth as well when they aren't eating it right) I guarantee their are alot of days when I will increase my catch ratio by as much as 75-80% solely because of the use of a SHARP trailer hook. Don't overlook a simple addition to the bait that can provide huge results. If you are using a trailer hook, and find that all the fish you are catching have the main spinnerbait hook in their mouth, take the trailer hook off....it is no longer necessary.

phil strader

Flippinjigs · Post by **Flippinjigs** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 10:39 am

I use only Owner trailer hook 100% of the time for added insurance. As far as I can tell it don't effect the action of a spinner bait that much (adds extra weight). If I toss a spinner bait on a shallow rip rap bank, I do it on a tight line and start working it back as soon as it hits the water letting go deeper as it returns to the boat. I reduce my snaggs by keeping in good contact with my line both eye contact and feel. I wouldn't toss a Spinner or Buzz without one.

Good Fishing

BassManDan · Post by **BassManDan** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 6:14 pm

Trailer hooks are often a very polarized debate.

I will not throw a Buzzbait without one, I dont care if it's already got a sticky long shank hook, a stinger goes on!

Spinnerbaits, yeah if the fish are doing what they should be, don't need a stinger hook, but it is always a nice insurance policy.
I've never heard anyone running no trailer hook outfish someone that has a stinger, why not run one if conditions permit.

2/0 Red gamakatsu, sticky and heavy.

Bass Man Dan

BIG DADDY BLUE RANGER · Sat Sep 01, 2007 2:11 pm

I'm with you Jigs,, to me trailer hooks changes the way the bait runs and grabs way to much extra slop... I just don't feel I can fish effeciently if I'm always stopping to pull off grass....

I went out the other day with a new buzzbait that came with a trailer hook already on and I was too lazy to pull it off... every fish was stuck on the main hook... it's off now.

Mr. Strader gives excellent advice.... but I'm a shallow weedy water largie only kind of guy... no trailer hooks for me

leachman90 · Post by **leachman90** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 6:21 pm

Good timing on this subject.I just got off the water alittle bit ago.It has been a very tough bite for the largemouth as well as the big smallies lately.Ended up catching four laremouth and 3 of them were caught by the stinger hook.As a few of you might remember about a month ago I got a big northernup here that weighted 9.11lbs and the only thing between that fish and it's freedom was my stinger hook.These were all caught on a buzzbait and I will not throw one without a stinger hook.I don't use your normal style of stinger either,I use the G-Stinger hooks.

Lugnut · Post by **Lugnut** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 7:30 pm

I DON'T use them on Spinnerbaits

I DO use them on Buzzbaits 100% of the time.

After reading this post, I WILL start throwing my blades with a stinger if conditions permit (NO WEEDS).