Trailer Hooks

[Mitch f]

Been experimenting with a treble hook for a buzzbait trailer hook with good success. I clip off the bottom facing hook with snips and seems to work well on the short strikers. A couple of years ago I tried the Strike King Spinnerbait and buzzbait Tour Grade trailer hooks with the slightly harder black plastic covering over the hook. These trailers don't allow the trailer hook to dangle free, they kind of keep the hook stiff and parallel to the main hook...the result was it was exremely weedless but couldnt get a fish in the boat. I'm attaching a picture of the Strike Kings that I can't get to work very well. I've also been using braid for the buzzers and I have to tell myself to wait a little longer before setting the hook with braid (Thanks RPS) Maybe I'm doing something wrong...my hook up rate was about 60-70 %, not good enough. Any trailer hook suggestions and or techniques suggestions would be appreciated.

Went back to the regular tralier hook from Gamakatsu for a single hook for most applications or a treble for more open water buzzing. Forgive me for being so technical but I've got a good wine buzz going on now...Sunday mornin comin down!!

[Greasy B]

Sorry can't help you with that problem. Far too technical for me. I gave up on trailer hooks and just figure on loosing some fish.

[fishinwrench]

In lieu of trailer hooks I use Zoom split tail trailers on all my spinner/buzzbaits and misses are never an issue.

The legendary Tom Mann, along with Ricky Green, did a lengthy experiment years ago (back when spinnerbaits and buzzbaits all had really crappy hooks) and determined that a soft plastic trailer that covered the hook totally cancels out any need for a trailer hook.

Seems to work great for me, and has for many years. Newer buzzbait/spinnetbait skirts are built with "trailing strands"....which I cut off before I even get'em wet and glue on the old reliable "white fork". I guess it causes them to eat the hook instead of just head banging the mass of the commotion.

I'll add that the straight fork trailers are way better (IMO) than any "action trailer" like curled tail grubs and such.

[Greasy B]

In lieu of trailer hooks I use Zoom split tail trailers on all my spinner/buzzbaits and misses are never an issue.

Darn, I wish I had read this simple advise last week. I guess I would have racked up some higher totals this week. Oh well those who listen to only themselves have a fool for a master.

[Guest]

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[Al Agnew]

Mitch's point about the trailer hooks with the hard plastic over the eyes is spot on. You'll miss or lose a lot of fish if your trailer hook doesn't swing freely. I use a paper hole punch to punch little discs out of plastic coffee can lids, and after putting the trailer hook on over the barb of the main hook, I slip a disc over the barb of the main hook to keep the trailer hook on. It will last forever and not let the trailer hook ever slip off.

On buzzbaits, I almost always use a trailer hook, but I'm not really sure how much of a difference it makes. Most of the fish seem to be hooked on the main hook. On regular spinnerbaits, I don't usually use a trailer hook. On my homemade twin spins, I always do, and on them it seems to make a difference, because about 30% or so of the fish I catch on it are hooked on the trailer.

Unlike some, I like curly tail grubs as trailers better than the split tail trailers on buzzbaits and my twin spin.

[RSBreth]

I like curly tail grubs as trailers - sometime twintailed grubs, and never use a trailer hook. If I get short strikes or misses I change something.

[Mitch f]

Great advice guys, thanks... exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for!

edited to add this video, just found it...

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPage?storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&template=video.cfm&cat=Fishing&subCatID=26&connectionSpeed=hd&videoID=423&startRow=0&videoType=prodcutdemo&option=2&cmid=OLPHVIDEO_423_HD