My rule of thumb

 

Tournament =Trailer

Fun Fishing+ No Trailer

My rule of thumb

 

Tournament =Trailer

Fun Fishing+ No Trailer

 

Trailer hook?

Trailer hook? Yep

Trailer?  Most of the time it is a split double tail.  http://www.mistertwister.com/information/split-double-tail/335#description

I use a trailer when I want to be able to slow my retrieve or bulk up my bait for bigger fish. I'll almost always use a trailer if I'm fishing a lake with smallmouth or spots but only if I'm getting short strikes or in cold water if I'm fishing largemouth.

Yes I was referring to trailer hook

 

Rarely do I use a trailer  Yes I believe it adds bulk but also gives something for them to short strike. We started last year using 50 strand skirts to add bulk and breathability  =water displacement

Unless I'm fishing extremely heavy cover, I use a trailer hook. If I'm fishing muddy water, I'll add a large grub to add a little bulk to the profile. Even with the grub added, I still use a trailer hook.  

I usually fish spinnerbaits one of two ways -

 

1). Burning just under the surface - and I do meaning smoking fast - small double willow white blades and bait - always use a trailer hook here but never a trailer.

 

2). Slow rolling a larger / heavier spinnerbait deep - always use a trailer here (recently a mid-size swimbait) but never a trailer hook.

 

A-Jay

The way I have always done it,

Burning double willow spinnerbaits for smallies-always using a trailer hook

Slow rolling double Colorado's for largies-always use a trailer.Usually a single rage tail grub, or GY double tails.

Never a trailer. A trailer hook when the spinnerbait comes with it attached. I'm too lazy to take them off...or put them on.

Trailer hook all the time. Trailer never but I plan to experiment with them next season under some conditions.

For the most part, neither, but if i want more lift/bigger profile and I know I will come thru sparse cover, I will add a 3" grub on a trailer hook.

 

As stated above, if a fish hits the bait and doesn't button up, kill the retrieve, the fish will circle the wagons to hit it again. If you find that the fish are consistently short striking, then speed up the retrieve on subsequent casts. The fish have already told you that you have the right lure on, now it's up to you to do something about it. By speeding up, the fish won't have time to abort the mission at the last second. More often than not, this technique works.

I usually use a 2/0 trailer hook.

A split tail trailer sometimes,But a trailer hook most of the time.