This Q is with spring in mind. I want to put a swimbait trailer on my swimjigs. I will be primarily fishing for smallmouth; but pike, LM, and stripers could see my lure to. I am planing on getting some lunker city baits for the trailer, specifically the shaker. http://www.lunkercity.com/

 

I was thinking the 4.5" shaker would be good on a jig but then I thought it might be kind of big for brown fish. Maybe the 3.25" would be best for smallies. What do yall think?

They will hit both. The bigger size might limit your number of bites from smaller fish.

Swimming Senko cut at the egg sack.

I'd go with the 4.5" version. Even smaller smallmouths will have no problem handling a bait that size. 

kietech 

Add a couple bags of the 4" Swimmin Ribster to your order and swim them on a plain jighead...

 

 

oe

 

By the way, the first word in your thread title is spelled "what" by Webster.

I use a River Rock Baits RR Striker which is 3.75" and their Mongoose Striker which is 5", both have a time and place but even the 5" isn't too big. I really like the Gene Larew Sweet Swimmer at 3.5" as well but anything around the 4" mark will work fine for smallmouth.

Fat Swing Impact. Great trailer in cold weather.

RI Little Dipper.

Full size 5" dippers.... brown fish like to eat too.  3.5's when they wont have a big one. I like to drag them on the bottom imitating a sculpin.

I've caught smallmouth on baits as big as 8", so really, I just go with what ever is close to what I think is swimming around.  Generally, I use Keitechs, anywhere from 2" to 5+".

Havoc Beat Shad has worked well for me in the past. At first I hated this bait because of how flimsy it was, but that's what makes it so good.

I stay in the 3" to 4" sizes. Preferably the Keitech ones.

Keitech swing impact fat or regular. With jig trailers always buy they bigger size. You can always bite or trim some of it if you are looking for a smaller presentation.

RI Little Dipper.

x2

Havoc Beat Shad has worked well for me in the past. At first I hated this bait because of how flimsy it was, but that's what makes it so good.

 

I like the larger size Grass Pig for my swim jigs. Havoc makes some pretty good quality stuff

I've had success with the following ~ both as a stand alone bait & as trailers:

 

Berkley Powerbait Hollow Belly Swimbait 4 & 5 inch

Berkley Powerbait Flatback Shad Swimbait 5 inch

Berkley Havoc Bobby Lane's Grass Pig 5 inch

Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper 3.5 & 5 inch

Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Swim'n Caffeine Shad 5 inch

Zoom Swimmin Super Fluke  5 inch

 

Out of this list, I use the grass pig the most.

 

A-Jay

For a swim jig 3 to 4 because already has a big profile

I like the stankxbaitco damzel and swankx baits.  I figure if they are too long i can always trim them back like was mentioned above.

I've had success with the following ~ both as a stand alone bait & as trailers:

 

Berkley Powerbait Hollow Belly Swimbait 4 & 5 inch

Berkley Powerbait Flatback Shad Swimbait 5 inch

Berkley Havoc Bobby Lane's Grass Pig 5 inch

Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper 3.5 & 5 inch

Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Swim'n Caffeine Shad 5 inch

Zoom Swimmin Super Fluke  5 inch

 

Out of this list, I use the grass pig the most.

 

A-Jay

 

 

Remind me to give you a package of Gambler Big EZ to add to your list.

Remind me to give you a package of Gambler Big EZ to add to your list.

 

 

OK - I'm all over it.

 

A-Jay

I find they hit anything & any size when feeding.  They have run off with 6 to 8" live perch.

Depends on the size of forage and other conditions at that moment. The 3.5" Dippers and swim flukes are nice when I need smaller profile. Bigger dippers and flukes for large profile or off colored water. Now in general I think one is too small and the other too big so I have started using other baits. Damiki anchovy shad and this PLine minnow both of which are 4" were last years go-to.

 

Allen

Swimming Senko cut at the egg sack.

is this for a swimjig??

Yes. The OP was asking about a trailer.

 

As far as paddle tails by themselves: Berkley Hollow Belly, Shadalicious and Keitech Swing Impact Fat