No trailer hooks for me. If I start seeing short strikes, I’ll adjust the bait or adjust the way that I’m fishing it.

I rarely use a trailer hook. If I find I am getting a ton of bites and not landing the fish, if I am getting a lot of short strikes, that is telling me they like the presentation but are probably getting a look at it, so I will either switch my bait or add a trailer. In cases where the water is clear, I may use a trailer hook because that's cheaper and a little quicker, but the downside is the bait it now not nearly as weedless.

 

Alternatively, I will switch to a crankbait or a paddletail swimbait with a spinner added to it in these cases.

 

 

I posted earlier that I don't use trailers and do fine,  yesterday I had nothing but short strikes.  Gonna rethink my stance.  Fishing!

Anyone have more recommendations as to specifics trailer hooks to buy if I wanted to try them out?

Any brand will work but the way they connect if different. 

 

Some hooks ride at any angle you connect them too and stay put, while others will float   

Just depends on what you want for the waters you fish. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Strike king trailers are good in a pinch but the eye is a little small. What I really prefer are siwash hooks as they have shorter shank and a wider gap. 2 or 3/0 are good although I do like 4/0 but some may find this to big.

I never go without a trailer hook.

What surprises me is the number of anglers that are afraid they will get snagged with a trailer hook (free swinging) but will bounce a crank with 2 trebles and think nothing of it. Don't be afraid. I use whatever brand is available (cheap) and slide a disc (hole- punched innertube) above the hook in the middle of the main hooks' bend. Keeping my skirts long hides the hook. I do not use any soft plastics on my spinbaits. Whatever works for you...

To those who think there's no use for a trailer hook, try one. Every fish you catch on the trailer you would not have caught without it and I've caught a lot on the trailer. Needless to say, I always use one on SB's and buzzbaits.

2 hours ago, the reel ess said:

To those who think there's no use for a trailer hook, try one. Every fish you catch on the trailer you would not have caught without one. I've caught a lot on the trailer. Needless to say, I always use one on SB's and buzzbaits.

When they're hooked in the chin, like this, it's because they're crashing the blades.  Without a trailer hook, you don't get them.

 

Always camp

I rarely put a trailer hook but always have some kind of trailer.  In my mind the bigger bait gives me an advantage. 

Most always i use one. I even make my skirts for them with a few long tabs that look like a trailer to help mask the trailerhook. If i am flipping one into thick nasty cover i will undo it some, but otherwise its always on. I let mine freeswing, putting hook on then tubing, rather than tubing over hook eye. 

Old thread but I'll put in my 2 cents. I just got through a day giving my first chatter bait a whirl to make an honest assessment.  I always do that with a new bait. I give it a fair chance. A bunch of strikes but none nailed down. I had the same issue with my spinnerbaits awhile back and put trailer hooks on them to get a much better hooking result. Granted, I'm using mono so setting isn't what it would be with a non-stretch line (but I like mono). So, trailers on my chatter bait will go on next. At least I found out that fish in my lake like the bait. BTW... not news to anyone else but new to me,  but don't chatters (with added trailer) look and feel like they have a nice fish attractive action.

I've never used them and never felt a need to. I recently bought a KVD spinnerbait and I didn't realize it came with a trailer hook. I caught fish with it, but I notice that I don't throw it right into the grass like I do with a spinnerbait with no trailer hook. So while I might catch a few fish with the trailer hook that I wouldn't otherwise, I feel like I don't have the confidence to fish it like I want to for fear of getting hung up. Maybe it's just a mental thing, but mental things matter.

Don't be afraid Arlo...weeds will gather at the line tie before they get to the trailer hook...and free - swinging is kind of a misnomer. It really doesn't, it basically stays in - line with the main hook anyways.

I do and I don't, but I prefer not to as I've had the trailer hook catch up in the gills with the main hook in the mouth.

I actually don't have a combo dedicated to spinnerbaits. If I tie one on with braid, I'm sure to add a trailer hook. With mono, I rarely do.