Does anyone use trailer hooks? I was going to try them on a chatterbait, but I am afraid the bass might take the trailer hook down in the throat. Can anyone give me some insight on whether to use the trailer hooks, with what kind of a set up, etc.?

Yes to buzzbaits and spinnerbaits.  No to jigs and chatterbaits.

I trim the skirts and use modest trailers on Jigs and Spinnerbaits and when using trailer hooks ( Spinnerbaits ) always hook fish on the front hook.

 

My longtime fishing partner is a big advocate of trailer hooks but our hook up ratio is the same.

 

If it gives you more confidence, use them.

I've personally found them unnecessary.

I would tend to think that a plastic trailer would get in the way of a trailer hook on a chatterbait.  I've never tried personally though.

I just use them on spinners.

Yes but for buzzbaits only.

I fish with chatterbaits and don't use a trailer work . There is a lot of grass in my pond and think I would do best with only one hook.

2 hours ago, Clumsy fisherman said:

I was going to try them on a chatterbait, but I am afraid the bass might take the trailer hook down in the throat.

Personally I'm done with them. I killed a cluster of bass last year over a short period of time when the trailer hooks went way too deep to be removed. It really turned me off to using them. I threw mine away. The last time I used one was on a buzz bait after I'd been frustrated by short strikes. A prolonged, sickening, bloody mess trying to save the fish. I take bass fishing seriously, but ultimately it's a fun thing for me. Killing a bass is the last thing I want to happen and pretty much wrecks my vibe for the day. This can happen on any given cast with any given lure and I accept that, but a trailer hook increases the odds of it happening, so I won't anymore. YMMV.

Never used trailer hooks on any of my baits.

1 hour ago, PhishLI said:

Personally I'm done with them. I killed a cluster of bass last year over a short period of time when the trailer hooks went way too deep to be removed. It really turned me off to using them. I threw mine away. The last time I used one was on a buzz bait after I'd been frustrated by short strikes. A prolonged, sickening, bloody mess trying to save the fish. I take bass fishing seriously, but ultimately it's a fun thing for me. Killing a bass is the last thing I want to happen and pretty much wrecks my vibe for the day. This can happen on any given cast with any given lure and I accept that, but a trailer hook increases the odds of it happening, so I won't anymore. YMMV.

Thanks. That's what I was worried about. I would rather lose a bass than kill one.

I only use trailer hooks on spinnerbaits when I am up north pike fishing, not so much for bass fishing.

 

On 4/18/2022 at 1:26 PM, Clumsy fisherman said:

Does anyone use trailer hooks? I was going to try them on a chatterbait, but I am afraid the bass might take the trailer hook down in the throat. Can anyone give me some insight on whether to use the trailer hooks, with what kind of a set up, etc.?

I use them situationally on swim jigs and chatterbaits, but only when I'm using a really long trailer, say over 7", started doing it to get the usually short striking snakeheads and pickerel. I use a 3/0 usually, I don't do it often, but this time of year, I like big baits. Haven't had any issues with deep hooking fish.