When you guys pair chatterbait trailers do you trim the head of the soft plastic down a tad bit to give it a more smaller profile or do you leave it at normal length like pic related. This is specifically for the zako/razor shad guys since it's a big profile out the bag. 

My limited time fishing them I've been leaving them whole but if I felt I was getting short strikes I wouldn't hesitate to shorten the Zako

Zako I leave as is. 
When using a swim bait trailer I use a headless Skinny Dipper 

 

 

 

 

Mike

Leave as is primarily because it makes trailers easier to re-rig after a fish beats them up. Just cut some off the top and you get a new area to use on a torn bait.

8 minutes ago, ironbjorn said:

Leave as is primarily because it makes trailers easier to re-rig after a fish beats them up. Just cut some off the top and you get a new area to use on a torn bait.

Beat me to it. Never used a zako specifically but that’s usually my policy on any soft bait

Leave whole, but there are times when I will trim a bit off the Zako.

As others have noted it depends ... I like a swim jig / chatterbait / spinner bait trailer of between 3.75" ~ 4.25" . If I fished a big bass lake 4.5" ~ 5" trailer lengths would be considered . You can shape or reduce the swim bait head any way you want with scissors or an exacto knife .

I have never trimmed the Zako down on a Chatterbait. If I'm getting short strikes it's usually an indication that I'm moving too fast.

1 hour ago, Aaron_H said:

I have never trimmed the Zako down on a Chatterbait. If I'm getting short strikes it's usually an indication that I'm moving too fast.

If I use a Zako, it’s because I want the larger profile.  If I want something smaller, I’ll usually use a Hog Farmer Spunk Shad.  They work great on chatterbaits.

IMO the Zako is actually fairly compact. I dont get many short hits on a Zako as I do with longer baits particularly a 4.5 pintail.  If I'm swimming a chatterbait with a Zako and I want a smaller profile I'll thin the skirt and use a lighter color like GP instead of black.  If that fails to get the fish to commit I'll either try to slow down or even speed up to get a reaction bite.  If they still refuse to commit switching to a crankbait usually saves the day.

Yes. Keep the Zako full length. If you're consistently getting short struck, it's most likely not a bait for the conditions. 

Profile and short strike are not necessarily the same thing.  Short strikes and bass swiping at a bait can occur for multiple reasons including color.  Since your question was about profile, I assume you want something with a little smaller presence in the water.  You can only shorten a Zako so much before you get into the tail section depending on the hook size.  If I want a smaller profile, I will use something other than a Zako.  If you Google chatterbait underwater footage, there are some videos showing various trailer actions.  I think Tactical Bassin did one as well.