Excuse my ignorance

I have never used a spinnerbait trailer but want to broaden my horizons.

I bought the trailers and hooks but I cannot figure out what the rubber tubing is for.

Not a dumb question at all but I can't answer.I won't touch them. I am sure there are a lot of peeps on here that will tell you

The rubber tubing is to hold the trailer hook in place so it doesn't slip up and down

There's no stupid question! That's why we're here! To learn from each other!

As for the trailers, I rarely use a plastic trailer on my spinnerbaits unless I'm fishing muddy water. I use the trailer (typically a larger grub) to add size to the bait and move a little more water.

Now with the trailer hooks, I very rarely fish a spinnerbait without one!!! I put the trailer hook on the spinnerbait (with the hook pointing in the same direction as the main hook) and then cut a small peice of the tubing off and insert that over the point on the main hook. This will allow the trailer hook to swing freely (this is the way I do it). Others perfer to take a peice of tubing and put it over the eye of the trailer hook and then thread it on the main hook for a more stiff presentation. Either way is right, just go with the one you have the most confidence in. Hope this helps!

Also if you are burning a spinnerbait over deep enough water that the fish are coming straight up at it, and you are having a hard time hooking up, turn the trailer hook point down. You will lose all weedlessness this way though.