Spinnerbait Success: Maximizing Strikes with Free-Range Trailer Hooks
The spinnerbait is one of the most popular and user-friendly lures on the market, exceptionally when it comes to bass fishig. Their versatility attracts fish with their flash, vibration, and realistic movement. Their spinning blades and pulsating skirts mimic frantic baitfish on the move, triggering reaction strikes in various water conditions. Whether burned across the surface or slow-rolled near structure, spinnerbaits consistently draw aggressive bites from both largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Trailer hooks are an essential addition to spinnerbaits when targeting smallmouth bass, particularly in clear water where fish tend to follow and swipe at lures without fully committing. Smallmouth are known for their quick, precise strikes, often nipping at the tails of a spinnerbait rather than engulfing it. By adding a trailer hook, you increase the chances of hooking those strikes that come up just a little too short.
To ensure maximum effectiveness, the trailer hook should remain free-moving without restricting the action of the spinnerbait. One way to achieve this is by using a small piece of rubber tubing or a silicone stopper just above the eye of the trailer hook—this prevents it from sliding off while still allowing enough movement for natural tracking. Nurmeorus hook manufactors produce trailer hooks, such as Owner, VMC, Mustad. One unique model avaliavble is the Gamakatsu Thread Stringer. The design is thought of as ideal due to an increased range of motion to the hook. Compared to a threading the eyelet on directly, the thread provides a secure, yet flexible attachment, ensuring the hook remains mobile and responsive to subtle bass strikes. When fishing in clear water, pairing a trailer hook with a natural-colored spinnerbait can further increase your success by presenting a realistic, enticing target.
There are few bites as thrilling as when a bass crashes a spinnerbait. Whether it is low and slow crawling a Colorado blade in the cold, dirty water for largemouth, or fast and flashy crystal-clear conditions for smallmouth, having a trailer hooked effectively rigged can make the world of difference.