While the ideal fishing situation is to have your quarry engulf your lures so entirely and definitively that there’s no chance they’ll spit the hook, there are times when that’s not the norm. If fish are just slashing at a lure, or their hard mouths prevent them from getting hooked securely, a trailer hook can substantially improve your catch rate.
When you’re using a trailer hook it has to meet several criteria: First, it must be legal (some foreign waters we’ve fished are single hook only). Second, it mustn’t adversely effect the lure’s action. Third, it has to help keep the fish pinned once hooked. Finally, it can’t result in you spending more time hung up than with your lure in the strike zone.
For that reason, when I am able to utilize a trailer hook on a spinnerbait or buzzbait, I typically prefer single, free-swinging, super-sharp hook, as large as feasible. We’ve only recently started getting into flutter spoons and swimbaits, but it appears there are lots of options there, too. We’ll experiment with some of them as we gain knowledge, but in the meantime here are some specialty trailer hooks you might consider – no matter where you’re fishing or what species you’re chasing.
Trailer Hooks for Flutter Spoons
VMC Techset Tandem Assist Hooks
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