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Posts: 30
| I’m still obsessing over best set up for single trailer hooks on spinnerbaits. I’ve lost WAY too many over the years and would like to never do it again.?? I’ve sharpened hooks and even resulted to treble hook trailer for a while, which sucks for heavy weeds.
Been reading the threads on here, and it looks like there’s 3 choices
1. Use open eye hook and clamp closed over main hook.
2. Use surgical/aquarium/2:1 shrink tubing over eye of trailer hook, piercing the tubing with the main hook to secure
3. Use open eye hook, clamp closed on main hook, secure with tubing threaded on the main hook through the ID of tubing.
Questions:
1. What’s the best hook for option 1? Does the main hook have to be a minimum size for this to work?
2. What size/type tubing is best for option 2?
3. What size/type tubing is best for option 3?
Thanks for the input! |
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Posts: 427
| I use a trailer that is 1-2 sizes smaller than the main hook.
The size of the tubing depends on the trailer hook eye size. I don't like opening the eye to attach the hook because the trailer rides low and flops around a lot. With the tubing the hook rides more securely in an up right position.
If you are loosing a lot of fish the trailer can be run with the trailer "up side down" This increases the hook up ratio tremendously as the trailer hook point now penetrates the lower jaw allowing better penetration vs the tough upper jaw and roof of the mouth with the traditional trailer set up. This set up is about as weedless as the traditional set up. A word of caution. You may find that this set up results in fish deeply hooked. |
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Posts: 304
Location: Lino Lakes, MN | I forget what I used for trailer hooks but most spinnerbaits have 2 hook systems but some are on the small side. - Early Ace baits had undersized hooks I felt. Thorne Bros had them on the shelf.
To increase hookups on single hooks spinnerbaits with a trailer I always open the gap a bit 1/4" or so and I offset one hook to the left and 1 hook to the right with a linesman pliers by 1/2" or so.
Maybe someone has a pic of what I am talking about.
I lost a giant pike 20 years ago when it totally engulfed a M&G Spinnerbait blades and all boat side.
Good luck
Steve |
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Posts: 572
| What size of hooks are you talking about? I found smaller hooks seemed to have smaller eyelits and would not fit over the main hook. Are the main spinner hooks small too? I'm not familiar with open eye hooks. Need to research that too. |
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Posts: 30
| I been using 5/0 to 7/0 hooks in the past. BTW, my problem is more losing hooked fish (as far as I know) more than not hooking up. Maybe I’m just not hooking up properly. |
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Posts: 753
| I use 9/0 trailers. The best system I have seen is one BTURG wrote in his column for Musky Hunter 4 or 5 years ago. It involves attaching a wire to the main hook, bending the eye of the trailer hook, hook the trailer over the main and affix the wire to the trailer. In doing this you create a good gap and have everything in line. I use a fly tying bobbin and light super line to wrap the wire and seal it up with epoxy. It a little work but the results are awesome.. |
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Posts: 572
| Those 9/0 trailers probably have eyelits large enough that fit over most spinnerbaits with smaller main hook. Good idea on how to attach it. I will have to try that this spring. Thanks for sharing. |
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Posts: 114
| take a look at Gamakatsu 5/0 trailer hooks:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003P9EHR0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_ti...
I use about 3/8" length of surgical tubing slid over the closed eye of the trailer and then pierce the tubing with
the main hook to secure it to the bait. Try placing the trailer hook facing down.
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Posts: 1209
| Keep in mind your hookset. You only get one hookset, no second sets, and you can go to hard with spinnerbaits. If you set it twice or go to hard it can tear a slot in their mouth that makes it easy to get away |
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Posts: 1023
| Eagle Claw makes muskie stinger hooks that are the best overall - length, gap, open loop. I find the 7/0 and 8/0 are needed to fit over barbs. Use rubber tubing to keep it fixed. |
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Posts: 253
| I use 7/0 trailer hooks and for a keeper I used a semi truck inner tube(scrap they were throwing away) that I got from a local tire supplier. I cut it into 1/4 to 3/8 inch squares. Ace Tandems are my #1 bait for catching fish and I have yet to have a fish pull the hook off with this set up.
Steve |
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Posts: 55
Location: Arena WI | I too have lost many fish on spinnerbaits over the years. i use trailer hooks with tubing.
things i have changed is don't horse these fish anymore, It has helped also I have opened up th hooks and bend 1 slightly left and the other slightly right and i think this has helped my success rate. |
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