Fishing with a spinnerbait is an awesome way to catch aggressivebass, especially in murky or stained water. Reaction baits like the spinnerbaitcan be a great option year-round and can really shine when bass are active.
A spinnerbait without a trailer is often times more than enough to trigger a bass into striking. However, there are certain times when adding a trailer will enhance your overall presentation and increase your chances of catching more fish.
In this article I share with you the best spinnerbaittrailers that I’ve found work extremely well and the things you should considerwhen deciding when to add a spinnerbait trailer to your lure presentation.
Are Trailers Neededfor Spinnerbaits?
When it comes to fishing with a spinnerbait one of the mostcommon questions anglers ask is: do you put a trailer on a spinnerbait? Theanswer is absolutely. Most anglers will add a spinnerbait trailer when: fishingslow, in cold water or when they want to add some more bulk or action to their overalllure presentation.
On the other hand, in clear water situations many anglers prefera smaller profile and tend to shy away from using a spinnerbait trailer or theystick with a smaller more finesse swimbait trailer.
When to Add aSpinnerbait Trailer
Although some anglers prefer to throw a spinnerbait withouta trailer there are some situations when adding a trailer can make a hugedifference in your success.
Here are some general guidelines to help you decide whenadding a spinnerbait trailer may make sense.
When to Add a Spinnerbait Trailer
- Cold water
- Need a bigger profile
- Fishing slow or deep
- Need more action/water displacement
When to Not Add aSpinnerbait Trailer
- Clear water
- Finesse situations
- When you are fishing fast
- When using a trailer hook
Keep in mind these are only general rules and should be used as a starting point.
Make sure to check outMy RecommendedBass Fishing Gear and Tackle Guideto ensure you have the right gear for your next fishing adventure.
The 5 BestSpinnerbait Trailers
Keitech Swing Impact Swimbait
The Keitech Swing Impact and FAT Swing Impact are deadly spinnerbaittrailers and ones that I find myself using the most. This bait flat out gets itdone.
The distinct swinging action is what really makes thispaddle tail bait stand out. It’s well balanced and runs great at any speed, makingit a great option when paired with a spinnerbait.
I’ve found the 3.8” works the best when paired with smallerspinnerbaits and the 4.3” is a great option when throwing larger spinnerbaits.
Adding the Keitech Swing Impact Swimbait will not only giveyour spinnerbait some unique secondary action but will also provide a targetfor them to strike when the flash and vibration of your spinnerbait draws themin.
The unique action and squid like scent of this soft plasticbait makes it difficult for any nearby bass to resist. If you haven’t already Iwould definitely recommend pairing your spinnerbait with a Keitech swimbaittrailer.
Fluke
Another great trailer option that you should consider adding to your spinnerbaits is a Zoom Fluke. This classic bait has been a proven fish catcher for years and pairs well with a spinnerbait.
This soft plastic bait doesn’t put out as much action asothers on this list which makes it a great option for when you are fishing incold water.
The Zoom Fluke is also available in a variety of differentcolors so that you can easily match the hatch on you home waters and pair itwith just about any spinnerbait.
If you are looking to add a trailer to your spinnerbait andyou plan on fishing in the early spring or fall, then the Zoom Fluke is a mustadd to your spinnerbait trailer collection.
Z-Man Slim SwimzSwimbait
The Slim Swimz Swimbait by Z-Man is a killer finesse spinnerbait trailer that is both durable and effective. If you haven’t already I would definitely recommend giving this small swimbait a try.
The Z Man Slilm Swimz is a scaled-down paddle tail swimbaitthat perfectly matches small baitfish and will drive bass crazy especially infinesse fishing situations.
This spinnerbait trailer works especially well forsmallmouth and spotted bass. They simply can’t resist the subtle action of thisfinesses swimbait when matched up with the right spinnerbait.
This bait also come in a variety of colors and is made withElaztech plastic making it durable and long lasting.
Tip: Do not mix these baits with other soft plastics theElaZtech material will melt and cause issues. It’s best to keep these in their originalpackaging and separated for other baits.
Zako Swimbait
The Zako Swimbait is one of my all-time favorite chatterbait trailers but it also works extremely well when matched up with a spinnerbait.
This bait was designed specifically as a trailer for spinnerbaitsand vibrating jigs. It has a tight flickering action on the tail and won’twobble as much as the Keitech paddle tails.
As far as the bait itself it has a large belly and abaitfish profile making it ideal for mimicking small bait fish like blue gilland shad.
The Zako Swimbait is also available in all of the Yamamoto’ssignature colors giving you a ton of options to match the hatch.
If you are looking to add a quality soft plastic bait toyour spinnerbait presentation than the Zako Swimbait is a great option.
Grub
The grub is another classic bass fishing soft plastic baitthat works extremely well when paired with a spinnerbait.
I like to use both a single and double tail grub and willmatch the size of the grub with the size of the spinnerbait that I am throwing.
There are a ton of different soft plastic grub options out there but In my opinion you can’t go wrong a Yamamoto Double Tail Grub.
They make excellent spinner bait trailers and will allow youto slow down your retrieve and get more bites. They also come in a wide varietyof colors and are proven fish catchers.
Another great grub option is the Big Bite Baits Finesse Grub it comes in both a single tail and double tail version.
Adding the right grub can be an excellent way to add somebulk to your spinnerbait and trigger more bass into striking. The grub shouldbe a staple in any bass fishing anglers tackle box.
Spinnerbait FAQ
Do you put trailerson spinnerbaits? Yes, spinnerbait trailers can enhance your chances ofgetting more bites and help you hook more fish. However, spinnerbaits can alsobe fished without using a trailer and are often times preferred in clear waterconditions. For more information aboutthe importance of a spinnerbait trailer check out this article on bassmaster.com
What is the bestspinnerbait? Nowadays there are plenty of great spinnerbaits out on themarket but there are some that stand out above all the others. For me the bestspinnerbaits are the River2Sea Bling, Revenge Deep Runner and the War EagleScreamin’ Eagle
What line should Iuse with a spinnerbait? The best line choice for spinnerbaits is typicallygoing to be 10-16lb fluorocarbon. However, line choice often comes down topersonal preference and the type of structure and water clarity you are fishingin.
Final Thoughts
Adding a trailer to your spinnerbait presentation can be agreat way to catch some more bass in cold and dirty water situations.
The right trailer will add secondary action and provide abass with a target to strike making it easier for them to locate your lure andfor you to connect with more fish.
If you haven’t already considering adding a spinnerbaittrailer in these situations, you’ll be glad you did.
Tight Lines
