I'm moving into a new realm of northern fishing, namely larger swimbaits. I'd like to add a trailer to my normal weighted hook rigging, any tips? I'm specifically looking for material and sourcing recommendations. Should I use wire rather than floro since I'm targeting pike? Braid vs single strand? Single or double crimp sleeves? Suggested treble sizes? Best place to get it all?

I've browsed Gander and Dicks and left unimpressed. Before I start blindly ordering online or hiking up to Cabela's I'm hoping someone here can impart some wisdom and help accelerate my learning curve.

Thanks in advance, and I'll post my results here as I learn more.

I do not have much to offer personally and not sure if this is what you mean by larger but I thought this video was informative and he gives quite a few alternatives. Definitely on the larger side of the spectrum.
Hope it helps.

It is from 'Tactical Bassin' on 'How to Rig Swim Baits'.
Tactical Bassin

I have heard of guys using trailer hooks with swimbaits for laker jigging (they grab the tail) but not so much for pike fishing.

What sort of swimbait are you thinking about?

If I were determined to add a stinger hook to a swimbait I would use some single strand coffee colored wire and tie one end to the eye of the swimbait hook and then measure the length I desired and use a treble hook or a "frog hook" (double hook) up against the belly of the swimbait. The frog double hook could be kept in place with an opened up paper clip shoved into the belly and pinning the hook in place. The frog hook has a bit bigger gap and is the hook I will be adding to a couple of Huddleston swimbaits I am going to feed to some northerns.

Smaller swimbaits will do fine with a treble and you can just use one point to secure the hook into place.

The wire needs the correct method and that method is a Haywire twist followed by a short barrel wrap to get everything pretty. You can make a "handle" of sorts with the leftover wire and "spin" the wire flush with your work. If you cut it with wire cutters you will have a potential cutting surface which can leave you with a bit of a gash.

The only disadvantage with the single strand is that it does kink and after a few fish will need to be replaced. But it can be done fairly quickly and the single strand is very discreet. The advantage is you don't have to worry about crimps failing which is likely if you don't have everything "just so".

In my opinion a trailer is not needed for Pike, they target the head of their prey and especially big Pike, they aren't trying to injure the prey, they are trying to kill it, so nipping at the tail really does not happen with them.

Thanks for the wisdom guys. That video was great. More geared to bass, but still relevant. They are fishing Huds and other baits the size I'm looking at.

He swears by the front jig hook *only*, but goes on to show how he rigs trailers when needed. And the answer? Single wire with the haywire tie, as referenced by MT.

I'm using some generic baits from tackle warehouse. I was planning on positioning this trailer just in front of where the tail action starts, on the belly. I figured this way I would get the bottom and back strikers I might be missing with the front jig hook. In that video, he recommends back hooking in order to avoid fish mortality associated with belly hooks. Anyone heard of that? It's news to me, and most hard baits seem to be belly hooked. Should I avoid belly hooks?

quote Basspro69: "In my opinion a trailer is not needed for Pike, they target the head of their prey and especially big Pike, they aren't trying to injure the prey, they are trying to kill it, so nipping at the tail really does not happen with them."

OK, maybe I'm overthinking it then. I do like single hook fishing pike, makes for easier release. It just seems weird leaving 8" of unhooked bait trailing behind the hook. If they tend to strike the head as you say, maybe it's more about offering a big profile and hooking them up front. Thanks!

Atb

I was to lazy to search for the bass swimbait video. They are using Huddleston swimbaits? That would interest me as I have picked up a few. I was not impressed with their single upriding hook on their deep model. It seems slightly undersized to me. They have a small wire area in the belly into which you can add a trailer hook and I really like the addition of the Gamakatsu frog hook which, when pinned to the belly with an opened up paper clip, will ride rather perfectly.


The Shadzillas which I rave about are of course equipped with 2 gangs of trebles and a top hook......lots of hooks!

But I also picked up several of the Ben Parker swimbaits (on sale now at tackle warehouse.......I paid almost double that price for one each of every color........so thats an incredible deal IMO). They have a nice big wide profile but they are also rather "bulky" and thick and displace a lot of water. Not exactly a Shadzilla but not so very far away either and 1/4 the price. Probably would need bait casting equipment and a bass flipping stick to handle them IMO. They are also shipped in their own plastic tube of sorts which would be perfect for transport into canoe country. Mishandled large swimbaits can be warped if they get hot and are stored crooked and not flat. That was one thing I like about the Shadzillas they come with a carrying case. But so do the Ben Parker baits.......good deal!

Check them out.......I have the largest version and I paid $13 each! they are 1/2 off! (just shoot me;-)
Ben Parker

I coupled them with the Ben Parker jig heads which are really nice. Big wide gap and able to accommodate a big swimbait. I really like the jig heads......tops IMO and no need for a stinger hook with these. Don't buy into the toothpick nonsense and "stick" with the superglue. Superglue or "Mend-it" is required stuff to not only keep your swimbait firmly in its place but is also good for repairing your baits. They will get sliced and diced and some super glue will go a long way in fixing them.

Jig Heads
Don't be afraid of the larger weights of some of the jigheads.........thats alot of plastic to try and pull down. Spring and early summer go with the 3/4 but later in the year you definitely want at least 1 oz and 2oz heads aren't to heavy to pull these baits into deeper water.

'Tangler,

Those Ben Parkers look pretty sweet, bulky in the torso but thin and wiggly in back. Which colors are you taking?

The 9"ers I got were from Lure Parts Online. The 9" mag shad. I'll have to add some of those Parkers.

Back years ago In-fisherman had an article on using big plastics for pike. It was eye opening.

So I took several on a Backpacking trip to Isle Royale many years ago and waded the shores of lake Chickenbone. I couldn't beg a bite for the longest time until I used the big shad bodies with no weight. I waded to the edge of the reeds and flipped the shad out there. As it slowly drifted down, tail just barely wiggling, I would watch the pike come up to get it and got to see them strike......very cool. No big ones but it turned the day around.

The Big shad bodies is what the article was talking about. How are you going to rig them? Super important........that was why I provided the link to the Ben Parker jig heads. They are awesome with a big gap which is what you need. They would be perfect on a 9" shad body.

Another jig head option which I really like is Cobra jigs.........but the ticket is to rig your shad bodies sideways with this jig head. Dig around on the site (AND read the articles) as they sell big Shad bodies for their jig heads as well as reaper tails. If I were you I would get some big black reaper tails and a black cobra jig head. The ultimate HUGE leech imitation. Black seems to get the nod among trophy pike anglers from what I have read. Couple the black reaper with a light wire leader like a Knot2Kinky in 16b test and you just might get the biggest walleye of your life as well fishing the deep weed edges.

Cobra jig heads / Reapers

What sort of leaders are you going to be using?

I have actually picked up one each of all the colors In the Ben Parker swimbait series (and at full price Arrrrrgh!). I intend to couple them with Hogy Barbarian sand eel jig heads in weights of 2 to 4oz. I am hoping to drop them on Lake trout at Isle Royale and jig them around. Barbarian Sand Eel jig head

quote sinking3: " I do not have much to offer personally and not sure if this is what you mean by larger but I thought this video was informative and he gives quite a few alternatives. Definitely on the larger side of the spectrum.
Hope it helps.

It is from 'Tactical Bassin' on 'How to Rig Swim Baits'.
Tactical Bassin "

Hey thanks for providing that link........I like that guy, he thinks like I do ;-)

(All except for the part where HE catches boat loads of HUGE bass LOL)

Wow, love those reaper tails! They will make the trip for sure. I currently use Kalin 1/2-1 oz jigs. I like the looks of both those Ben Parkers as well as the Cobras.

For leaders, I'm using a combination of Spro 80 LB floro and titaniums, either tied on to 65 LB power pro. Thoughts here?

quote Atb: "Wow, love those reaper tails! They will make the trip for sure. I currently use Kalin 1/2-1 oz jugs. I like the looks of both those Ben Parkers as well as the Cobras.


For leaders, I'm using a combination of Spro 80 LB floro and titaniums, either tied on to 65 LB power pro. Thoughts here?"

Dude you got it going on........stay focused, stay with it. You might only be fishing for 6 bites for the whole day, 4 are going to be little guys but two are going to be monsters ;-)

Note how the Cobra jig has a place to tie in the single strand coffee colored copper wire if you wanted to add a stinger hook. The Haywire twist is the method.......the wire is fairly inexpensive. I'm sure the twist is on Utube. I use the single strand on Kingfish and have caught Jackpot winning Kings up to 48lbs with the stuff.......works great, very discreet and failure rates are nil.

quote Atb: "Wow, love those reaper tails! They will make the trip for sure. I currently use Kalin 1/2-1 oz jigs. I like the looks of both those Ben Parkers as well as the Cobras.


For leaders, I'm using a combination of Spro 80 LB floro and titaniums, either tied on to 65 LB power pro. Thoughts here?"

You are going to use the FG knot for the floro straight to the braid? Best way IMO.

I've been using the Alberto knot for direct tying floro leader to braided main line. What's the advantage of the FG?

quote Atb: "I've been using the Alberto knot for direct tying floro leader to braided main line. What's the advantage of the FG?"

Its better.........

FG knot

I talked myself into picking up some of the Reapers (of course I did) to use with a black Cobra head but noticed all Cobra has is a winky little 5" walleye bait.

I like big reapers.......these look better couple with a black Cobra head and a treble stinger.



Big black reaper

I was going to post that I wish they had white, but they do, it's just not pictured. I just posted a bunch of gear on the for sale page to fund some investment in some (more) big soft plastic tackle.