08-11-2002, 01:48 PM
In the early 90s I began using trailers on my buzzbaits. Since buzzbaits don't usually come with the barb on the lead head designed for holding trailers in place I started welding "Hitch-Hiker" trailer holders onto the hook shanks using solder and melting part of the lead head. Hitch-Hikers are designed to be slipped onto the hook shank at the bend but I find that way of rigging produces too many short strikes. To put the trailer on you slide it onto the hook shank like you normally would then twist in onto the Hitch-Hiker.<br><br><IMG SRC="http://leapinbass.com/fishing/images/hitchhiker.jpg"><br>Hitch-Hiker<br><br><IMG SRC="http://leapinbass.com/fishing/images/buzzbait-hitchhiker.jpg"><br>Buzzbait or Spinnerbait head with Hitch-Hiker<br><br>In 2002 I began using 3 inch Big Hammers as trailers instead of the typical curl tails, straight tails, etc. and found them to be pretty productive.<br><br><IMG SRC="http://leapinbass.com/fishing/images/buzzbait-skirted-hammer.jpg"><br>Buzzbait with Big Hammer Trailer<br><br>When I first started using buzzbaits back in the 80's I was lead to believe they represented a frog or bird skipping across the water. Now I know that they just look like a fish or some kind of food swimming near the surface. All the fish sees is from the lead head back. The blade is just an attractant. In the Summer of 2002 while fishing on the Brandywine River in Pennsylvania I looked at my buzzbait and thought, "why am I covering up the swimbait with the trailer? Wouldn't it be better to make what the fish see look as much like a baitfish as possible?" So I took the skirt off my spare buzzbait and believe it or not on my first cast I caught my largest smallmouth so far - a beautiful 20 inch fish.<br><br><IMG SRC="http://leapinbass.com/fishing/images/buzzhammer.jpg"><br>"Buzz Hammer"<br><br>In the next couple hours I caught an 18 inch, a 16 inch, and several 12 and 13 inch fish. Needless to say my confidence in this lure skyrocketed.<br><br>**********<br><br>You can't catch tomorrow what you kill today, please practice catch and release.