How to Make Your Own Trailer Hook

A trailer hook is a secondary hook attached to the primary or larger hook in a fish-hook rig. Their purpose is to provide a backup hooking capability to that of the primary hook -- allowing the fish to hook itself on the trailer if it slips past the primary. The trailer hook rides in the primary hook's bend -- the bottom of the hook's circular curve. Trailers are mounted by slipping the exaggerated eye over the point of the primary hook, past the barb and around the hook's bend. A trailer hook is a fisherman's last chance to hook the fish.

Things You'll Need

  • Long shaft hooks
  • Wire cutter
  • Steel vise
  • Pencil-flame torch
  • Small needle-nose pliers
  • Pliers
  • Clean motor oil
  • Trailer hook grommets
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Instructions

    • 1

      Hold a long-shaft hook and cut the shaft just above the eye of the hook with wire cutters.

    • 2

      Mount the hook in a steel vise, cut end up. Light the torch and heat the cut end of the hook and down 3/4 inch. Heat the metal to a steel-work temperature -- 1200 degrees Fahrenheit -- recognized by its cherry red color.

    • 3

      Grasp the hook with pliers and remove it from the vise. Quickly insert a 16-penny finishing nail, point end up, in the vise, extending a half inch out of the vise.

    • 4

      Hold the point end of the hook with pliers and wrap the hook shaft around the nail using the needle-nose pliers. Lay the hook down on the vise and gently squeeze the tip of the now-curved shaft against the shaft itself. It should be worked into a perfect circle.

    • 5

      Insert the hot hook into room-temperature oil to cool.

    • 6

      Insert the trailer hook eye, with both hooks pointed in the same direction, over the point of the primary hook and past the barb. Insert a rubber trailer hook grommet after the trailer hook and past the barb. Slide the trailer hook back and forth to ensure that it swings freely.