Hobbies & Collectibles / Guides & How-To’s
Spunk Shad 3.5 vs 4.5 vs 5.5: Which Trailer Size?
Compare Spunk Shad sizes, pack counts and pintail profiles. Use the hook-and-skirt fit check to choose a useful trailer refill or fishing gift.
Choose the Spunk Shad 3.5 for a shorter trailer profile, the 4.5 as a middle-size starting point, or the 5.5 when you deliberately want more length behind the jig. Then check the actual hook, keeper and skirt. The weight stamped on a bladed jig does not tell you whether a trailer will fit neatly.
A bag of trailers is a useful tackle-box refill only if it suits the lure it will go on. These three sizes share the Spunk Shad's ribbed body and fine pintail, but that extra inch changes the proportions of the finished presentation. Here is how to make the choice before opening three packs.
01 / The size bench
Spunk Shad 3.5 vs 4.5 vs 5.5
The numbers refer to the bait's length in inches. Moving from 3.5 to 4.5 adds one inch; moving from 4.5 to 5.5 adds another. The diagram compares those nominal lengths on the same scale. It is a relative comparison, not a ruler to hold against your screen.
3.5: start here when you want less trailer
The shorter bait is worth considering for a compact bladed jig or when the assembled lure looks longer than you want. Before buying it, check where the jig's hook would emerge. A smaller trailer still needs enough body to sit securely on the keeper without being stretched or crowded.
4.5: the middle-size starting point
If you are trying the range for the first time and do not already want a particularly short or long presentation, the 4.5 is a sensible first size to assess. It leaves you a clear next adjustment: shorter with 3.5, longer with 5.5. That is a practical shopping starting point, not a promise that it suits every ChatterBait.
5.5: choose the extra length on purpose
Choose the longer option when you want the trailer to extend farther behind the jig or are trying to represent a longer baitfish profile. Do not buy it simply because “bigger” sounds like an upgrade. Look at the complete lure, including the skirt, rather than judging the loose plastic alone.
One useful comparison
Keep the jig and color the same while comparing two trailer sizes. That makes the difference in length easier to see. Changing size, color and jig together gives you several new variables at once.
02 / Before threading
The hook, keeper and skirt check
Two jigs with the same head weight can have different hooks, keepers and skirts. Use the jig in your hand as the reference. A pack-size chart cannot show exactly where its hook will exit a soft plastic.
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Line up the head
Hold the unrigged trailer alongside the hook, with its nose at the position it will occupy once seated. Keep the plastic relaxed rather than pulling it longer to make it reach.
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Find the exit point
Note where the hook point meets the body. You want to thread through the center and bring the point out without bowing the bait. If the proposed exit lands far into the narrow tail, reassess the pairing before piercing it.
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Check the finished outline
Let the skirt fall naturally and look at the lure from the side and above. Decide how much trailer you want showing beyond it. This is where a size that seemed right in the bag can look too short or too long for your intended presentation.
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Check it in the water
Once rigged, retrieve it where you can see it safely. If it runs crooked, inspect the threading and how the nose sits on the keeper before changing sizes. A longer bait is not a fix for a crooked starting point.
Start with a smaller size rather than cutting a large amount from the nose of a longer bait. Trimming changes where the body meets the keeper, and shortening a 5.5 does not automatically make it equivalent to a 4.5. Keep the slender tail intact if you want to retain the pintail shape.
03 / Know the shape
A pintail, rather than a paddle tail
The Spunk Shad has a thick ribbed body that narrows to a small pintail. It is designed to shimmy behind moving presentations such as a ChatterBait. It does not have the broad paddle at the end of a paddle-tail swimbait.
Trailer shape affects how a bladed jig moves; changing tail style is a different adjustment from changing length. If you like the pintail profile but want a smaller overall presentation, try a shorter Spunk Shad first. If you want a pronounced paddle-tail kick, shop for that shape rather than expecting the larger Spunk Shad to become one.
04 / Pack the right refill
Which pack belongs in your tackle box?
| Your aim | Size to assess | Pack count |
|---|---|---|
| Shorten the trailer profile | 3.5 inches | 10 |
| Try a middle option first | 4.5 inches | 7 |
| Add trailer length | 5.5 inches | 6 |
For a first purchase, choose one size and color that fits a jig you already use. Green Pumpkin offers an olive-green look; Bruiser Flash is the darker alternative. If you already have a favorite combination, replacing that exact size and color is more useful than building a random assortment.
Spunk Shad 3.5
A shorter profile with ten baits per pack.
Choose 3.5-inch Green Pumpkin →Spunk Shad 4.5
The middle length, with seven baits per pack.
Choose 4.5-inch Green Pumpkin →Spunk Shad 5.5
More length, with six baits per pack.
Choose 5.5-inch Green Pumpkin →Buying a fishing gift? A photo of the recipient's current trailer pack is a better clue than the size of their tackle box. Match its length and color first. If they use only compact jigs, ask which model they fish before choosing the longest trailer.
05 / Before you cast
Common size questions
Does a 1/2-ounce jig need a 5.5-inch trailer?
No. Head weight alone does not establish the right trailer length. Check the hook, keeper, skirt and finished profile. Choose the size that fits your intended presentation.
Is 3.5 only for small fish?
No. It describes the bait's length, not a fish-size limit. Choose it when you want a shorter trailer; do not treat the three sizes as guaranteed small-, medium- and large-fish settings.
Which size should I buy if I already like my setup?
Replace the size you already use. Consider an adjacent size only when you can name the change you want, such as less trailer beyond the skirt. There is no need to buy all three just to keep a successful setup stocked.
Are these all the same number of baits?
No. The Missile Baits packs compared here contain ten 3.5-inch baits, seven 4.5-inch baits or six 5.5-inch baits. Compare the quantity as well as the pack price, especially when buying refills or gifts.
