situation. Pork rind trailers have been around for decades; but it was only with the rise of the jig and pig as a major tournament bait that these trailers skyrocketed in popularity.
I favor using a jig trailer such as an Uncle Josh #11 Pork Frog or a Super Pork Frog. I feel that these two baits imitate crawdads which are a major forage found in almost every impoundment, hence the effectiveness of the jig trailer.
Many pros also feel that the natural texture of the pork rind itself and the taste are critical features. Although research is not conclusive, some lure makers are convinced that the fish will hold on to a soft bait longer if it is impregnated with salt. This is eminent of the marketing blitzes offering plastic trailers impregnated with salt.
Generally, jigs tipped with pork are made to be fished along the bottom crawling it through the structure and drop-offs. A lot of bass anglers believe that the jig and pig is a cold water bait. Far too often, anglers tend to put away the pork with the onset of summer, not take it out again until the cooler autumn weather. The fact is that pork works well all year long under the right conditions. During the warmer months, it is more effective swimming and dropping it through the different available cover, such as grass and brush.
Most bass anglers agree that the one common ingredient that motivates them to toss pork is winter and prespawnmonths. Iftheysensethatbassarefeeding on the crawdads, the anglers offer pork on their jigs.
Also, the jig and pig doesn’t have to be fished slowly all the time. Accomplished jig fishermen looking for aggressive fish anytime of the year will flip, pitch, or even swim a pork frog quickly along a potentially good shoreline or riverbank.
By comparison plastic trailers can have even more versatility than their pork counterparts; but they lack the soft, natural look and taste composition. However, the array of possibilities available with plastic trailers is almost endless. The Yamamoto Double Tail Swimming Grub is still my favorite.
Frequently large trophy bass are caught each winter and spring by anglers slowly crawling a jig and pig along deep ledges and during the pre spawn along secondary ledges leading to spawning areas.
There are endless skirt materials available now; but still the living rubber skirt is probably the most popular style used on jigs, making up the jig and pig
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combo. Many pros believe this type of skirt fishes fairly well throughout the year, especially in warmer water. The rubber seems to respond very well in water 55-degrees and above.
I like to use northern Bucktail jigs in water below-55 degrees. These jigs are hard to come by and you basically have to buy the Bucktail and dye them in various color, tying your own jigs.
The jig head design that is most popular is the football head. It is most effective around rock, ledges, and steep walls. The pyramid head, spade head and banana head are most commonly used for pitching and flipping around grass, brush and trees.
Brush guards are employed on these jig heads to prevent snagging when used around heavy cover. I recommend removing the brush guard when used around fairly smooth bottoms with little cover. You’re better off working the jig with an exposed hook which will increase your hookup percentage.
Hook choices on your lead head jig should be a round bend with a big enough bite and a wire that is strong enough so it won’t flex. If you need to use a fine wire round bend hook it will work okay on light line such as Seaguar 6-lb test.
One of my favorite jig and pig methods is to slowly work the jig and pig through the cover feeling every little rock, scratch and drop off. The big key is as soon as it comes off the structure, let it fall vertically as close as possible to the structure. Generally, the big bass will be lying at the base of the structure. If your jig and pig pendulums too far away from the base, your odds decrease on catching that big bass of a lifetime.
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Photo Credit Tami Curtis