Article 11...

Pork or Plastic?
By Denny  Brauer

One of the questions I get asked most often at seminars every year is, do I prefer pork or plastic trailers behind my jigs? My first answer is that I do prefer pork trailers, but trying to choose one trailer is like trying to pick out one club to play an entire round of golf. You may have a favorite club and hit that club very well, but there are situations that it proves not to be the proper choice. The same can be said for jig trailers - the best choice depends on the situation. Let me take you through some of the trailers I use and the situations I feel they work the best.

As I stated I have a preference for pork. I feel that it looks more natural to the bass and it also has a bit of scent and taste to it. It has been my experience that the bass will hold on to the pork longer which is a great advantage especially to fisherman just learning to use a jig. The Strike King Pig Tail and Bo-Hawg Jr pork cuts are the trailers I use the most. I tend to use the Pig Tail, which has swimming-style legs, in water that is 65 degrees and warmer. When it is cooler, I lean toward the Bo-Hawg Jr. On occasion I up-size to the Bo-Hawg Sr cut. I do so when conditions dictate that a slower fall or a bulkier bait will produce better. With all of these trailers, I try to match the color with the jig color. For example, I will put a black pork trailer behind a Texas Craw or Black and Blue Strike King Pro Model jig. I also always hook my pork trailers through the fatty side first.

Despite my preference for pork, I do use some plastic trailers when the situation dictates I do so. The primary time I use plastic trailers is when I am unable to match the jig color with pork. One example is a pumpkin/green flake jig. It is impossible to color pork in that way, so I use a plastic trailer. Another situation where I rely upon plastic is when I am spinnerbaiting and covering lots of water. I may be catching fish here and there, but occasionally I come to a brush pile or lay-down and I want to pitch a jig without worrying about