We all know that a jig is very productive presentation to use when fishing bass, its versatility puts it on the end of an angler’s line regardless the time of year. One reason for this is the wide array of options you can use as a jig trailer.
The old school jig and chunk combo featured a pork rind lure on the back of the jig. While jars of Uncle Josh Pork Chunks are found very rarely in a bass fisherman’s tackle box, it is still a very productive jig trailer choice during the cold water months of November through April, depending on where you are located in the country.
SIZE
The size of the plastic you select as your jig trailer not only determines the profile of the presentation you are putting in front of a bass, but more importantly it determines that rate of fall of your jig. The larger the trailer, the slower the jig will fall and the more water disturbance it will create.
A full size chunk, like a Zoom Super Chunk is a good choice in stained water or if the bass are hitting your jig on the fall.
A smaller chunk, like the Super Chunk Jr. is a better choice when the bass are only hitting your jig as it hits the bottom or after you move it along the bottom. It also is a better choice when you want your jig to get to the bottom quicker.
The size of your chunk will aid in targeting the size bass you want to catch. If you are trying to catch a big bass or at least keep some of the smaller bass from hitting your jig, than a big ol’ chunk is your top option. If you are in a tournament and in need of a limit, then a smaller chunk will help you get more bites.
ACTION
When the water is warm or the bass want more action coming from my jig, then using a jig trailer that has some kicking action is a good choice. Some options like the Zoom UV Speed Craw or new Z-Craw are great options for flipping jigs, vibrating jigs and swim jigs.
COLOR
The color options for plastic baits on the market today are endless, “green pumpkin this flake” … “watermelon that flake”…
Anglers typically develop a liking to a handful of color options, which is important to develop confidence in that bait.
When selecting a color for a jig trailer, there are two ideologies to go with, one match the trailer to the jig and two, contrast the color of jig.
I like to match my trailer to the jig when the water is clear and the bass have more time to key in on water they are biting. Many times when this happens I’ll be using a green pumpkin jig and a green pumpkin trailer. Sometimes to give the trailer a little something extra I’ll dip the tips of the plastic in chartreuse dye, this helps the bait stand out just a bit or help it resembles a bluegill or crawfish in the water.
If the water is stained to dirty and I’m flipping or swimming a jig, sometimes I like to use a trailer that is completely opposite of the jig color. For example a white grub on a black/blue swim jig can be a great combination when the water is stained in the spring. Not only does this theory work in stained water situations, but sometimes having a contrasting trailer color works in clean water situations as it is something different from what anglers are putting in front of the bass and you can get more bites.
Glenn Walker has been fishing tournaments for over ten years, spreading his passion and knowledge of the sport via articles and videos. He keeps busy fishing events across the Midwest and on the Mississippi River. Walkers's sponsors include: Ducky Products, Humminbird, Jeff Belzer Chevy, Mercury Marine, Minn Kota, Plano, Rayjus, Seaguar, Simms, Snag Proof, The Rod Glove, TroKar, Wright & McGill and Zoom Baits. For more information check out glennwalkerfishing.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/glennwalkerfishing.
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