Jig Trailer stand-up test

[Heron]

I was perusing through some soft plastics and had some time to kill, so just for kicks, I decided I would do a tank test to see which plastics I use as jig trailers, have appendages that actually have the buoyancy to stand upright on a jig, or which ones hang down sad and droopy.  If the baits stood up well, I left them there for quite some time to see how long they would stay that way.  The results are as follows....

 > Chompers Skirted Grub 5"  -- YES, Stood upright nicely, never sagged.  nice.

> D-Bomb --> YES, Stood up nicely, never sagged

> Bruiser Baits Crazy Craw --> YES, Stood up nicely, never sagged

> Paca Craw -- YES, Stood upright nicely, never sagged

> Rage Craw -- NO, Sucked, hanging terribly sad and droopy. 

> Rage Lobster -- YES, Stood upright nicely, quite noticeably better than the Rage Craw.

> Zoom Super Chunk -- NO, hung sad and droopy

> Zoom Big Salty Chunk -- OK, stood upright nicely, but it seemed after some time, appendages gradually began to droop, and the amount of droop would not improve.

> BPS Incredible Craw 3.5"  -- YES, Stood upright nicely

> V&M Mudbug -- NO, Hung sad and droopy

> Yamamoto Flappin Hog. -- NO, Sucked, Hung terribly sad and droopy 

> Riot Baits Fuzzy Beaver -- YES, Stood upright nicely.

 

 

[GoCougs14]

I was trying out a rage craw on a jig in a bathtub  full of water and noticed the same thing. Definitely waiting to hear some others thoughts on this. I thought rage craws were the highest recommended trailers on BR.

[ripinit]

Rage as trailers are good when Bass are aggressive, hitting on the fall, and great on a swim jig, and dragging football heads. For cold water, subtle presentations, not as much. Still a good trailer when you want the bait to impart some action...I don't use them this time of year, but in a month or so, rage works pretty good...

[primetime]

I love a bait that stands upright on the bottom..It gets me excited and I like to use em.....Not sure the bass agree most of the time however...I have done the tub experiments myself, and I think a bait that stands upright may not always look the most natural, a dying crawfish or one hiding is not going to posture up...Just a thought.

[Heron]

Alright people, now try not to confuse this as being a Good trailer vs. Bad trailer test.   This simply shows which ones stand and which ones don't.   Anything outside of that, just becomes a matter of personal preference, and technique.

[Heron]

One thing is for sure..I have too many plastics.

[Hurricane]

What about the Drop Dead Craw by Luck E Strike?  Anyone try that yet?

[Senko lover]

The important part to me is how the trailer reacts when you move it :D. 

[Silas]

For me, the important thing is do I catch fish with it. 

Never really considered about it floating or not. 

[ChrisD46]

ZMan BatwingZ - I think you will find they might stand up pretty good ...

[Heron]

6 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

ZMan BatwingZ - I think you will find they might stand up pretty good ...

No thanks, I have more than enough that do, and have no need for any additional plastics.

[68camaro]

6 hours ago, Heron said:

No thanks, I have more than enough that do, and have no need for any additional plastics.

I am resourceful guy and have been trying to minimize bait purchases because I believe too much will confuse me, but for some strange reason my plastics keep increasing. Not sure why I need so much or any more but aways find another bag or two I gotta have

[Primus]

Xcite baits & Power Team lures also make buoyant plastics . This can be an important attribute at times, especially if deadsticking your jig, however as others have pointed out the Rage Craw is a terrific bait when you need a lot of action and when they are hitting it on fall or looking  for a swimming presentation  . That is why I use a few different jig trailers as there is not one that is the right fit for every situation .

[Heron]

3 hours ago, 68camaro said:

I am resourceful guy and have been trying to minimize bait purchases because I believe too much will confuse me, but for some strange reason my plastics keep increasing. Not sure why I need so much or any more but aways find another bag or two I gotta have

Want some of mine? 

[Heron]

2 hours ago, Primus said:

Xcite baits & Power Team lures also make buoyant plastics . This can be an important attribute at times, especially if deadsticking your jig, however as others have pointed out the Rage Craw is a terrific bait when you need a lot of action and when they are hitting it on fall or looking  for a swimming presentation  . That is why I use a few different jig trailers as there is not one that is the right fit for every situation .

So far, Id say the Paca Craw comes pretty close to being that do-all, excel at everything, kind of trailer.

[68camaro]

16 minutes ago, Heron said:

Want some of mine? 

This site is like a bait monkey enablers paradise

[Heron]

29 minutes ago, 68camaro said:

This site is like a bait monkey enablers paradise

Hope so.  I have like 50+ bags from the last 3 seasons that Id like to get rid of.

[WRB]

With bags of jig trailers that you don't want must be because they don't catch bass for you and that is the only test that counts.

Tom

[Tmmytomato]

I too have way more trailers of nearly every manufacturer. Too add to the mess I'll mention the Xcite Raptortail Chunk as an excellent compact trailer that stands up.

[Heron]

37 minutes ago, WRB said:

With bags of jig trailers that you don't want must be because they don't catch bass for you and that is the only test that counts.

Tom

Well I cant very well go by that at this point.  Still haven't caught any fish on a jig, yet.  So Im just working through a process of reduction, simplification and personal preferences.    I think I'll just stick with DT grubs, Super Salty Chunks, Paca Craws, and Rage Lobsters. 

[WRB]

You should test lures like you use them, on a jig with whatever scent is applied.

Hyper swimming movement will attract bass at times, sometimes very little movement triggers strikes, both indicate to the bass the critter is alive. A crankbait vs a Senko is a good comparison, both catch bass. Which one to choose and use takes trail and error, it's that simple.

You didn't test Chigger craws, if you did you would have been dissipointed as they don't float, however the Chigger draw does catch bass.

You didn't test real pork rind, sometimes it floats and sometimes it doesn't. Floating pork rind trailers work better than sinking pork, the reason is pork that slowly raises at rest looks alive, all soft pork swims good without the aid of flapping appendages....it's a shame it's no longer being made. 

Pick 1or 2 trailer styles and stay with it for a year without buying more and your success should improve as you build confidence. If you continue to look for the panacea craw trailer you will keep changing instead of fishing and that rarely works.

Tom

[primetime]

Has anyone used the Pork baits that Kalins and Uncle Josh are marketing? I saw a show with Joe Bucher using a wacky rigged senko style bait and it seemed like a great concept. I remember that Pork was impossible to get off a hook, so I would think the new Pork baits may be effective for all presentations that last forever and never lose the flavor.

 

[WRB]

2 minutes ago, primetime said:

Has anyone used the Pork baits that Kalins and Uncle Josh are marketing? I saw a show with Joe Bucher using a wacky rigged senko style bait and it seemed like a great concept. I remember that Pork was impossible to get off a hook, so I would think the new Pork baits may be effective for all presentations that last forever and never lose the flavor.

 

Uncle Josh owns Kalin and they have stopped making pork rind lures this year.

The reason stated was poor quality hog backs and too much wasted product. The real reason is anglers stopped using pork rind lures, too messy, too much care required to prevent drying up and generally ugly appearance compared to soft plastics.

Tom

[primetime]

Quote

 

I didn't know they were not making them anymore. I know they are the same company as I used to order the Mogambo Grubs direct from their site and they always had very good sales on Pork rinds and other products. I still have a few dozen bottles of Pork Rinds that I ordered a few years ago...Never use them anymore, but when I was younger, that was the only thing anyone used on the "Jig and Pig" and they sure worked well. 

I would think that a pork trailer may actually work better these days in pressured lakes and areas when everyone is using a plastic chunk etc...I am going to make it a point to bring a few jars with me the next few trips....I know you are always referencing Pork trailers....If they worked great in the 80's, I would imagine they do the same today.

[Robeng]

Thx for testing those trailers.  Excellent info across a wide choice.