Jig and Pig

[jtharris3]

I used to be a big jig-n-pig fisherman. I used up the last of my Uncle Josh pork chunks a while back. I know plastics are more convenient and “almost” as effective, IMHO but, I miss fishing with the pork chunks. Has anyone seen anything remotely like a pork chunk on the market recently?

[scaleface]

My local Farm  store has Uncle Josh Meat in a plastic bag . It is pork without the skin. I havent tried it .

[WRB]

Remotely similar yes, several soft plastic chucks have exact same shape as a UJ # 11 pork frog. No one has ever made a soft plastic with a remotely similar swimming action as a pork rind jig trailer. Just compare the way a plastic soft plastic chuck is hooked onto a jig verses a pork frog; threaded on vs nose hooked.

Tom

[68camaro]

Last week I was in small sporting goods store that only sells guns and fishing gear/bait, it has been around forever, in dusty corner I found two small bottles of Uncle Josh's Pork trailer in green and blue. Haven't used yet but hope to get good results.

[Catt]

34 minutes ago, WRB said:

Just compare the way a plastic soft plastic chuck is hooked onto a jig verses a pork frog; threaded on vs nose hooked.

Tom

 

You are aware ya can nose hook plastic chunks just like pork chunks?

 

Totally different action than threading em on ?

[WRB]

Yes, anglers don't do it often enough, maybe because the soft plastic tears off too easily? 

Tom

 

[Catt]

6 minutes ago, WRB said:

Yes, anglers don't do it often enough, maybe because the soft plastic tears off too easily? 

Tom

 

 

Toothpick, thin wire, or heavy mono solves that problem completely!

[Munkin]

59 minutes ago, jtharris3 said:

I used to be a big jig-n-pig fisherman. I used up the last of my Uncle Josh pork chunks a while back. I know plastics are more convenient and “almost” as effective, IMHO but, I miss fishing with the pork chunks. Has anyone seen anything remotely like a pork chunk on the market recently?

I will have to admit that I quit using pork chunks years ago since I could not remove them. The exception was for hair jigs in cold water but I have to say I have used them all up.

 

Allen

[Bankbeater]

I've always used the plastic chunks.  I remember my Dad used the pork chunks back in the day, and he had to cut them off the baits every once in a while.

[bowhunter22]

This could be me only being 22, but whats the advantage of the pork chunks over something like a netbait paca chunk that I have been using for 5 years or so

[J Francho]

12 hours ago, Catt said:

 

You are aware ya can nose hook plastic chunks just like pork chunks?

 

Totally different action than threading em on ?

It's actually rare that I don't nose hook a trailer.  I like the bigger profile.  So do the bigger fish. 

Another thing, I haven't used pork trailer in like 15 years.  Maybe it's a difference make some days, but I guess it's just not as important to me.  Yeah, I know the action is different.

[ratherbfishin1]

I guess i'm lucky, i have a jar of some Uncle Josh Pork Chunks.   I have never really even thought about using them but now I might have to try it.  I got it from a guy at a yardsale he said they worked really well and just gave me a jar.  If I would have known better I would have bought the rest off him too.

[river-rat]

16 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Toothpick, thin wire, or heavy mono solves that problem completely!

This. 

 

I've also been known to cut a small piece of mesh off of a cap and super glue it on both sides of the chunk. I then use a small drill bit to punch a hole through the mesh and insert the hook through the hole. I don't really take the time to do this anymore but I can assure you it works extremely well if you want to take the time to do this.

[WRB]

20 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Toothpick, thin wire, or heavy mono solves that problem completely!

Good advice as usual. The wooden tooth pick is an old trick that works good.

Thanks Catt,

Tom

 

[WRB]

Using pork rind as trailers for bass, pike and musky lures dates back nearly 100 years and it's a shame to see it disappear. I could write a tutorial using pork rind; how to make it, what shapes work, how to trim it for different action, dyes to use, methods to soften and increase it's floatation but it would be a historical article as very few bass angler use it today. Pork rind hasn't lost it's effectiveness, it lost it's appeal and popularity because it smells, dries up and comes in boring colors that can't compete with soft plastics.

I still fish a jig n pig every outing with good success.

Tom

[J Francho]

Myself and I’m sure Glenn would love to see an article like that!

[scaleface]

21 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Toothpick, thin wire, or heavy mono solves that problem completely!

All right , i have to ask . How do you nose hook a plastic bait using these three items to keep it in place ?

[Bassin' Brad]

^^Was wondering the same thing. 

[WRB]

Nose hooking is running the hook point about 1/4" behind the nose or front end.

You push a tooth pick through the both sides of the soft plastic nose end about 3/16" back from the nose, then clip off the ends flush to the plastic. The hook is placed behind the tooth pick that acts like a cross bar preventing the hook from tearing out.

Tom

[KDW96]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

Using pork rind as trailers for bass, pike and musky lures dates back nearly 100 years and it's a shame to see it disappear. I could write a tutorial using pork rind; how to make it, what shapes work, how to trim it for different action, dyes to use, methods to soften and increase it's floatation but it would be a historical article as very few bass angler use it today. Pork rind hasn't lost it's effectiveness, it lost it's appeal and popularity because it smells, dries up and comes in boring colors that can't compete with soft plastics.

I still fish a jig n pig every outing with good success.

Tom

 

100% the truth WRB!

 

Alot of people just dont get it ?

[Catt]

One of the most deadliest techniques in our marshes was a gold Johnson spoon & a pork chunk..killer for bass & redfish!

[bowhunter63]

I really miss Uncle Josh pork, especially in colder water

[68camaro]

On 2/19/2018 at 8:51 PM, 68camaro said:

Last week I was in small sporting goods store that only sells guns and fishing gear/bait, it has been around forever, in dusty corner I found two small bottles of Uncle Josh's Pork trailer in green and blue. Haven't used yet but hope to get good results.

So I used my first Uncle Josh's #11 yesterday, somehow it came up missing on second cast, I don't think it was eaten but may have feel off on cast. Since I only have two bottles I decided not to use anymore until I have my plactic bait keepers to prevent it from falling off.

 

My question is do you think it is too old and pork too soft now? Pork is soft to touch and squishy, not leathery and tough?

[snake95]

I have a real, old-fashioned butcher that I go to weekly.  I'm sure he'd give me the materials.  Would be interesting to learn about how to cut chunks properly.

 

I got 6 bottles of old stock last spring and eager to try them out.

[2tall79]

4 hours ago, 68camaro said:

So I used my first Uncle Josh's #11 yesterday, somehow it came up missing on second cast, I don't think it was eaten but may have feel off on cast. Since I only have two bottles I decided not to use anymore until I have my plactic bait keepers to prevent it from falling off.

 

My question is do you think it is too old and pork too soft now? Pork is soft to touch and squishy, not leathery and tough?

I have never heard of a #11 falling off a hook.  The flat side of the bait is the skin side.  There is a small hole at the front center to slide your hook thru.  It is REALLY difficult to get your hook back out of this hole on purpose much less happening by accident. Although old stock can deteriorate after opening I really don't think the skin side would become that soft.

I was fortunate enough to hear of the plan to stop production of Uncle Josh pork and was able to buy up a lifetime supply.  I have used pork for over 40 years and continue to have one hooked up everytime I go out....12 months out of the year.  Over the years I have developed ways of keeping the bait moist and ways to remove for re-use. One #11 frog should last you an entire season...unless you break it off on a hawg.   Good Luck