Why is pork related fishing products no more?

[pauldconyers]

Seems like a lot of the old heads you talk to talk about hoe effective pork trailers and such can be and how no one really makes them anymore. Why exact is that? Is it an issue with production, storage issues or something else? Just curious.

[MN Fisher]

From an article a few years back.

 

"The issue, explained a company representative, is that Uncle Josh has been unable to get the quality fatback they need to produce durable pork baits. These days, pigs are brought to slaughter at 6 months old, rather than 2 to 3 years old, which means the skin and fatback are thinner and no longer suitable for fishing baits."

 

https://www.onthewater.com/after-93-years-uncle-josh-to-stop-producing-pork-rinds

[Mobasser]

I used pork baits all the time years ago. It may be true that the right fat back is not available now, but I think cost is the real issue. It simply cost so much more to manufacture pork baits than plastics

[WRB]

Pork rind jig trailers and eels type lures have been declining steadily over the past 20 years. Bass anglers had/have the belief pork jig trailers are only good during the cold water months, that alone cuts usage in half. Pork trailers are messy and need care so they don't dry out during the day's outing when left on jigs and not easy to take off the hook to change colors. 

The upside is Pork trailers last forever making them very cost effective. The downside is plain colors can't complete with soft plastics. When you add hog backs are thin skinned today and processing takes time with dwindling demand, pork rind trailers became unprofitable.

I have Pedigo pork trailers that are over 50 years old, UJ over 40 years and they still work, Super Pork trailers over 20 years I use nearly every outing that still catch big bass.

Tom

[TnRiver46]

I have access to hogs of all ages if anyone wants some fat back!!!

[Russ E]

growing up in rural Iowa we had an unlimited supply of pork skin.

We attempted to make our own pork trailers, but it takes a lot of work. At the time it was easier to buy uncle josh.

30 years ago we caught a lot of fish with jigs and pork trailers. plastic trailers were limited.

Even if it was readily available, I would probably not use it. Modern plastics are much easier to use than pork.

[NorthernBasser]

Strike King Porko-O is still one of the best baits I've ever used. Wish they still made them. 

[scaleface]

I used a lot of pork . Pork frogs ,  Split tail eels , sprig lizards/water dogs  and craws .I had the best luck on frogs and craws .

[georgeyew]

Do you guys think that the leather trailers are a good replacement? From the reviews, it seems that they are just as durable if not more so.

[OCdockskipper]

It was recently discovered that most largemouth bass are converting to the Muslim religion, so they stopped eating pork products.  All you can catch with those pork trailers are Christian bass and some of the atheist bass.

[Smalliefan2]

There was an interview years ago with the Uncle Josh folks. They said the quality of the raw material decreased, and too much was unusable. Just wasn't cost effective,and if you don't make a profit, you won't stay in business. Secondarily, Uncle Josh  was merged. I still have and use my pints of pig, plus own about 40 jars of U-2 pork to go with my hair jigs for smallmouth. 

[Choporoz]

15 hours ago, WRB said:

 Pork trailers are messy and need care so they don't dry out during the day's outing when left on jigs and not easy to take off the hook to change colors. 

 

I think this was a big factor in not being more widespread when they were still readily available.   

[soflabasser]

I prefer modern day soft plastics over the pork baits of the past.

[2tall79]

3 hours ago, Choporoz said:

I think this was a big factor in not being more widespread when they were still readily available.   

The real inconvenience is constantly having to remove fish from your hook.