what ever happened to...

[cheezyridr]

...pork rinds? i used to put them on a johnson silver minnow and i did pretty well. now that they're gone, what has replaced them? do any of you even fish those spoons anymore?

come to think of it, i haven't seen them for sale for a while

[Sphynx]

They are readily available still, and they still catch fish too, I don't fish flutter spoons under very many conditions, but every so often I'll tie one on and it does pretty well. 

[Deleted account]

Pork rinds are gone, folks will say because of the rising price, lack of good material, etc. The truth is they are gone because of lack of sales. Sure there are a couple of folks bringing them back, but that is niche at best. Johnson Silver Minnow is still available, as are some clones. I don't use them for bass as much as for other things, like redfish and other inshore fish. 

[Bankc]

The pork industry started slaughtering their hogs at around 6 months instead of 2-3 years.  Their profits increased because that took a few years or so off of the costs of having to raise the pig.  However, due to this, the fatback skin wasn't as tough, which isn't really a problem, because no one actually uses pig skin for anything.  

 

Except for anglers.  So Uncle Josh couldn't get the pork skins necessary to make a good product, so they just stopped making them around 2015.  

 

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

 

Then the pandemic hit.  And suddenly the supply chain broke down.  Pig farmers weren't able to get their pigs to the processing factory as quickly as planned, so many opted to keep their pigs for another year for the space to open up at the processing facility.  As a result, Uncle Josh was back in business (of selling pork rinds, they still made other things in the time between), and you can now buy pork trailers, once again!  How long will it last?  Who knows?  But it would be wise to stock up while you can, if they're important to you.  Finding them in stock can be a bit hard.  I haven't ever seen any at any of my local stores, and I've looked.  But you can find them online now.  

 

 

[TnRiver46]

They aren’t gone 

[roadwarrior]

39 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

They aren’t gone 

 

https://www.acmetackle.com/collections/uncle-josh-1

[Deleted account]

42 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

They aren’t gone 

Neither is JC Penny....

[12poundbass]

I still eat them once in a while

[WRB]

Bass anglers stopped using pork rind imo because it’s too messy and boring colors to choose.

UJ stopped and Super Pork went out of business. Good hogs for quality pork backs are available just not as common before fast raising hogs.

Last year Acme reintroduced UJ #’s 10 & 11 pork frogs and Papaw E’s also offers the same type frogs, about $4 per frog!

Berkleys Max Scent Meat trailer is also available in wider range of plain colors.

Surface swimming weedless spoons like Johnson Silver Minnow has a decent following, bass anglers prefer using hollow body frogs today.

I put a receipt on the site years ago how to make pork rind trailers if you want to save $$.

Tom

 

 

 

[Choporoz]

Hated taking them off.....that's probably the main reason I stopped using them.

[river-rat]

 

I'm still using pork frogs as trailers on jigs and spinnerbaits. Uncle Josh has apparently found a source to start producing pork frogs again. You can find them at Tackle Warehouse and Acme Tackle.

 

I also recently found a site for Papaw E pork trailers. I haven't ordered any yet but probably will just to see the finished product.

 

And as far as the Johnson Silver Minnow, there are a few of us on here that still use them quite a bit. I fish areas with a ton of vegetation and the Silver Minnow accounts for a fair number of largemouths every year for me.

 

 

[Mobasser]

I've bought new #11 frogs recently. Used them a lot years ago. I still have some old ones at home, jumbo pork frog, #11 glitter frog and very old #60 fly strip. I've always thought they were the best trailers.As I said in aa recent thread- pork rules.

The #60 fly strip is no longer made. Mine are white. I'd like to dye them black. A favourite of small mouth expert Billy Westmoreland years ago on a aspirin head " Hoss Fly " hair jig.

[Tennessee Boy]

Anyone ever try making your own?  I know several hog farmers that I could hit up.  It wouldn't take much pig skin to make a lifetime supply.

[Choporoz]

13 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Anyone ever try making your own?  I know several hog farmers that I could hit up.  It wouldn't take much pig skin to make a lifetime supply.

 

On 12/12/2014 at 9:02 PM, WRB said:

Pork rind used for jig trailers is made from hog backs with skin.

The process takes about 3 weeks and is messy.

Start by going to a butcher shop and have strips made about 6" wide by 12" to 20" long, cut 1/4" thick with skin. Use quart size Mason or canning jars to store the hog backs in.

Lay the backs on a flat surface and cover with salt, rubbing the salt onto both sides.

Roll the hog backs so you have a 6" high roll.

Put the rolled hog back into the Mason jar and fill the jar with salt and seal.

Store the sealers jars in a cool place for about 2 weeks.

Remove the hog back roll after 2 weeks and roll out flat.

Scrap off the mealy fatty side using a dull edge scrapper until the hog back is about 3/16" thick.

Cover with salt, put back into the jar for 1 week.

You now have cured pork rind ready to cut into shapes.

The rind will be natural white color.

To dye use Rit liquid dye mixed 50% water to dye in warm water. You can use the Mason jar, leave the rinds in the jars about 12 hours, remove then rinse in warm water.

Store the cured rinds in heavy salt water. Boil 4 cups water add equal amount of Hain sea salt and continue to boil while stirring until most of the salt has dissolved. Cool and use to store you rinds wet in a glass jar with sealed plastic lid.

Good luck.

Tom

 

[Bluebasser86]

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Uncle_Josh_Pork_Frog/descpage-UJPF.html

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Uncle_Josh_Big_Daddy_Pork_Frog/descpage-UJJF.html

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Uncle_Josh_Pork_Night_Crawler/descpage-UJPC.html

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Johnson_Silver_Minnow_Spoon/descpage-JSMS.html

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Anyone ever try making your own?  I know several hog farmers that I could hit up.  It wouldn't take much pig skin to make a lifetime supply.

You want to hang onto the same hog skin for the rest of your life? Might get a little stinky …….

 

just messing. Although I did throw some skin scraps into the bushes when we butchered a hog……… my dogs found it…….. and rolled in it………. And then they had to get brand new collars 

[Tennessee Boy]

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

You want to hang onto the same hog skin for the rest of your life? Might get a little stinky …….

I would cure it first.  You could probably finish enough in a few hours to last a lifetime.   I'm gonna talk to my country ham guy about it the next time I see him.

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I would cure it first.  You could probably finish enough in a few hours to last a lifetime.   I'm gonna talk to my country ham guy about it the next time I see him.

Bring some to the 2023 classic and I’ll buy a jar haha

[Tennessee Boy]

1 minute ago, TnRiver46 said:

Bring some to the 2023 classic and I’ll buy a jar haha

When I was a kid I used to go with my grandfather to the community hog killings.  All the farmers in the community would bring their pigs and they would slaughter them together.  Me and some of the other kids would clean the chitlins in a nearby creek just for fun.  No one ate them but we cleaned them anyway.  If I had only known about pork rind trailers, I would have been set for life.

[TnRiver46]

2 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

When I was a kid I used to go with my grandfather to the community hog killings.  All the farmers in the community would bring their pigs and they would slaughter them together.  Me and some of the other kids would clean the chitlins in a nearby creek just for fun.  No one ate them but we cleaned them anyway.  If I had only known about pork rind trailers, I would have been set for life.

I’ve never had chitlins but my fishing mentors have. They say it’s pretty good, but not for everyone 

[Skunkmaster-k]

Mmmm pickled pigs feet. 

[Glenn]

Yes, people still do use the Johnson Silver Minnow.

 

 

 

[cheezyridr]

that's awesome to know they can still be had! also, that video was spot on. really well done.  that guy covered everything.  

[Catt]