Do you try and get your jig and trailer closely coordinated together or do you use a trailer slightly different in color to provide a little contrast?

I like to match them in clear and stained water. In the more muddy water I like to give it a little more contrast.

Different in color most of the time. I like to be able to add a couple of different colors in the mix that would also be good in that water clarity. More flake in the trailer if the sun is out less when it is not. When I have a jig on it can have 3-4 diferent colors the fish are looking at. Check out my jigs at www.viperxplures.com

In dirty water I like to have my trailer a different color than the jig skirt. On a black and blue jig, I like to use a bright blue trailer, and on a green colored jig I like to dye a watermelon colored trailer in chartreuse. This has always seemed to work well.

Most of the time I have a contrasting trailer but it will usually also compliment a color I have in the jig.


All three ways will catch fish.
You can match the jig and trailers exactly, or blend colors, or have some completely different, like a black/blue jig with green pumpkin trailer.

here is another question do you all use chunk style baits like yum and zoom chunks or do you go with realistic type baits like yum craw papis and craw bugs? Because i noticed when i switched from chunks to realistic trailers i actually got less bites.

I do a lot of jig pitching and I think the reason you're looking at more strikes on one style of trailer over another is the fall rate rather than the shape. It's just been my thinking is that finding different fall rates can be more important than color or contrast. Many variables but sometimes a slow sink trigers, other times the opposite. Just MHO... The realistic trailers do not "glide" on the drop like the wider chunk tpes.

also most chunks are designed with lines or bumps on the claws to displace water.just something to help the bass key on the bait.as far as colors..i match trailers most of the time but ive had alot of success on contrasting jig/trailer combos.

I use all of them and I choose the type based on if I want a lot of movement or very little from the trailer. I like the tube type craws especially for football jigs. Some of the tube type craws have little movement due to the realistic type claws (lake fork tackle craws) and some have a lot of movement due to the wider, flatter style claws (baby paca craws).

The chunks give you a little smaller profile if you need that also.
I thnk the Beaver type baits have the least amount of movement but have a wide body to slow the fall of the jig. Good for cold water.
LFT pig claws are also a good choice for cold water.

Stick with similar colors as the jig but with darker color on the trailer and I use pork over plastic most of the time since 1977.
Only exclusion is when I go all white