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JIGS - THE NEGLECTED LURE?

GRAHAM CORNISH

The title may well be true in the U.K., but in the U.S.A. jigs are a standard part of the lure angler's armoury.  Over here we readily accept the weird and wonderful plugs that keep on appearing, but jigs and their associated rubber skirts, worms, fish and other 'weirdos' tend not to be so popular. Though rubber eels (Redgill, Edystone and Delta) are well established fish catchers of a great number of species and, latterly, rubber 'paddle tail' fish have caught on and are extremely successful, jigs are still a bit of an unknown quantity to most of us. 

Rubber eels and fish will work, due to their tail shape, without complicated (or even uncomplicated!) rod movements by the angler - you just have to wind in as you would a spinner or plug. Basic jigs, on the other hand, need to be worked by the angler using his rod to impart movement. Having said that, some really erratic movement can be obtained by different shapes of lead heads - there are some that will actually wobble on the retrieve.  But generally speaking, it is what goes on the leaded hooks that is more important and the variety of rubber adornments available opens up a new field to the lure fisher - as well as the collector! 

Where did it all start? Well I found the answer in a book called 'The Anglers guide to Jigs & Jigging' by Kenn Oberrecht published in the U.S.A. in 1988 which gives an interesting insight to jigs and is of some historical interest.  I recall, many years ago, reading references to pork-rind as an added attractor to lures and for some time assumed that some enterprising angler, after a 'ham and eggs' breakfast, had a brain wave about using the much chewed bacon rind as a substitute for, say, worms (as used on the baited spoon principle).  I was even disposed to try it myself a couple of times, but due to my lack of success - and confidence did not pursue it further.  As I read this book it's discovery was a lot more subtle and interesting than that. 

We have to go back to 1921 when Alan Jones and Urban Shreiner, a pair of Wisconsin bass fishermen, who were looking for a substitute for the live frogs they were using to Catch black bass. After some experiment they settled on 'Phoney Phrogs' carved from fatty hog hide, the toughest being found either side of the pig's spine.  They were so successful with it that they went into business under the name 'Uncle Josh' baits, which still flourishes today selling pork hide in numerous shapes and colours packaged in jars of preservative.  Preservation in this way is important, since once pork hide dries out it goes rock hard and becomes useless.  Whilst constantly wet it is extremely tough and supple and practically immune to the ravages of toothy predators such as pike.  Which means it will last a long time if returned to its jar after every trip.  In the 60's, soft plastic and 'living rubber' latex baits came on the scene.  For the most part ousting 'pork rind' baits in popularity, but it appears it started making a comeback in the 8O's when some old timers rediscovered its fish catching potential, getting 'one up' on other anglers and the fish, who had 'seen it all before'.  The author states that his favourite shape is the pork strip (hence 'pork rind') up to 1/2" wide and as long as you fancy.  The most elaborate shape is the original 'Phoney Phrog' complete with body and legs.  Those with a D.I.Y. bent could attack the Sunday joint before it went into the oven; a Stanley knife shaped on the scalpel principle seems the best choice of implement for this job.  As to jig heads, as I indicated earlier, these take various forms.  The most common is the round bullet lead moulded on a long shank hook with the eye on top of the hook in the upturned weedless mode.  There are numerous variations in the lead shape and position of the eye, which allow for subtle changes in the retrieve and action of the lure.  Which makes it more interesting than the straight up and down movement over deep water. The addition of a small offset spinner blade and wire to which you attach the jig will make a spinnerbait!  I think the reason why jigs are not used so widely in this country is that for the most part we fish relatively shallow water.  Where traditional lures seem more appropriate and for the most common and popular predator - the pike - jigs seem generally too small and possibly the single, relatively small hook used in the lighter weights seem to put some anglers off. But Spinnerbaits work, so why not jigs?  Jigs take many forms, from the basic pirk used in sea wreck fishing to the ultimate spinnerbait used everywhere.  It seems that for the pioneer these lures could add a new dimension to lure fishing practice and add further spice to ways of catching fish for the lure fanatic.