Jig trailers aren’t necessarily the most “sexy” thing to talk about, but that doesn’t mean they’re not important. Throughout the winter months, I prefer using a more subtle presentation with my jigs to match the lethargic mood of the bass. Although I have a lot of success with a slow-falling jig and trailer, I still want my trailer to displace some water. With many lakes resembling mud puddles this time of year, I feel like the bass need a little something “extra” to hone in on.
If I’m casting or flipping a jig in cold water, you can bet I’ll have a NetBait Paca Chunk within reach. I’ve caught some great wintertime bass with it and I believe there are some good reasons behind my continued success.
Falls slow but still has action
https://s3media.247sports.com/Uploads/wired2fish/2014/01/netbait-paca-chunk-on-bass-jig.jpg
In my experience, a heavy jig and trailer combination tends to overpower bass this time of year. They’re not always looking to feed and a big chunk of lead and plastic dive-bombing their heads has a tendency to spook wary bass. For this reason, I tend to use a 3/8-ounce jig and a big, slow-falling trailer. In my opinion, it’s hard to beat a NetBait Paca Chunk for this application.
The Paca Chunk’s oversized claws act almost like a parachute as your jig falls to the bottom. They catch a lot of water, dramatically slowing the jig’s fall-rate. While many trailers with such large claws tend to glide motionless on the fall, the Paca Chunk’s claws slowly paddle back and forth.
I’ve played around in shallow, clear water with the Paca Chunk and I’ve been very impressed by its action as it sits on the bottom. The claws don’t stick straight up, but instead sit at a 45-degree angle, allowing for a smaller, less threatening profile for finicky bass. It doesn’t take much to get the claws to move—if you simply punch your rod butt, they will flair and look like a crawfish in a defensive posture.
I’ve actually caught a lot of fish lately as I’m reeling my Paca Chunk/jig combination back to the boat—including a 6-pounder in a recent tournament. I was fishing structure in 30 feet of water with very low visibility and she inhaled it when it was 10 feet off the bottom. That fish catch tells me that the “thump” of the Paca Chunk’s claws can easily be felt with a bass’ lateral line.
When the water begins to warm up as we approach spring, the Paca Chunk is an outstanding swim jig trailer as well. Even with a slow, steady retrieve, it kicks like crazy which has been very productive for me when fishing shallow grass lines.
Very durable
https://s3media.247sports.com/Uploads/wired2fish/2014/01/netbait-paca-chunk-jig-trailer.jpg
The standard-sized Paca Chunk comes six to a pack, but it’s not a problem—it’s actually more of a testament to its durability.
I’ve been catching my fair share of jig fish lately and I’ll be totally honest with you—I’ve fished for two straight days with the same Paca Chunk trailer without having to replace it. It sounds crazy, but it’s the truth. It’s an extremely durable trailer, but I think its longevity has a lot to do with how the fish inhale it. Very rarely does a fish thump it and spit it out. Instead, the majority of the fish I catch with the Paca Chunk already have it down to their crushers.
Maybe they inhale it because of its action or maybe the claws’ action really fires ’em up. I’m not quite sure, but I’m not arguing with the results.
Extremely cost effective
https://s3media.247sports.com/Uploads/wired2fish/2014/01/netbait-paca-chunk-in-hand.jpg
The NetBait Paca Chunk is priced a $2.19 per pack and as I discussed earlier, a single pack will last a really long time. With the outrageous price of some jig trailers, the Paca Chunk’s competitive price point is definitely a breath of fresh air.
If you’re interested in finding a jig trailer that will work well in cold water while remaining effective throughout the early spring, I’d suggest taking a look at the NetBait Paca Chunk.
The NetBait Paca Chunk is available at TackleWarehouse.com.
https://s3media.247sports.com/Uploads/wired2fish/2014/01/netbait-paca-chunk-in-bass-mouth.jpg
