I really like using a swimming chunk trailer on mine so the legs will wiggle a lot more when I am hopping it, and makes it look more alive.   I also like the craw looking trailers at times.

I think they just think it is alive and an easy meal, that's the most important thing. 

They might think its a crawdad at time, or a fish at times but I think it doesn't really matter, as long as its something they think is good to eat being the voracious hunters they are

If it was saphire blue trailer I'd throw it on a black blue jig.  Thats just me though.  I throw about 3 colors of jigs.

I jig trailers I always try to match the jig.  I rarely go different color schemes.  Not that it doesnt work its just how I've always done it.  My colors typically always flow.

here is a right up from Joe S.

My favorite techniques:


I personally fish a jig and pig as a crayfish imitator only therefore I think to myself what the traits of a crayfish are. They crawl on the bottom and burrow under rocks or debris on the bottom of the lake.


When I make a cast I let the bait sink, you must always watch your line, a lot of times they will hit it on the initial fall and your line will either twitch, stop before it should, or start going sideways, when this happens reel up the slack and set the hook. If the bait makes it to the bottom I will wait about 3 or 4 seconds and then drag it about 6-8 inches (Right now he’s just cruising on the bottom), then pause, after 3-4 seconds drag again, and repeat this. Once I feel any obstruction, I pause then shake without dragging, I feel this simulates the crayfish trying to burrow under whatever obstacle it just bumped into. Then I give it 2 quick very short snaps, this would simulate the crayfish fleeing from a predator, then let it hit bottom and repeat the whole process. A lot of times right after the pause when you go to drag again it will feel heavy, set the hook. Hook sets are free, If you haven’t fished a jig a lot , it takes time before you can get a really good handle on determining fish bites from obstructions. Practice makes perfect and when in doubt set the hook.


That's for mostly open water hump style fishing and beating a bank. In cover I like to throw it in the nastiest stuff possible and shake it around then repeat casting to it (pretty much pick it to pieces.)


Don't ever think there is such a thing as to shallow, I use to cast to about a foot off shore till a guy on the back of my boat beat me bad, the fish were in that spot right on the bank, now I cast to were I'm pretty much hitting the shoreline.


Those are just a few of the ways I fish a jig that have been very successful for me. It’s always good to try new techniques whether you use any of the above or create your own, it’s good to experiment.