The Field Tests: I took out two of my favorite jig sticks and a couple of new jigs with which to try these new trailers. The first combo I had was my Evergreen TXFC-68M Stallion paired with a Shimano Antares AR reel spooled with 12 pound Yozuri Hybrid. On this combo, I was using, primarily the Vertical Lures JigX. On my second combo, my Megabass F5 1/2 68XFti SB Diablo paired with a Daiwa I'ZE Millionaire Light spooled with 14 pound Sunline Shooter FC, I had tied on a TnT Cooch Wadda Jig. Other jigs used on and off during this test period included the KingFisher Hair Jig and Tru-Tungsten Jig.

Versatility & Rigging: Like any plastic bait, the limits to the Mud Bug's potential is only limited by the end user's imagination. I can see this bait used on a drop shot rig (especially the baby version), the end game on a Carolina rig, hooked on a bare jighead and so on, but the only way I had it rigged during my 2006 fishing season was at the end of a jig. It's just such a natural at this application, and so effective, I did not need to fish it any other way.

Casting/Pitching: As with any plastic trailer, the V&M casting and pitching performance is directly related to the weight of the jig being used. Since my primary application was with 3/8 and 1/2 ounce jigs, getting the bait where I wanted was met with little difficulty. The V&M Mud Bug, though blessed with huge claws, rarely fouls or gets in the way when pitching around tight spots or into small holes. Somehow, it is able to slide through such areas with little difficulty.
 

Presentation: To say this bait provides a nice, big, defensive posture underneath the water is an understatement. As seen in our underwater shots, the V&M Mud Bug's claws are very buoyant and able to lift the back and of just about any jig quite easily presenting to a hungry or angry bass, just the defensive posturing necessary to trigger aggressive strikes. It is intended, primarily as a bed fishing bait so you can pitch it out and just let it sit on a spot for as long as you want, but the rearward buoyancy of the Mud But really helps to enhance those hop retrieves back to the boat. Its claws just flare out, defiantly each time you snap your rod tip. The Mud Bug is so buoyant, it prevents your jig from falling over as it sits on the bottom, and ensures the hook of our jig is in a good position for hookset.. This is one impressive little bait under the water.

Weedlessness: Rigged at the trailing end of a jig, weedlessness, as with casting, is dependent really, on the jig being used. If rigged by itself, Texas style, you'd have to use a pretty small hook to effectively achieve this goal - this cold be a detriment depending on the cover you want to fish. This is due to the relatively small body of this trailer bait. It is definitely built to be rigged with an exposed hook point.

Durability: With such large appendages, I fully expected these baits to get torn up time and time again from short strikes, bluegills, or even the occasional sticky tule reed, but this happened only on rare occasions. I was quite pleased and surprised by how well these baits held together fished at the end of a jig. I had more trouble with the hole created by the hook shaft on the bodies eventually getting too big for the bait to stay on than I did the claws being ripped off prematurely.

Availability: The V&M Mud Bug comes in the standard four-inch size, and a smaller three-inch size, the Baby Mud Bug. Both versions can be ordered through a few online retailers or even through the Bayou Outdoors' website. They are fairly easy to find and you can even purchase them in bulk packages of 100 baits! Quite a convenience for the dedicated jig fisherman.

Ratings:

  
Pluses and Minuses:

Conclusion: Sometimes you just stumble onto a bait that surprises you with its effectiveness. Such was the case with the V&M Mud Bug. I bought a couple of packs simply to fill out an order and make the shipping worthwhile. When I put it through our typical TackleTour testing procedures, my eyes opened wide at those floating appendages. What a treat! If you're disappointed with the recent flap over a certain plastic craw-like bait that teased us with its availability but was suddenly not available again and are looking for a trailer to help make your jig fishing experience more effective, you'd do well to check out the V&M Mud Bug, but be careful, before you know it, you may be ordering a few of those very convenient pack of 100 baits!