I have tied up some pig boats that are not weighted. I thought that perhaps I should tie some weighted versions to get down a bit deeper. The recipe I have doesn’t say anything about weight.
Do those of you who fish this pattern use weighted or unweighted most often? What are the advantages and disadvantages, if any?
i have only used the unweighted fishing in waters less than 6 foot deep, VERY productive pattern for me!
The thing I like about this pattern is how much it moves on the drop. I would be afraid the increased drop speed of a weighted version would inhibit the action. But, now that it’s come up, I’ll have to try one and find out 
With all the rubber hackle on it and the thread wraps at the front it is almost a weighted fly anyway.
I don’t add any more weight to mine.
Rick
Hi All;
What colrs and sizes have been productive for you?
Thanks in advance;
Wayneb
I’m just the opposite - i have never tied or fished them unweighted.
Am I doing it all wrong?
fly flinger–
Is it working for you? If so, then you’re doing it just right.
How much weight are you adding and where?
Seems to be working ok… but an unweighted fly might perform better or worse, depending on the situation, I suppose. I use them a lot in sometimes swift streams for smallmouth and I usually want them to get down as quickly as possible.
I typically use weighted eyes tied in ‘clouser style’, but I have used a weight-strip wrapped shank and coneheads also. It is certainly a deviation from the original Nixon pattern.
Most ‘bass jigs’ are weighted and I wonder why the pigboat was not originally weighted.
They can be cumbersome to cast, as expected. Maybe that is why…
Wayne - For Ozark smallmouth, I typically use orangy brown (crayfish) or olive.
Never even used one, But bass like things that slowly drop through the water column…so the unweighted should be more productive.
Another point to consider is the castability. I don’t know what size they are or what weight rod you are casting them with. But it could wind up being a real striped-butt baboon to cast with weight added in. However, bottom line, tie a few up, see what happens, its a learning experience from start to finish 
_________________
RRhyne56
http://www.robinscustomleadersandflies.com
http://robinsrumination.blogspot.com
One of my first I tied in one of those reverse bullet heads. I’m with Rick Z on this one. Unweighted seems to have more “natural” action, if there is such a thing with all those rubber legs. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen anything alive that comes close to resembling a pigboat. Love playing with them, though. Wow. JGW