Do you think it's actually about the fish or the fishermen?  I love curly tail grubs.  I've caught way more fish with them than with paddle tail grubs.  But of course the reason is that I fish them more.  I have greater confidence in them, so obviously I'm going to catch more fish.  Paddle tail grubs seem to be all the rage now.  Have the lure makers sold the fishermen, or do the fish really like them better?  Of course I know that it can be situational, but I can't help but notice that paddle tail lures are noticeably more expensive now as well.

Different water signatures if that means anything - I've fished grubs for years and will continue to but I like the paddle tails better in larger sizes over 4"- as for price perhaps the paddletails are a bit more difficult to manufacture.

I've always been a fan of paddle tails over twisters.  At least, for largemouths.  Even back when there weren't many options available other than the Mister Twister Sassy Shad, I thought they were a better option.  The affirmative thump you get when retrieving paddle tails just gives me more confidence in throwing them.

Paddle tail was once a soft plastic with a tail that resembled a paddle and now has lost it's definition to what was a boot tail like the original Sassy Shad.

I will assume we are talking about boot tail type paddle tails like Kietech swimmers....right? Curl tails are not ribbon tails....right!

Tom

I would think that grubs would work just as well as paddle tail baits. However it does seem that the paddle tail baits have a bigger profile and tend to catch bigger fish. Just my experience. However I have caught many fish on a grub and would not hesitate to use them.

I have given boot tail baits like Keitech's, Rage Swimmer's, and scores of untold other baits of  similar style/action a legit shot....they DO NOT produce for me with any consistency. Either on their own, as trailers for swim-jigs and/or chatterbaits, or any other number of ways to rig, and fish them.

 

Single tail grubs, and flapping claw craw style baits on the other hand ...I have extreme confidence in, either swam on their own or as trailers. I  GIVE UP on boot tails.....wrongly called "paddle tails" in this thread. A paddle tail is something like the old Mann's stingray grub, etc...

Rage Swimmer on a northern style swim jig is hard to beat.

4 hours ago, ww2farmer said:

I have given boot tail baits like Keitech's, Rage Swimmer's, and scores of untold other baits of  similar style/action a legit shot....they DO NOT produce for me with any consistency. Either on their own, as trailers for swim-jigs and/or chatterbaits, or any other number of ways to rig, and fish them.

 

Single tail grubs, and flapping claw craw style baits on the other hand ...I have extreme confidence in, either swam on their own or as trailers. I  GIVE UP on boot tails.....wrongly called "paddle tails" in this thread. A paddle tail is something like the old Mann's stingray grub, etc...

Keitechs are tough to beat in the spring on spawning flats for smallies. Once the water temp hits 50 degrees you can slowly retrieve off the bottom. As the water temp warms increase speed of retrieve. It's tough not to catch some big smallies doing that. Of course I had the advantage of fishing Lk St Clair.

4 hours ago, ww2farmer said:

I have given boot tail baits like Keitech's, Rage Swimmer's, and scores of untold other baits of  similar style/action a legit shot....they DO NOT produce for me with any consistency. Either on their own, as trailers for swim-jigs and/or chatterbaits, or any other number of ways to rig, and fish them.

 

Single tail grubs, and flapping claw craw style baits on the other hand ...I have extreme confidence in, either swam on their own or as trailers. I  GIVE UP on boot tails.....wrongly called "paddle tails" in this thread. A paddle tail is something like the old Mann's stingray grub, etc...

Sir, you are an enigma.

 

oe

On chatterbaits I throw a yum pulse. On a swim jig, I have always thrown an action plastics or kalins grub, at least 99% of the time. A zoom chunk or swimming chunk works too.

Trends come and go in bass fishing. Right now paddle tails are popular, curly tailed grubs not so much. I'm really just getting in to paddle tails, but I've caught quite a few bass on Mr. Twister, and Zoom fat Albert grubs over the years. Maybe pick up some of each, and experiment to see what works best for you.

I fish both paddle tails and curly tails and my experience is the complete opposite of the OP @billmac. I have more confidence in paddle tails because I catch more fish with paddle tails because I fish paddle tails more than curly tails...

 

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