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Grubs vs small swimbaits

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Like Keitech are grubs just not as good? Seems they was highly fished but now it’s the Keitech 

Very overlooked/forgotten bait. Theyre the idea behind the modern swimbait but I don’t know how “modern” swim baits really are because the sassy Shad has been around for a long time. That’s also another overlooked bait. Of course they still work and it’s probably one of the best lures ever created. I still throw one from time to time especially for walleye. I don’t know why I don’t cross that over to bass fishing. I guess it’s the subconscious arrogance that I’m too good for a plain old grub. My best bass last season came on a 3.5” motor oil ZMan GrubZ rigged on a 1/16 mushroom head. So that’s saying something. 
 

If you wanted to make a choice between a grub and a Keitech then I wouldn’t know where to look or if it really mattered. They do the same thing but like all plastics from the hundreds of brands out there, they’ll have different actions.

  • Super User

I think of it this way:

 

Both curly-tail and paddle-tail plastics have been catching fish for decades.  In recent years, Keitech seems to have perfected the paddle-tail design, so they have produced tons of them, and they are available everywhere, and many companies are trying to keep up with their own version. 

 

But no company has found any way to improve upon the curly-tail grub design.  So you don't see companies really pressing for advantage on this design.

 

A curly-tail grub was the first artificial lure I ever learned how to use, and I still catch fish on them sometimes.  I've been using paddletails more often than curly-tails recently, but if I were to switch back entirely, I bet I wouldn't see any drop in catches.

  • Super User

Different silhouette and sound/vibration.  Doesn't seem to make a difference where I fish.  When one slows I put on the other.

 

oe

still work like they always did. and because less people fish them now they may work even better. if you just wanna catch fish put on a 3 inch green pumpkin or watermelon grub on a jighead an throw it around. it will catch just about anything.

  • Super User

A plastic grub of some kind( curly or straight tail) is an old standby for bass. They've lost popularity the past years because everyone throws paddletail now. A 3" curly grub on a good jighead will catch multiple species, bass included.

  • Author

I bought quite a few rage tail grubs I believe they are 5 inch is there a big difference in bites with the 5 vs the 3 inch

  • Super User

A grub is a grub, and there is no difference or they are all the same? I can't get behind that. Just like paddle tails, they are all a little or a lot different, and most have a place and time where they work best. I put the Kalin's in with the fat Alberts in the same bag, and it's like a scene from West Side Story, fingers snapping, and switchblades out... "five, six, seven eight"

I like fishing a Kalins or Zoom grub on a mojo or split shot rig, and just dragging it on the bottom with the tail rigged down so it can stir up the bottom.  I cast, let it sit for 10 seconds or so, drag it a foot, let it sit 5 seconds, etc. 

 

 

  • Super User

I wish there were more grub offerings. A doubletail is one of my go to jig trailers and I'd use a single tail a lot more on stuff like spinnerbaits if I could find a 5" that I liked 

I bought a new stock of curly tails this winter...Mr. twister and Kalin in 3, 4 and 5 inch. 

 

The weather has kept me off the water but my only bass so far this year came on a TR 3" white Mr. twister grub while fishing a really blown out small river from the bank.

 

Years ago a grub on ball head or a small road runner was a staple. I kind of got away from it but I plan to start using it again.

  • Super User

Keitech has become a work like Kleenex to describe a product. 

Grubs have been around nearly as long as soft plastic worms.

To. Mann’s 1st soft plastic was a Sting Ray grub followed by his famous flavored Jelly worms. Mister a Twister grubs were popular a decade before Kalin’s wider tail.

Worm King started business making a paddle tail swimmer Anchovy for salt water along with Smitty’s kelp critter in the 60’s, Keitech is late to enter this class of soft plastic but dominates it today, in part do to A-rig popularity.

My favorite all time grub is R & R Stroker 3” hand pour grub from the 80’s, now available from Iovino.

Tom 

  • Author

Tom thank you I've notice you like most baits from iovino. Don Iovino Paddle Tail Grub 25pk Is the only grub I can find from him though which doesn't look like a swimming grub

  • Super User

I don't fish them hardly at all anymore and I don't know why.  They always produced for me.  I used Mister Twisters and the big ones from Yamamoto.  

I will never stop fishing the basic grub and ball head jig combo. When you find the right color it just straight catches fish. It's a classic combo that should be in any angler's bag.

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