Grubs still work. I still fish them, but I have refined when I reach for them and how I use them.
in the past, I was going to to throw a grub and figure out how to make them eat it that day. Nowadays, the grub is one of my options, but I fish it one of about three retrieves. Steady swim somewhere UP in the water column, Slow steady bump and grind on bottom, or slower lift and swing back to the boat.
Ned has stolen a lot of the grub's thunder as have swim baits, BUT they are still a fantastic option.