Grub Tips

[Quillback]

I read and see reports from the guides where they talk of having some good grub fishing this time of year. I never have fished it much myself, but I'm thinking it is time to start throwing one around.

What size grub do you like? Favorite colors (brands)? Jig head size? Slow roll it deep?

I always hear to rig them "tail down" - true?

[Sprint21fter]

Slow roll them by counting it down, or if you can get over them drop it straight down to them. The rod will just load up or you will feel a weight change, just keep reeling and you will hook them.

6-8lb line, 1/8th-3/8 jig heads. I always rig it tail down but I don't think it matters.

Places to throw them, over long gravel points that dump into the channel, boat is in 60plus feet or deeper casting on top, if timber is present the better.

Bluffends around timber, out in the middle of deep creek channels this is where you would try to drop on them if you can get over the top of them.

That is all of my experience with it.

I am not as proficient with it like our guides or the Fann brothers are who can kick out 20lb sacks on it before the A-rig.

Grubs: Kalins, Yamamoto, Zoom, XPS brand are all good. Smoke, Clear hologram, Milk, Salt and Pepper, I use 5 inch only try to get as big of bites as I can.

[abkeenan]

Sprint nailed it. I am a big Kalin's Grub guy as that is what my grandfather used 90% of the time (other 5% Wiggle Wart, 5% zoom GP centipede). Clear Salt n Pepper only for him on the grub. 5" is IMO the best size but 4" is perfectly fine too (zoom, BPS, GYCB, etc). Any shad color (Clear S&P, Smoke, Bluegill, Hologram, etc) are going to be your best colors since you are trying to mimic a shad/bait fish. I like 1/4oz heads the best myself just because you can work them shallow or deep effectively. Tail up or tail down doesn't matter as far as action is concerned but I always do tail down (as show on the diagram on the back Kalin's packaging). Reason for this is that the tail will flicker and get caught up in your hook more often if you have the tail rigged upwards or in the same direction as the hook. Grubs are often overlooked with the never ending onslaught of baits coming out to hook fisherman but a grub in all honesty is tough to beat. That goes for year round also. Good luck Quill.

[Ham]

I tote 1/8 to 3/8 oz heads. I use 1/8 oz MOST of the time.

I use a variety of grub bodies. smallish 4 inch ones when the water is cooler. Zoom Fat Alberts and Tikis when the water is warmer. I match the hook size to the grub. I use a 2/0 hook for the smaller stuff and a 3/0 hook for the larger plastics.

I honestly thing the GYCB 4 inch grub is the best at getting bitten, but the dang things are so impossibily flimsy, but I will never buy another one. Once I use what I have, I'm done. I loved the Yum Muey grub, but it was too durable and effective so of course they pulled it from the market. Once I use what I have, I guess I'm done with those too. Llo.

I was throwing it on 6 lb mono or copoly. I have resisted switching this rod over to nano, but....I watched Troutgnat fish a grub very effectively on nano at BSL last spring AND I've used a grub with nano on rivers very effectively so I'll be swapping those rods over to nano as well.

I mainly slow roll in lakes. Maybe lift and swing to a drop when the water is real cool. I will also vertical drop it when bouncing back on forth with a jigging spoon.

A certain stupid looking chunk of plastic is getting in the way of my grub fishing though.

[Quillback]

Thanks guys for some great info.

I always wondered about the tail down thing, thanks ab for explaining that.

[abkeenan]

No problem Quill. You have to check your grubs before every cast to make sure the hook point hasn't pierced the c tail on the grub. Kalin's tails are paper thin so it doesn't take much to punch right through that plastic and kill the action. Kalin's used to be CHEAP but are now just like everyone else at like $5 a pack. I remember about 3 or 4 years ago them still being reasonable at like 3 bucks and some change for a pack of 10. They hold up pretty good though and at this point are a family staple so I can't switch to anything else or my grandfather would strike me down from heaven if I used anything else on a regular basis. I also use 8lb Yozuri Hybrid (co-poly) on my spinning gear which is what I throw grubs on. It's good stuff and I like it better than the P-Line Fluoroclear I used until the switch to Yozuri.

[Ham]

I pretty sure that Yo zuri junk is on sale at TW right now if anyone wants to try it. I truly think Nanofil is the way to go, but I don't mind trying to save those wandering in the darkness a few pennies while they struggle on with inferior products.

[dtrs5kprs]

Like to fish it straight up and down on fish that won't eat a spoon. Those guts Sprint described. Only way I have done well swimming it in winter is on windy stickbait places. Same places folks are running swimbaits now. Do better swimming or scrubbing it in the spring and early summer.

[mjk86]

Grubs are in my opinion one of the most versatile lures you can use. They catch every species, all times of year, and in almost every water. My personal favorites are Kalins grubs, I like the thin tail, they have great action and very slow retrieve speeds. Also, I picked up a few packages of the Kalins Sizmic Grubs....they are different but work. I usually fish them on with 15/4 braid and a 6lb fc leader with spinning gear. I have my best luck fished slowly just off the bottom, almost any number of retrieves will work. Slow steady, short hops, crawled through rocks, even verticle works. I use 2inch for crappie, 3 inch for everything else in cold water, and 4 or even 5 inch every other time. Bob Bennet (stockton guide service), follows shad around this time of year and gets right on top of them with a 2inch white or pearl grub fished vertically, he doesnt jig or move his rod tip all. He does incredibly well doing this.

[Bill Babler]

Like to fish it straight up and down on fish that won't eat a spoon. Those guts Sprint described. Only way I have done well swimming it in winter is on windy stickbait places. Same places folks are running swimbaits now. Do better swimming or scrubbing it in the spring and early summer.