Hula Grubs, Skrubs, etc...

[Brian_Reeves]

I've been using different varieties of the double tailed skirted grubs for a few years now, but I'm wondering if there is more that I can do to increase the effectiveness of these lures.

Currently, I fish them with an exposed hook jighead about 60% of the time.  Around vegitation, I'll use a fiberguard bullet jighead or a pegged bullet weight.  I'm not going to get into the technicalities of hook sizes and weights, because of the variations in bait sizes and water conditions, but I'm wondering about alternative presentations with these soft plastic phenoms.

I know that I can't cast them weightless and I don't have much of a desire to do so, though I may try some sort of keel weighted hook for a less-weight presentation.  Flipping and pitching these lures to structure and cover is a staple for me.  I also use them as a skirted jig trailer to add bulk, color, size, and flash to my jigs.

What are some of the presentations, tackle preferences, and rigging methods that you all use to get the most out of these baits?

[roadwarrior]

I think the single tail grub is a better representation of a baitfish.

I only fish double tails as a jig trailer. I rig the single tail on a jig

head and swim the bait, not very creative, but effective!

The Hula Grub is more akin to a crawfish immitation which I fish off

the bottom. I think a weedless T-rig is the way to go, otherwise, life

expectancy for this bait is short!

8-)

[Brian_Reeves]

Honestly, I've never tried the single tail versions, but I probably should.  I use the doube tailed versions for swimming and crawling, both with an exposed hook a ton of the time.  Like you said, life expectancy is short in a lot of cases, but if I can get away with it, hook-up ratios are VERY high.  When I want to swim it, I rig it with the legs vertical to mimic a baitfish profile a little better, but I probably should try the single tail versions to help simplify that process.  

I keep boomerang-ing back to the Title-Shot jighead for weedless jighead applications, but always fall short of placing a new order.  I only have one left, but one pack of these things has lasted me a few years.  They really are an exceptional jighead for a variety of soft plastics, but I sometimes have trouble getting a good rigging with them.  It has to be a pretty decent sized bait to get it tex-posed like I like.

RW, when you t-rig your hula grubs, what hook style do you use and what size?  Also, do you peg your weight?

[roadwarrior]

For most soft plastics I rig a 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu or XPoint Offset

Worm Hook, but for 3 1/2" tubes and Hula Grubs, it's 3/0 EWG. I like

to use the smallest weight I can get away with, 1/16 or 1/8 oz, unpegged.

Just to be clear, I fish the single tail grub on a jig head and the

bait is always moving.

BTW, I don't mean to imply that "this is the way it's done", it's just

my way. We all should know there are many ways to skin a cat!

8-)

[Jeff C.]

We have great sucess with this bait..

RW hit it..

3/0 ewg Worm hook, Texas, weedless. I also use a 1/8 oz bullet

not pegged.. Fish this dude just like a senko style bait off the bottom..

most all places I fish its to weedy for an exsposed hook or jig head.

Black & blue rocks.. We also get some Smallies in the river with these in green pumpkin..

Didn't Yami discontinue the skirted single tail baits ?

Jeff

[Cory20]

I know you said you don't fish them weightless and a keel weighted hook sounds like it'd work well for this.

I have had some success rigging them weightless on a 4/0 toad hook (Owner twist lock et.) and fishing them in lily pads.  Hop or swim it along letting it fall into holes.  Just like a buzz toad, but with more bulk and action from the skirt on the fall.  Maybe you can adapt this in some way for where you are fishing?

Also have had success on a carolina rig at night.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Also have had success on a carolina rig at night.

x2 a carolina rig works, but if I want a profile or action like a hula grub I would normally prefer a rage craw or paca.

[Megastink]

I fish in Northern NJ, PA, and lower CT, and have been fishing Spider Grubs, Hula Grubs, whatever you call them for a while. I prefer 3.5" Keitechs during the colder months (under 55F) and 5" Yamamoto Spider Grubs in warmer water. These baits are designed to mimic crawfish, and are a near perfect match. They excel around rocks and boulders, but don't be afraid to treat them like a Jig and grub combo. Try a 1/8 oz weedless FOOTBALL jighead (Boo-yah) when the wind is low or your fishing shallow. When the wind is howling, and/or your fishing deeper, try a 3/8-1/2 oz weedless football jighead to maintain contact with the bottom. I choose a 7' Med-Heavy Baitcasting outfit for anything above 1/4 oz, and the same length spinning rod for anything up to and including 1/4 oz. 12 lb. fluorocarbon gets my nod. Now, I have more success DRAGGING this bait, rather then hoping it. You can alternate: Drag it three feet to mimic a craw out for a stroll, then hop it eratically for another 2 feet, as if the craw saw the bass and is trying to get away. This should cause a reaction strike. Also, if you can afford it, or, rather, if you have the guts, Buy tungsten jigheads. They let out a lower toned "tap" when they hit rocks, and being as tungsten is so hard, you can really feel ALL the details of where your fishing. Anyway, GOOD LUCK, AND TIGHT LINES!

[Jeff H]

I sometimes fish them on a 3/32 oz Gopher mushroom head and throw at points, slots or inside corners on weedlines and just let them drop slow.

[Brian_Reeves]

I use a rage tail craw A LOT.  (note the signature line).  I use them for flipping, trailers, and various rigs.  I LOVE the Rage Tail Craws, a lot!!

But I have another love in my life on some days.  Hula grubs have been a staple in my box for years and years and present a very different profile.  I'm just limited on how I present them, though I know just about all of the rigging techniques and how to use them.  I've tried them on a carolina rig with no success, but I might give it another go on a hard day.  

[Megastink]

Try a tungsten football head and DRAG it. It sounds ridiculous, but it makes a difference. Just drag it, like a Carolina rig. When you feel rocks, crawl it through SLOWLY. Slow is key. Think of it as "Caressing the bottom" .

[fretfishman]

I've been fishing the yamamoto hula grubs lately in a dark maroon color since all the lakes I've been fishing have an over abundance of crayfish at the moment. I rig it texas with a tungsten weight for reduced size - I always use the same retrieve pattern for the first couple catches since it always produces fish. nice profile to this bait and the legs or skirt represent a crayfish pretty well. sometimes I rig the bait backwards once they finally stop biting it and I've fished all the areas I want to fish.

in a medium to shallow section - cast to target area, sink to bottom, give two light snaps (enough to just flare the skirt), then one big pop and let fall to bottom. they almost always hit after the pop, but sometimes on the initial fall. if they don't follow with a very slow drag across the bottom and the fish is yours. it's been fun, as I've been catching 2-6 pounders every time I go out.

anyway, blah blah...figured I'd share since it's been a lot of fun lately. I fish some senkos, finesse worms, yum crawbugs and swimming senkos right now, too, but I can pretty much fish the hula grub for hours and hours and catch smallies, lmb, wipers and tiger muskies. what a great bait. I had a nice 45+" tiger on today and wasn't expecting him in the cove, so he fought a bit and just frayed through my line. grr! I didn't want to put a leader on since I was fishing smallies in the area, but I guess I learned the lesson since I was using 10 lb. line. (sigh!)

[Tucson]

Thanks to everyone for sharing their tips for this bait.  I generally use a light ball head jig and swim it but use other methods occasionally.  Sometimes I use a small weight split shot 8-12" above the grub.

[.ghoti.]

Brian, you're the one who got me started with hula grubs, so it's your fault that I now have a box full of jigheads, and a whole bag full of hula grubs. Thanks.

The 5" GYCB hula grub is one of my go-to baits. The Evolution Shake2 head is my head of choice. For bottom contact fishing, the keel on these jigs helps keep the bait standing up, and allows you to rock it in place with very gentle twitches of the rod.

The keel also adds a nice subtle action when swimming the bait. It acts somewhat like a crankbait bill when in motion.

An additional, very handy feature is the option to rig the baits two ways. There are barbs on the hook shankwhich allows a open hook rigging. There is also a barbed post to insert in the head of the bait for weedless rigging. I rig them weedless, using the post, for bottom contact, and open hook, using the shank barbs, for swimming applications.

The grubs will work texas rigged, but I've caught a lot more fish using the Evo head.

I've also tried them weightless, with limited success.

The Evo jigs are not the cheapest jigs around, buit they're not the most expensive either. They are well worth the cost.

Cheers,

GK

[Simp]

My fishing buddy loves to slow roll the single tail Hula grub and he gets great results with it. The only problem is he looses TONS of tails!!

[Primus]

I've done well with the jacobs jig from bite me tackle, it 's a bullet shaped head with a 60 degree line tie, light weedguard and a very good design on the trailer keeper, if I'm fishing a clean bottom I might use a football head.