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Plastic Grubs and Smallmouths | |
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Hello Anglers,
Some people insist on fishing deep water during the summer,
but deep fishing is not always the key to catch monster
summer bass. Shallow tributaries and bays can hold plenty
of hot water bass action. Weeds provide cover and forage
for bass including crayfish, minnows, and bluegill. Weeds
also help filter the water and pump needed oxygen into
the water.
Remember you can comment on any story or read comments
by visiting: Bass Matters Blog
Enjoy a week of fishing!
Brock
email Brock
Plastic Grubs & Smallmouths
Sometimes the smallest, cheapest weapon in your arsenal is
also the deadliest. That's how it is with plastic grubs.
Choosing the grub and leadhead is a balancing act many
anglers simply can't figure out. Smallmouth anglers should
focus on three grub sizes: 3, 4, and 5 inch. As a rule of
thumb, the 4 inch grub is the standard, although at times
you can catch as many or more smallies on smaller and
larger grubs.
Because 4 to 5 inch baits mimic a wide variety of forage,
they'll trigger strikes from bass of all sizes under most
conditions. Fish smaller grubs in cold water or when the
bite is off; switch to larger sizes when water clarity is
reduced, when the bass are really on a tear, or you're
fishing areas where trophy bass are likely.
GRUB STYLES: There are numerous styles of grubs you can
stick on a jig. Curly-tails: works in many situations and is
by far the most popular. As its name implies, the bait has a
curly, flexible tail that ripples through the water both on
the retrieve and on the drop. Spear-tails: common among
saltwater anglers, they have flat tails that produce less
vibration, but their high speed fluttering action triggers
active fish, particularly smallies schooling on baitfish.
Shad-tails: the tail is flattened, so the grub body wriggles
on the retrieve. Because they fall fast, shad tails are good
choices in heavy current. Spider: combines a curly design
with a collar comprised of soft plastic legs. A good choice
when bass are spitting the jig, because the legs add a life-
like feel that often causes fish to hang on longer than
other body styles.
LEADHEAD WEIGHTS: The weight of the leadhead is another key
factor. These three basic head weights will cover most small-
mouth scenarios: 1/8, 1/4, and 3/8 ounce. When targeting
bass in six to 15 feet of water, which is probably 75% of
the time, use a 1/4 oz. head. In this depth range, a 1/4 oz.
head works best with 4 and 5 inch grubs. If your fishing a
3 inch grub use an 1/8 oz. head. When smallies are close to
the bottom in current, or on reservoir structure deeper
than 20 feet, use a 3/8 oz. head.
LEADHEAD SHAPES: Few anglers bother to consider the shape of
the leadhead, yet it can be critical to success. The three
major designs for smallmouth sized leadheads are ball, toe
and dart. Round heads are the cheapest and the most popular.
They're perfect for nearly any presentation that's not
bottom or cover intensive, but round heads are prone to get-
ting stuck between rocks. Toe shaped heads are contoured,
sort of like your big toe. It's considerably more snag
resistant, making it preferable for fishing around chunk
rock and stumps. The dart head's pointed nose and stream-
lined design allows it to fall faster, an advantage in deep
water and current.
WEEDGUARDS: Weedguards are another overlooked option. Some
smallmouth anglers argue that they aren't necessary since
smallies aren't nearly as cover oriented as largemouths. A
weedguard may cost you a fish every now and then by inter-
fering with the hookset, or by alerting an especially wary
fish that the grub it's just picked up isn't real, but its
advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
COLOR SELECTION: What color should you use? Grubs, like most
bass lures, are available in a zillion colors, but you only
need a few to consistantly catch big smallmouths. Smoke-A
highly realistic baitfish imitating color, best on sunny
days in clear water. This is a good choice for late spring
and fall. Chartreuse-Totally unrealistic, but extremely
visible. Bass are highly attracted to this color. Fish it
wherever visibility is limited, on cloudy or rainy days,
around deep structure and in stained water.
Continued...
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Pumpkin-This color mimics a crawfish and is ideal for cold,
stained water. It works especially well in early spring.
Mixing and matching any of the above colors can help you
fine tune your presentation, as can the addition of reflect-
ive of colored flakes to the translucent base color. Flakes
can either increase the visibility of your grubs or make
them appear more realistic. On a sunny day, silver flake
makes a smoke grub look like a flashing baitfish. When it's
overcast, reflective colors lose their impact and you're
better off with a flat colored flake like black or red.
GRUB TACKLE: The Rod-Most grub experts favor spinning tackle.
The all around favorite is a 6' to 6'2" graphite rod with a
medium to medium-heavy action. The biggest mistake most
anglers make is fishing grubs on light or ultralight rods.
A grub is a single hook lure, and it takes a powerful hook-
set to sink the barb into the tough jaws of a trophy smallie.
It's better to fish grubs on a rod that's a little too stiff
than one that's too whippy. The Line-Light line is a must
for grubbin'. Most professional guides use 6 to 8 pound
monofilament, and recommend premium, abrasion resistant line
with a little stretch for shock absorption. Line that doesn't
stretch can break during a big smallmouth's initial run.
GRUB RETRIEVES: There are four basic retrieves for fishing
the grub. The Swim-A horizontal retrieve for smallies on
spawning flats, long points, gravel bars and other structure
that slowly tapers into deep water. This retrieve is ideal
for the springtime. Start with the boat in about 8' of water.
This may put you a long way from the bank, but smallies are
seldom shallow. Make a long cast and let the grub sink to
the bottom with the rodtip steady at 2 o'clock. When the jig
lands, reel quickly to shoot the grub off the bottom, then
slow down so the bait swims just off it all the way to the
boat.
If you feel the lure bottom out, speed up your retrieve.
Don't pop the rodtip. Keep it at 2 o'clock; the twisting
grub tail is the only action required. Most strikes occur
as the grub swims past an isolated stump or rock. When you
feel a hit, drop the rodtip to 3 o'clock and set the hook.
The Dart-A fast moving retrieve, deadly when smallmouths
are actively chasing baitfish on flats or points, or school-
ing in open water. Cast the grub beyond visible baitfish or
breaking fish, let the lure sink a foot or two, then pop
the rodtip sharply so the grub darts erratically.
Let the lure drop a bit, then dart it again, varying the
number and intensity of the rod pops. You can substitute a
spear-tail grub for a curly-tail if you wish. This retrieve
will take smallmouths as well as hybrids and stripers. The
Drop-A fall and winter retrieve, ideal when smallies are on
vertical or sloping structures such as submerged humps,
steep points, chunk rock channel banks and bluffs. Position
the boat so you're facing the structure, then cast to it.
Engage the reel when the lure hits the water and, with the
rod held between 1 and 2 o'clock, let the lure sink on a
tight line, pendulum style. When it hits the first stage of
the slope, pop the rodtip slightly so it hops over the edge,
then return it to 2 o'clock as the bait continues to fall.
Repeat until the grub is under the boat. Watch the line; if
it twitches, jumps or hops, set the hook (a bass has inhaled
the grub).
Ledge Crawl-A variation of The Drop, best used when bass are
located along a channel dropoff or ledge in 12 to 30 feet of
water. With the boat hovering above the deep side of the
ledge, cast past it into shallow water and let the lure fall
with your rodtip at 10 o'clock. When it touches bottom, lower
the rodtip within two to three inches of the surface, slowly
turn the reel handle a few rotations, then pause a few
seconds. Continue the cadence until the jig drops off the
ledge. Bass may hit during the crawl or on the drop.
Soft plastic grubs may not be the flashiest smallmouth baits
around, but they are among the deadliest. Their applications
are virtually limitless.
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FISHING JOKES CORNER
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A Sunday school teacher asked, "Johnny, do you think Noah
did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark?"
"No," replied Johnny. "How could he, with just two worms?"
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Questions? Comments? email: Email brock
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