Using Grubs for Specks, Reds & Flounder texas saltwater fishing, texas fishing, wadefishing, wading, bay fishing, speckled trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, texas redfish, texas speckled trout As the lure settled into the tannin depths of the Colorado River, I busied myself with removing a backlash from the Garcia 5000 I had liberated from the back of my dad's pickup truck. It was my first cast with an artificial lure and my first backlash. At the ripe old age of 5, I had tired of watching the adults catching speckled trout, redfish and flounder on Bingos, 'worms,' and MirroLures while I soaked shrimp for croaker. So, I'd settled on forging a new path into the world of artificial lure fishing. At the moment, as my small fingers tugged frantically at the loose coils springing from the red reel, it was appearing much less glamorous than I had dreamed the night before. And, I knew the mutinous line would be a dead giveaway I'd used the rod without permission if I couldn't rectify the situation soon. However, before I could get very far on the 'bird's nest,' the line slowly moved away and the rod tip dipped. In the excitement of the moment, I forgot the loose coils, cranked the reel handle and began inching my first ever artificial lure-caught fish toward my feet. Once I cranked in the 30 or so feet of line separating me from my quarry, a 13-inch flounder revealed itself - with my Mann's Stingray Grub protruding from the corner of its mouth In the three and a half decades since that fall morning, the backlash - and subsequent punishment - have long been forgotten. The memory of the fish and the lure that caught it remain. Today, I still get backlashes - and I still fish grubs, the simple little lure that gave me a foothold in the world of artificial lure fishing. But, simple is sometimes better. The grub is perhaps the simplest saltwater soft-plastic ever made. Under the right circumstances, it is also one of the most effective. Although grubs are incredibly simplistic, they are not all the same. In fact, there are three major categories of grubs. Each are similar in overall profile, but vary in action and, therefore, application. STYLES Split tail - The split tail grub is the epitome of simple. Essentially, it is a small sliver of plastic with a slit in the back end. It has no inherent action or movement. Instead, it is completely reliant on the angler's ability to impart action. Even then, it is not very 'fluid' in its movements, resembling a stick more than a snake. However, when fish are feeding on tiny prey such as glass minnows or are simply in the mood for a subtle presentation, a split tail grub is an extremely effective choice. H&H Lures' Sparkle Beetle is perhaps the most common example of this type of lure and is available in a wide range of colors and four sizes, ranging from 1 1/2 to 4 inches.   Paddle tail - Pioneered by the Mann's Sting Ray, paddle tail grubs remain popular among coastal anglers. A standard paddle tail grub consists of a short, round body fitted with a flat 'paddle' tail. In addition to Mann's, companies such as DOA, YUM and H&H offer paddle tail grubs. Although they offer fairly subtle action, these stubby, flat tailed baits do have action nonetheless. The biggest argument about paddle tail grubs is whether the tail should ride in a horizontal or vertical fashion. Actually, both rigging styles can be productive in the right situation. As a rule, rig the tail horizontal for jigging and vertical for swimming. Curl tail - Known variously as curl tails, twister tails, or C-tails, these simple lures are the most 'active' of the grub family. Essentially, the front half of the body is the similar to that of the paddle tail grub. But, instead of a flat paddle, this bait ends with a twisting tail. These baits are great under a variety of circumstances and can be used to imitate everything from marine worms to baitfish. This style bait was popularized by Mister Twister, but today a number of manufacturers, including DOA, YUM and Old Bayside, offer curl tail grubs. RIGGING Perhaps the greatest strength of grub-style baits is their versatility. For such simple lures, they can be rigged in an amazingly varied number of ways. Add a blade - One of my favorite ways to fish grubs is attached to a Blakemore Salt Runner head. This modified horsehead-style jig is fitted with a spinner blade, which offers the added attraction of flash. All three body styles will work well on these heads. Stand up - When affixed to a Stanley SwimMax head, grubs can function as a stand up jig. This is a great way to fish both paddle and curl tail grubs when sight casting to fish on shallow flats. Curl tails rigged in the manner are extremely effective when fish are feeding on burrowing marine worms. Turn into a topwater - When fitted with a DOA Chug Head and long-neck worm hook, a paddle tail grub makes for an effective topwater bait. Not only that, but it's weedless. This is a great option for working shallow flats with grass that rises to or near the surface of the water. It takes two - Rigging grubs in tandem has been popular as long as grubs have been around. Although all three body styles will work in tandem, the split and paddle tail versions function best. Carolina rig - One of my favorite ways to probe sandy potholes on grass flats is with a grub rigged on a light Carolina-rig. Since this setup is weedless, it can be pulled right through the thickest of bay grass. Once the weight plunges into a pothole, it will kick up sand, drawing attention from any nearby fish. The trailing grub then emerges from the sand cloud, only to be ambushed by hungry predators. Drop shot rig - Grubs are often at their best when fish are finicky. The drop shot rig is one of the best finesse presentations available. StandOUT's Inshore BaitShaker hook is a great help in ensuring the bait rides properly. In saltwater, drop shot rigs can be fished both vertically in deeper water and horizontally in shallow water. In both instances, a slow retrieve is a must. Another way I like to employ grubs is on what I call a 'floating drop shot rig.' This rig consists of about a 3 to 4 foot leader below a popping cork. The BaitShaker hook should be positioned 18 to 24 inches beneath the cork. Then, at the terminal end of the leader, instead of a weight, I'll use a DOA Shrimp to anchor the rig. This basically accomplishes the same thing as a drop shot and tandem rig at the same time. SITUATIONAL USES Sight-casting - Because they are generally small in profile and don't create a lot of movement or vibration, as a rule grubs are best suited for clean water duty. Sight-casting, of course, is a discipline that also requires good visibility, so the two are a natural pairing. One of my favorite sight-casting techniques is to cast a grub rigged stand up style just ahead of a feeding fish. Once the fish closes to within a couple of feet, I'll jiggle the rod just enough to cause the bait to 'wave' at the fish. This will get the fish's attention without moving the bait too far across the bay floor. Winter or summer vertical fishing - During summer and winter, inshore waters are typically clear and a good portion of the fish population holds in relatively deep water. Under these conditions, drop-shotting or vertically jigging grubs can be very effective. Near small bait - Anytime fish are feeding on small prey, grubs can be very effective. This is especially true when glass minnows are involved. In Texas' Lower Laguna Madre, where I spend most of my time, glass minnows generally show in the back part of the bay during early summer and slowly make their way through the Brazos Santiago Pass and into the beachfront waters. At every stage of their journey, these tiny finfish are gobbled up by speckled trout, redfish and, once they make it to the pass, Spanish mackerel, tarpon, snook and kingfish. Each of these species will greedily grab a grub when they're focusing on glass minnows. Black drum - Black drum are notorious for turning their nose up at most artificial lures. But, when big black drum are cruising the flats, they're a tempting target. I've found paddle tail grubs to be among the most effective artificials when pursuing brutish black drum in shallow water. If I'm specifically targeting black drum, I'll 'marinate' my grubs overnight in YUM Shrimp flavored attractant. Spoonin' - Most fishermen know that weedless spoons are effective on the flats. However, they usually don't realize virtually the same thing can be accomplished with a paddle tail grub and weedless hook. For starters, you want to select a grub body that is heavy in either silver or gold metallic glitter. Then, rather than rigging the bait to where it lies straight on the hook, bend it to where it curves (in other word, place the hook point further back than it normally would be). This will cause the bait to 'wobble' much like a spoon. However, like a spoon, it will cause severe line twist, so use a swivel. Bottom bouncing - Any grub can be effectively drug or bounced off the bottom by rigging it with a standard jig head. This is a great way to target flounder when they're on shallow sand or over shell beds in shallow water. This is but a small sample of the many ways grubs can be utilized by coastal anglers who avoid the inclination to dismiss them as 'too simple.' After all, the best way to enjoy a day on the water is to catch plenty of fish. And, sometimes the best way to catch fish is by employing simple methods and basic lure designs. texas saltwater fishing, texas fishing, wadefishing, wading, bay fishing, speckled trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, texas redfish, texas speckled trout