Curly Tail Grubs for Smallmouth Bass

Curly tail grubs are a versatile and effective bait for catching smallmouth bass. They can be fished in a variety of ways, making them a great choice for anglers of all skill levels.

There are a few reasons why curly tail grubs are so effective for smallmouth bass. First, the grub's soft plastic body and curly tail give it a lifelike action that smallmouth bass find irresistible. Second, the grub's small size makes it a perfect imitation of small baitfish, which are a major food source for smallmouth bass. Third, curly tail grubs can be fished in a variety of ways, making them a versatile bait that can be used in a variety of fishing situations.

Rod and Reel Selection

Grub fishing is considered a finesse bass fishing technique and selecting the right rod and reel combination is key to feeling even the slightest bite. A sensitive 6.5' to 7.25 medium-light to medium power fast action rod and matching reel filled with 6 to 8-lb fluorocarbon line are great options for fishing grubs.

How to Rig a Curly Tail Grub

To rig a curly tail grub, you will need a jighead and a 3" to 5" curly tail grub. The size of the jighead will depend on the depth you are fishing, wind conditions, and the size of the grub typically ranging from 1/16 to 3/8-ounce. An 1/8 or 3/16-ounce jighead is a good all-around size for most conditions.

Once you have chosen your jighead, thread the grub onto the hook. The grub should be threaded on so that the curly tail is just behind the hook point.

How to Fish a Curly Tail Grub

Though there are a number of ways to fish grubs, two methods to fish a curly tail grub are most typical: swimming and jigging.

Swimming a Curly Tail Grub: To swim a curly tail grub, simply cast it out and retrieve it slowly. The grub will swim with a seductive wiggle that is irresistible to smallmouth bass. You can swim a curly tail grub in a variety of water conditions. It is a great bait for fishing shallow water, as the grub will create a lot of action in the water column. It can also be fished in deeper water, but you will need to retrieve it more slowly.

Jigging a Curly Tail Grub: To jig a curly tail grub, simply cast it out and let it sink to the bottom. Then, jig it up and down slowly. The grub will create a lot of noise and vibration as it jigs, which will attract the attention of smallmouth bass. Jigging a curly tail grub is a great way to fish for smallmouth bass in deeper water. It is also a good way to fish for smallmouth bass that are holding on to bottom structure.

Color Selection

The color of the grub you use will depend on the water clarity and the time of year. In clear water, you will want to use a natural-colored grub, such as watermelon, green pumpkin, white or black. In stained water, you can use brighter colors, such as chartreuse, orange or pink.

In the spring, you will want to use brighter colors, as the water will be colder, often stained, and the smallmouth bass will be more aggressive. In the summer, start with more natural colors, since the water is warmer, clearer and the smallmouth bass are usually more selective.

Where to Fish Curly Tail Grubs

Curly tail grubs can be fished in a variety of places, but they are especially effective in water depths < 20'. You can fish them in rivers, lakes, and ponds. Look for places where there is cover on structure, such as rocks, weeds, or wood on points, drop-offs, etc. Smallmouth bass will often hold close to the cover on structure, so it is a good place to start fishing.

Take a few moments and watch as the folks from W2F provide a great video overview on successfully fishing curly tail grubs for smallmouth bass:

Bass Fishing Using Curly Tail Grubs

Curly tail grubs are soft plastic lures that mimic the movement and appearance of small prey, such as worms and insects. They are commonly used for bass fishing because they are versatile, affordable, and effective at attracting fish. 

Bass are attracted to the movement and action of the grub, which can be rigged on a jig head or on a variety of different rigs. Grubs can be fished on the bottom, vertically pitched, or cast and retrieved, plus they come in a variety of colors and sizes, making them an essential lure for bass fishing, especially under tough conditions.

The size and color of curly tail grubs used for bass fishing can vary based on the fishing conditions, water clarity, and the preference of the angler. However, some popular grub sizes for bass fishing range from 3 to 6 inches long, with 4 or 5 inches being the most common sizes. 

As for colors, popular options include watermelon, green pumpkin, white, black, chartreuse, and smoke. It's also a good idea to match the color of the grub to the hatch of the local forage or to use a color that contrasts with the water clarity. In murky water, brighter colors such as chartreuse or hot pink may be more visible to fish, while in clear water natural colors like watermelon or green pumpkin may be more effective.

Curly Tail Grub Rigging Methods

There are several ways to rig a 5" curly tail grub for bass fishing:

Open jig head rig: This is one of the most popular rigging methods for curly tail grubs. It involves threading the grub onto a jig head hook, with the hook point exposed through the grub's head. This allows the grub to swim naturally and triggering bass into striking.

Weedless jig head rig: This is one of my favorite rigging methods for curly tail grubs. It involves threading the grub onto a weedless jighead with an EWG offset hook and the hook point Tex-posed through the grub's body then the hook point skin hooked to make it snag resistant. This allows the grub to still swim naturally, work in and around different types of cover while still enticing bass to strike.

Swimming Weightless Grubs for Bass

What do most anglers envision when someone mentions a curly tail grub? Jigheads, tough conditions, and panfish? 

Perhaps but truth is these simple looking baits catch bass of all sizes, under a variety of conditions and have been doing so for decades!

Every angler is probably familiar with the common methods of fishing grubs (jighead, drop shot, split shot). There is one presentation however that is not often discussed ... rigging the grub on a weedless-style hook and swimming it near the surface through shallow cover. 

It can be deadly!

Take a moment as the guys from W2F give a great on the water demo on rigging and presenting a weightless grub for shallow water bass!

Though Kyle mentions Yum curly tails (which I'm not sure is even made anymore) in the video, a few other suggestions would be 5" grubs from Yamamoto, Kalin, Mister Twister or Big Bite Baits. 

If you really want to get fancy and up-size the rig, try Kalin's Mogambo 6" curly tail just remember to up-size the hook too!

Grubbing For Bass

One of the most consistent producing artificial baits for bass is the curly tail grub.

It's definitely one of my fall-back baits, especially on those tough fishing days...

But as Dave Mercer points out in this video, many folks "over-work" them...

Although Dave mentions the Strike King Rage Tail Grub in this video, any grub is fine...

As long as it's a 5" Yamamotto Single or Double Tail Grub in Cinnamon-Green Flake...

Just sayin' ;)