[philjam]

What 4" curly tail brand has the best tail action - most wiggle when stationary. Maybe the thinnest tail, or the best designed tail, or what?

 

[OptiMystic]

I am partial to Berkley. The tails ripple with just the slightest twitch.

EDIT - Look for the "jigging grub". They make some swimming ones that aren't quite as "jiggly".

 

[meenyt]

Ahh, thought it was something else. Never mind, lol.

 

[roostertail24]

Zman is going to be tough to beat due to the fact that its so soft. I know the zman paddletails will wiggle at slower speed that doa or other regular plastic because they are so soft.

 

[OptiMystic]

The softness is a double edged sword. The Berkley jigging ones are pretty soft also. When I am after panfish with the smaller size, I sometimes switch to some cheap harder ones (I have one of the every color blister packs) or swimming ones when the bite is really hot because they last longer.

 

[trigger22]

The softness is a double edged sword. The Berkley jigging ones are pretty soft also. When I am after panfish with the smaller size, I sometimes switch to some cheap harder ones (I have one of the every color blister packs) or swimming ones when the bite is really hot because they last longer.

Don't think your harder cheap baits are going to outlast a z man... As much as I dislike their stuff, they are durable and have good action.

As far as curly tails go, gotcha, haw River, and mister twister all work just fine.

 

[JTruckner]

My favorite was Mr Wiffle that is no longer available. I have used a hole punch in the tails of other curl tails to make something similar.

 

[philjam]

My favorite was Mr Wiffle that is no longer available. I have used a hole punch in the tails of other curl tails to make something similar.

Now that there gets my head spinning!

 

[finstalker]

I'd go with Kalin.

 

[JTruckner]

Post got me to google MrWifflelures for the first time knowing they have not been available for years, only to find they are making them again. Great news! Check them out.

 

[stevef]

Best wiggle for the money, IMO, is good 'ol Gotcha. Kalin grubs are top quality, but too soft and tear easily in my experience.

 

[drumchaser]

Doa paddles are hard to beat. Storm wild eye sea Shad in the 5/6"
range are nice and soft for the stripers right now.

 

[Mack in N.C.]

I like gotchas and Kalins

l

 

[OptiMystic]

Mack's picture brings up another question - tail up or down? Or does it really matter? If you google images of "curly tail grub" it appears to be split somewhat evenly, though with prerigged packaged ones up seems more common. Could be that it simply takes up less space and costs less to package. Interested in opinions though. I am typically an up guy but don't think it makes any difference.

 

[sundrop]

I rig mine curl down, lets gravity work with the tail rather than fight against it. I think you get a tighter, smoother action that way.

 

[OptiMystic]

One reason I am not all that convinced it makes a difference is that I sometimes rig 180, 90 or 45 from my normal way if the grub body gets a rip and I am low on that type and it still keeps catching fish. I think the main reason the manufacturers seem to show a strong preference for tail up on prerigs is because a 1" card and sleeve is a little bit cheaper than a 1.5" one and the shelf hooks in the store can be a little closer together and more of them can be out. Sales and marketing drives a lot of decisions...

 

[roostertail24]

You guys need to spend more time fishing and less time thinking ha ha. A curly tail grub is a curly tail grub.

 

[sundrop]

Roosters gonna roll a window up on his favorite rod for that..

 

[roostertail24]

Ha ha. I'm guilty of over thinking stuff myself.

 

[OptiMystic]

I can't argue with Rooster; he is currently slaying big panfish like nobody's business. I badly want to get out and catch instead of talking about it, but it isn't happening in the next few days, so here I am instead...