Do you love big bluegill?

Never too late too learn

Last year I had a curl tail ripped off by a fish but decided to caat it anyway. DANG IF IT DIDN'T CATCH FISH AFTER FISH AFTER FISH! I tried other bodies and found even more no-astico tail shapes that made my day- and every day thereafter. When it comes to discovering new things that help me catch fish, I can't help myself and have to explore variations on a theme. (BTW, the lure shown is not a NED Rig, the only similarity being a jig + soft plastic.) I have a zillion grub bodies to choose from, including those I pour. Here's one I call the bulb: This was the first fish caught on the no-tail Mr Twister grub:

When it comes to discovering new things that help me catch fish, I can't help myself and have to explore variations on a theme. (BTW, the lure shown is not a NED Rig, the only similarity being a jig + soft plastic.) I have a zillion grub bodies to choose from, including those I pour. Here's one I call the bulb:

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Permalink Reply by Frank M on June 26, 2025 at 5:33am

Innovation, solutions to problems and WELL I'LL BE discoveries come when we least expect them to. I'm convinced that the human brain never rests - even in sleep. Subconsciously, it plays back what I disliked or liked about a situation or event and weighs various options. Most important is problem solving!

Example:

For decades I hated destroying soft plastics I wanted to change and use again because of the keeper barb on jigs. My brain got so desperate to find a solution that it put this idea on the table: the wire GRUB GRIP.

Some plastic-coated, floral arrangement wire, 24 ga, I had laying around I used for - I have no idea what!

Wrap around once and clip one side close to the line tie post and bend as shown. Swing the wire into the plastic.

Note: I chose no-barb lead jigs and cut the barb off with wire cutters if there's no choice. Problem solved! Lures can be used over and over with no damage to the body.

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Permalink Reply by Frank M on June 26, 2025 at 6:02am

Many revelations come by dumb luck!

I was getting ready to launch my boat and I saw a lure on the ground. Turned out it was a Micro Chatterbait. I'd seen Chatterbaits before but never thought to buy one. The Micro stayed in my tackle box for a few weeks until I figured there must be a use for it - even as ugly as it was. When I retrieved it, the silicone skirt had little action so I attached a 5" Gary Yamamoto Kut Tail worm. The blade made that worm shimmy and pulsate like wild at a moderate retrieve. It was also more weedless than jig lures in the pads.

Sure enough it caught bass!:

A week later, I reattached the slirt after shortening it. Now it had a nice flutter and skirt pulsations. It caught bass with no trailer!

I listened to my subconscious suggestions when it was time and rewarded with new lures to have fun catching fish on.

The latest is a Beetle Spin I hadn't used in years and I found a way to make my own as well as various lure to use with it. What a blast to see fish blast it!