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You asked for it so get out the NoDoz orbefore reading!
I always get mixed up when anglers mention paddle tail grubs or worms. I grew up catching fish on the Sassy Shad which by all accounts is a boot tail grub that was first introduced in the early 80's.
Much later the swimbait design came out with a similar tail, the only difference being the round body shape vs the thin wedge shape of the Sassy Shad. The one below is one I pour in different lengths and body shapes:
The boot tail (or what you call a paddle tail) only moves with either a forward horizontal/steady retrieve or bounced off bottom vertically. It's no different than the retrieve required for a curl tail design like that of a Mr. Twister Grub:
The Slider Worm and others like it have the paddle tail shape as seen here (the one on the right has a thin paddle tail):
All of the above lures catch fish, but not all of them can be used near dead-stop like the spike/stinger tail, paddle tail, claw tail, Mann's Shadow (the one with the tail fin) or thin straight tail shown in the photo you copied in your reply. They can be used on a drop-shot rig minus a jig head. Again, both action designs catch fish but not all on a slowest in-place presentation.
Quiver body and/or tail designs are the ultimate finesse lures unlike crankbaits or spinnerbaits. They can be retrieved medium-slow to very slow horizontally with pauses or jigged vertically (i.e. like under the ice). Most important is for all anglers to note a lure's action before casting it for the first time. You get a sense of what potential retrieves a lure is capable of. Lure shape and action-type account for ALL strikes along with various presentations (retrieve types) that do the rest.
Okay, time to WAKE UP!
Maybe some of the opinions presented are of use. They are this angler's approach to using lures:
unrealistic, unnaturally moving objects that p.o. fish big time!
Last edited by Spoonminnow; 12-15-2024 at 05:28 AM.
Crappie Wall Hanger II
See I use the paddle tail, boot tail and kicker tail interchangeably. Lol. Years ago I read the Charlie Brewer book about the slider method. Pretty good book.
No heres a question I ponder often. . . What is more important shape/profile, action/speed or size. I personally not sure, one day I think profile then the next action is most important.
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I think all of it is important and not important. About like color, doesn’t matter until it does. Just depends on the fish and their mood that day.
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Sliders and curly tail;s both have good action. I like the sliders in colder water. IMO they have a little less action (shorter tail) and some times the fish seem to prefer that best, other times the curly tails. In the spring they'll hit either.
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Agree about C. Brewer's book! It was my start to finesse fishing.I use the paddle tail, boot tail and kicker tail interchangeably. Lol. Years ago I read the Charlie Brewer book about the slider method. Pretty good book.
No heres a question I ponder often. . . What is more important shape/profile, action/speed or size. I personally not sure, one day I think profile then the next action is most important.
I think you get where I'm coming from and I noticed you didn't suggest that any of those characteristics must resemble anything alive.
When it comes to crappie and fish in general, of the photos shown, ALL catch fish ALL year long - every year. There's no such thing as a good versatile lure that does well one day and quits working any time after. I'm talking small soft plastics and nothing else, rigged on light ball head jigs. Few are that much better than the others and all can be worked real slow in a potential strike zone and for one good reason:
Twitch Fishing:
A presentation that uses light small lures and slight rod twitches/reel handle turns to make a tail quiver, body shimmy or waddle, a thin straight flat tail to flap slightly, a lure to glide & pause (like a minnow no less!), dart back & forth and too many other finesse actions to mention. Shape dictates action. Curl tails and boot/shad tails can be twitched, but not nearly as slow as the other lure examples. Speed is key!
If I only had only one twitch lure to cast for the rest of my life, it would be the Crappie Magnet beyond a doubt! Very versatile and there's something about it that fish attack with glee! Another would be the body of a 3" Mr Twister Grub with the tail cut off. (You really gotta try that one!)
Thanks Mr. Jones! You give me hope!
Last edited by Spoonminnow; 12-15-2024 at 04:05 PM.
Minnow
A quality paddle tail can work year round unless fishing under a cork . I always prefer paddle tails to curly tails. Curly tails are easy to work and are great for beginners, strong current ( like a dam or spillway ) or when using a double rig .
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Bud I can tell you in my experience a Paddletail works exceptionally well prospecting for bottom dwelling winter crappie when they are on a deep Flat. Something about slow swimming a Paddletail along the bottom makes quality Crappie eat. Other than that it's Curlytails for me. I use Sliders for casting for deep winter Crappie when the bottom is flat in every direction they really work. Another plastic is the GoGo Minnow, smoked the Crappie with them in winter too many a day.Originally Posted by C_chris
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I like paddle tails a lot but in the times they want less action & i fish either a baby shad or crappie magnet when they do.
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All of the above replies confirm this truth:
Lure Action speaks loudest to fish. This includes NO-ACTION-by-design lures such as the grub body minus its curl tail I mentioned. ALL lures have action when retrieved - some way more than others. The shad (boot) paddle and curly tail are up there with lipped crankbaits when it comes to in-their-face total body shimmy.
Each design has a unique action, each works best with specific retrieves such as steady or twitch & pause. Most days you can catch fish on all of the lures posted in replies. Lure Speed can't be separated from lure action - a lure's action depends on it.
We all have favorites and it's because of the combinations of those two things that provoke fish to strike. All the other reasons given are simply window dressing.
JMHO
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YOU WILL WANT TO CARRY BOTH PLUS SPLIT TAILS AND STRAIGHT TAILS .
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