Targeting Bass in cold weather? ...turn to Yamamoto's Hula Grub

Date: |
12/8/00 |
Tackle type: |
Lure |
Manufacturer: |
Gary
Yamamoto |
Reviewer: |
Zander |
Total Score: 8.58
Introduction: A lot of Bass fisherman have a complete selection of lures,
but in reality they use only 10% of them on a consistent basis. The
reason...pure confidence in the lures that that Angler has relied on time and
time again to produce fish. When it comes down to the bottom line many
tournament Anglers will turn to the proven performance of a jig, for these
Anglers
Gary Yamamoto
produces a versatile lure called the "Hula Grub," which is able to not only
entice bass to strike at multiple depths, but also produce fish in cold weather
when other lures just don't seem to appeal to dormant fish.
Gary
Yamamoto Hula Grub Specifications |
Material |
Plastic (Salt Impregnated) |
Length |
5" |
Colors |
87 Available |
Salt Impregnated |
Yes |
MSRP |
$5.98 (Bag of 10) |
Impressions: The Hula Grub was first brought to my attention by a local
fishing pro. The six inch plastic worms and single tail swimming lures I used which
had consistently landed fish suddenly stopped performing with the change in winter
weather. The pro told me that he relied on the Hula grub rigged with a 3/8 oz Jighead
to target the near comatose bass that reside in deeper waters during the cold
season.
I decided to entertain the tip and proceeded to buy a pack of Hula Grubs (Green
Pumpkin, color #297).
Since that day my entire perception of jigs has changed! I now rely on the
Yamamoto Hula Grub as one of my top producers year round, and a must have during
the winter.
How I fish the Hula Grub: The real secret behind the Hula Grub is that it can
be effectively used to target multiple strike zones and can mimic a variety of
different baits that Bass find irresistible. For example, the front of the hula
grub when reeled slowly on the lake bottom looks like a quickly retreating
crawdad, pulling the lure in sporadic bursts the Hula can be easily mistaken for a
frog.
If your familiar with fishing "jig & pig" combos, those same techniques carry
right over for fishing with a Hula Grub.
For the tests I used:
Complete Rig
for fishing with the Hula Grub |
Rod |
Gloomis MBR783C (6'6) |
Reel |
Shimano Calais |
Line |
10lb Trilene XL |
To use the Hula Grub effectively to get horizontal strikes it is best to use a 3/8 to 1/2 oz football
head. This head will have the weight to bring the Jig quickly to the target area
as well as plow through obstructions you are sure to find at the waters bottom.
A good way to fish for the low hanging Bass is cast over the target area, allow
the Hula to hit the bottom, and slowly (I mean sloooooowly) crawl the hula on
the ground back to you. 10lb line is a good choice because it is inevitable you
will snag and with 10lb line it is possible to pull out and save the lure. When
this happens it is necessary to check the angle of the hook, as it is common
that the pressure from your battle to free the lure has severely bent the hook. Using a
sensitive rod is not absolutely necessary but a big plus! With the Gloomis
MBR783C IMX rod I was able to easily differentiate bumping into obstacles on the
lake floor and slight hits from fish.
 |
My favorite
setup for "Hula Grubbing" includes a good casting combo |
The other way to get hits on a Senko is simply placing the falling Hula in front
of the bass. Many times big fish have taken the Hula seconds after splashdown.
At first I thought it was just plain luck, but now I've learned that vertical
Hula dropping is one of the best ways to target multiple depths.
The Details:
Gary Yamamoto boasts 87 different colors of the Hula grub, and the ones that
have worked well for me are the
Pumpkin #297, Cinnamon #140, and Black #051.
Yamato sells the Hula Grubs either in one piece form or you can make your own
combos with skirts and twin tailed grubs. At TackleTour we have done testing on
both and recommend the single piece hula grubs for Anglers just starting
to use the Hula Grubs for 2 reasons:
1. Yamamoto sells so many colors of the single
piece Hula grubs that chances are you will have something in your bag that will
work for almost every condition.
2. The two piece grubs tend to be a little larger
and seem to slip off jig heads easier, especially once they have been hit. Even
single piece Hula Grubs will take damage from snag ups or hits and it is common
for the grub to become loose or even lose a tail. The two piece grubs are more
prone to this.
Of course experienced Hula Grub Anglers will most likely try out some mix and
match combos like Green tails and a Chartreuse skirt for winter. All this
flexibility is possible with Yamamoto's extensive line. (tip: later when you
find colors you are confident with it is cheaper to build your own grubs with
skirts and twin tails)
Ultimately when using the Hula Grub it is good to be flexible, and be willing
experiment. I have seen local Anglers get pretty inventive with the Yamamoto
Hula Grub jerking it, trailing it, swimming it, and flipping it!
Ratings:
Yamamoto
Hula Grub Ratings (?/10) |
Construction/Quality |
Top notch quality of materials, very durable
even after multiple strikes |
8.5 |
Performance |
Works well at multiple depths both
horizontally and vertically |
9 |
Price |
A bit expensive in comparison to the many
other plastics available on the market |
6 |
Features |
These lures look great, and the combination of
a skirt and a twin tailed grub add up to a fully featured lure |
9 |
Design (Ergonomics) |
Strong background of proven performance from
the Yamamoto pros shows through with a design that can mimic a variety of
Bass enticing baits |
9 |
Application |
Flexibility in the way you can fish this lure
is excellent |
10 |
Total Score |
8.58 |
Pluses and Minuses:
Plus
Minus |
J Great
construction |
L
Just a bit pricey for a plastic |
J
Very flexible lure |
|
J
Many colors/combos |
|
J
Proven Performance |
|
Conclusion: The Yamamoto Hula Grub is a great lure and a real winner in
terms of ability to target multiple strike zones. I never leave home without a
couple colors of the Yamamoto Hula, and view it as one of my staple lures. My
confidence in this lure comes from the fact it has been able to produce fish of
all sizes even in the coldest weather. While the Hula is on the high price
category in terms of plastics, the design and construction of this lure shows
through every time I crawl, drop, or flip it.
Until next time....Tight Lines!
