A few years ago I accidentally discovered that a cone or bullet shaped grub design got hit by most fish species when used on a light jighead 1/32 - 1/16 oz. Can't even remember how I made it, but after the first yellow perch slammed it, that was it!
Another accidental finding was trying another similar design and in fact as close as one could get: Leleand's
Crappie Magnet. Someone had given me it and another grub to try, can't remember who, and first time out I caught fish. I still can't remember the source of either nor did I know who sold them, but eventually I did a search and found the web site. The price was right so I ordered over 20 bags of different colors.
As I was catching fish on the Magnets and holding up a pan fish to photograph, it occurred to me that the shape reminded of something. Then it hit! The
bullet!(minus the split in the tail IMO to convince anglers it actually did something.)
Here are comparative photos:
the one labeled
soft cone tail compare to the Magnet:
Both have worked great every time I've fish. The tails of each design quiver ever so slightly on a slow retrieve with little forward motion. Fish are very sensitive to lures that have subtle action pretty much like that of any prey animal and take notice as well as hold their attention.
Strange, though maybe not so strange, fish react to the simplest things - including finesse in any shape or action. It's no wonder Mr Twister curl tails have sold for decades.
(Man do I miss the armadillos, dust storm and tornadoes of Wichita Falls .....not really. Loved the people I worked off base for or with though.)