Itโs the question all anglers eventually answer: If you woke up on a deserted island and had to pick just one bait to catch fish for the foreseeable future, what would you choose to cast? Hypotheticals and shipwrecks aside, youโd likely want something versatile, proven and universally appetizing to a wide range of fish. (All the better if said fish tickled your own tastebuds, in turn.) Like many anglers, you might opt to tie on a good old curly tail grub and cast away. But which grub would grab your attention? On make-believe islands, casting a bait that holds up to dozens of fish is a matter of survival. In the real world, softbait durability means more fish in your livewell, less time rigging and fewer baits in the trash canโall of which highlights the new ElaZtechยฎ-enabled Guppy GrubZโข, the newest softbait to join Z-Manโs trendingย Micro Finesse system.ย
While traditional curly tails made from PVC plastics catch fish aplenty, the baitsโ unfortunate fragile nature means theyโre equally likely to sacrifice their tails after a mere strike or two. Itโs why cutting-edge crappie and panfish anglers continue converting to Z-Manโs Micro Finesse baits and a radical, made-in-the-USA superplastic known as ElaZtech.
โThe new Guppy GrubZ is anything but just another curly tail bait,โ notes Z-Man brand manager and multispecies angler Ryan Harder. โNot only does this bait swim and tail-spiral at the widest range of speeds, but itโs also designed to withstand numerous bites from toothy critters and those little machine-gun tail bites from smaller panfish.โ
For its 10X Tough ElaZtech durability alone, the 2โ Micro Finesse Guppy GrubZ might be the most valuable crappie-sized curly tail bait ever made. (Picture limits of crappie, perch and sunfish, all on a single, game-used Guppy GrubZ …)
Next-level details begin with the baitโs purpose-driven, paper-thin curly tail.
โThe Guppy GrubZโ softness and expanded tail surface area empower it to activate and corkscrew at even the slowest retrieve speeds,โ notes Harder.ย โForemost in designing the bait, however, we first addressed several common curly tail issues. To bolster its soft, razor-thin tail, we implemented a slightly thicker, semi-rigid โspineโโessentially a thicker slice of ElaZtech, which extends into the initial (dorsal) section of the curly tail.
โYou might not even notice itโs there, but this seemingly minor enhancement serves two functions. One, the little spine helps prevent the tail from fouling during faster retrieves, which is often an issue among traditional curly tails. And two, to reinforce and strengthen the tail section, the specialized spine prevents it from being prematurely cut or sliced, allowing you to deploy a single bait for hours of fish-catching action. Thatโs a huge bonus when youโre catching and sorting through dozens of fish in short order.
โJust caught over a hundred white perch on a single Guppy GrubZ this morning. Thatโs pretty incredible for a curly tail grubโor any softbait.โ
Further empowering the baitโs allure and water-thumping action, the Guppy GrubZโ natural minnow torso and head boost the baitโs physical presence among crappies, perch, trout, and all panfish.
โWe built the bait with a flattened face, which matches right up with either aย Micro Finesse ShroomZโข orย Micro Shad HeadZโข jighead,โ adds Harder. โThe result is a clean, seamless profile that presents fish with a totally natural target. Alternatively, try rigging it on aย ChatterBaitยฎ Flashbackยฎ Miniย for incredible underwater action.โ
Creating extra fish-attracting visuals, the Guppy GrubZ is imbued with bulging eyeballs and accentuated ribbing all along its torso. โThe rib cages produce subtle vibration, but also generate micro bubble trails that predatory fish easily detect and track back to the source,โ Harder explains.
He also suggests adding dabs of scent, such as ProCure Crappie & Panfish Super Gel, which adhere especially well to the baitโs 3D ribs.
If you happen to awaken on a random island, pray your pockets include a pack of Guppy GrubZ. Or, slightly more likely, for impromptu outings to your local panfish pond, this is one grub you canโt live without.
Landing at fishing tackle retailers in November, the new Z-Man Guppy GrubZ delivers freewheeling action, lifelike buoyancy and the toughness to survive countless panfish attacks. Crafted with care at Z-Manโs South Carolina based bait labs, the 2โ Guppy GrubZ features ten alluring crappie/panfish colors, including glow and high-vis hues as well as earth tones for tricky bites. MSRP $4.99 per 8-pack. For more updates and intel, check Z-Manโs website or social media.
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