It’s a question often thrown out there. If you could fish with only one lure, what would it be?

The classic answer is usually something like this: “Lures are tools, so it all depends on the conditions, the species being fished for, etc,” which is certainly accurate information. But if I really could fish with only one lure, it would be a twister-tail grub.

The first twister-tail grub I can recall was the Mr. Twister. According to the company, Mr. Twister introduced the Curly Tail in 1972, presenting a subtle, action-packed tail to a family of soft baits that previously had been stiff and lifeless. Today, about every maker of soft baits includes an array of grubs of various lengths that feature the sickle-shaped tail. They caught fish then, and they catch fish now.

Consider my recent experiences. Earlier last week, my buddy Dave Keith and I fished the Allegheny River near East Brady, a trip that took place a day before walleye season closed in mid March. We boated six nice walleyes, as well as nine smallmouth bass. The most productive bait: a Berkley Power Grub. A couple of days later I was guiding a client on the Emlenton section of the Allegheny. We caught 35 smallies, four northern pike and one walleye. Over half of them came on a 3-inch Galida Grubz, a twister-tail grub with a heavily-ribbed body.

Soon after, I received a call from Dave Lehman, a frequent fishing partner. He and his daughter Crystal had spent the day on Presque Isle Bay. They’d landed several smallmouth bass, along with a few largemouths. When asked what they got them on, he replied, “Galida Grubz,” with an inflection in his voice that implied, “You had to ask?”

Up on Pymatuning Lake the walleyes are getting ready to invade the shallow, rock/gravel shorelines on their annual spawning rite. Just prior to twilight, wading anglers will work their way out to the more accessible shoals, waiting for the evening surge of walleyes. They’ll catch walleyes, some on minnow-shaped stickbaits, and some on jig-and-minnow combos. But many of the fish will come on a chartreuse twister-tail grub fished on an eighth-ounce leadhead jig.

Panfish anglers use undersized twister tails to catch crappies and perch. Six-inch (and longer) twisters are deadly on muskies when the water’s cold.

Twister-tail grubs can be fished in a variety of ways. The classic method is to rig it on a ball-shaped leadhead jig, most commonly quarter or eighth ounce, depending on the depth of the water being fished. The lighter version is appropriate in 2- to 10-foot zones, with the heavier jig often necessary in deeper water, especially in areas with current, or when wind is present. Though not a popular size, you can find ball-head jigs in the 3/16-ounce size; I often find this in-between weight just right.

Rigged on a leadhead the twister can be jigged along the bottom, using a nine to 11 o’clock lift/drop rod motion to move the bait along. Allow the jig to fall on a tight line after the upward rod sweep, as most pickups will happen as the jig falls back down. On rivers, a twister-tail jig can be yo-yoed under the boat as it drifts along with the current, a tactic that’s especially productive when fishing large, deep holes.

Jigging is the common way of fishing a twister tail jig, but it can also be fished as a swimbait. This is particularly effective on flowing waters during the warmer months, roughly May through early October. Simply cast the twister into likely looking areas, and bring it back in with a straight retrieve. This tactic is also quite useful on Lake Erie smallmouths, when they move onto shallow, rocky flats in the spring, places most common near creek mouths.

Twisters catch fish not only as the primary bait, but also as a trailing bait. Want to show bass something new this season? Replace the stranded skirt of a spinnerbait with a twister tail.

Jeff Knapp is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle.