Grubs
20 bass vs. 34 bass in 2024
Lunker Hunt Finesse 3” Swimbait (perfect pumpkin or smokin’ shad)
Top Bass: 2-2 Knox County public strip pit – May 18
Top 5 Weight: 6-14 (2-2,1-4,1-3,1-3,1-2)

Comments
For 2025, all twenty of my grub bass came from the Knox County public strip pits in April and May. These little swimbaits are what I call “Ned Rigs” and I classify them as “grubs” since they are smaller, bite-sized versions of what I consider a true “swimbait.” Some may debate my designation, but it gives me yet another category to evaluate when compiling my beloved stats. I am a fan of these baits early in the year before switching to larger, louder presentations as the water gets warmer and weedier.

May 18 – Top Grub Bass at 2-2 (17″) from a Knox County public strip pit

History
The Lunker Hunt Finesse Swimbait burst on the scene in 2023 when it landed a Top 5 bag of bass weighing 14-15. That batch of bass was anchored by the 2023 Top Bass that tipped the scales at 5-3. Numbers were solid in 2024, but the big bites were elusive, and the latter aspect continued in 2025. Even so, enough “keepers” were landed to establish a 2025 Top 5 for the lure.

Video
Brent and I went off the beaten path during a May strip mine bike and hike outing. One of my stops was a small body of water that I had not fished for fourteen years. The shoreline weeds and brush had taken over since that visit and made access and casting tough. A spinning setup was ideal as it offered more creative casting options than a baitcaster. Armed with a “Ned Rig”, the spot came through with my biggest bass from the little lake to date.

 

Last Cast
While the 2023 success of this lure set the bar quite high, I remain convinced that it wasn’t a fluke. Numbers and size have been down over the last two years, but you can bet that I will have a Lunker Hunt Finesse Swimbait tied on when I hit the strip mines again next year.

Another lure on the way tomorrow so talk to you later. Troy