My recent trip to Isle Royale allowed me some time to experiment in a rather unique environment. Water was crystal clear and many of the areas I was fishing were shallow and I could see the fish I was pursuing. Trust me, it is very cool to drift over the top of a 40" pike or have one follow your lure in.

The advantage of knowing the fish were there is it allowed me to figure out what they would eat. While most of my biggest pike came off of large swimbaits there were some situations in which a Kalins Octo grub in black coupled with a Hogy Sand Eel jig head was the only tool in my toolbox which would take fish.

My research has shown that big pike like the color black. The Kalins Octo grub is an 8" beefy grub. Sounds big but it really isn't. It would be considered a "stealth" offering from my perspective. Nothing loud, nothing flashy. The jig head I used was a Hogy Sand Eel which fit the jig perfectly. Nice gap on the hook but note the hook style. Long shank and not a round bend. I used the purple color jig head which is mostly black in the smaller sizes. The hook is super sharp but rather thick.........your probably not setting this hook on 10lb mono. I like braid in 20lb test and 30 or even 40 would be better if there are weeds around. I used 60 fluorocarbon as a leader via an FG knot but would of preferred some thin titanium leader and a snap. So 20lb braid and a thin titanium leader (17 lb Knot-2-Kinky) would be an ideal set up for this stealth type offering.

Anyways, thought I would let this out there. It will be with me ALWAYS. Anytime I am on a canoe trip I will have this option along. When all else fails this is a versatile offering which entices fish to eat. I firmly believe it will take walleye and probably some smallies as well.

Sand Eel jig heads

Kalins octo grub

i like the look of that 8" black octo grub. did you try it on a bladed swim jig? seems that would be an effective option too. i agree good option for walleye too.

quote zski: "i like the look of that 8" black octo grub. did you try it on a bladed swim jig? seems that would be an effective option too. i agree good option for walleye too."

Ha! I had a black bladed Chatterbait without the skirt set aside for that very purpose but didn't bring it! Dumkopf!! Still sitting on the shelf in my shop where I put the next trip together.

I bet that aggressive action of the blade would really give the Octo grub the shakes. Next time ;-)

Looks like a deadly set up MT. Reminds me of my Cobra Jig head/big black reaper combo I had tossed in the past. I need to dust that off next spring now that I think about it.

Where are the fish pictures? Sand eels live in the ocean. Why would a freshwater fish eat them? I'm calling BS on your so called "research." We already know how to catch big pike. Helpful info?....NOT!

I have used the grub for years in chatreuse as a trailer on a Johnson Silver Minnow for Northerns in weeds and around bull rushes. My son caught a 41 inch Northern in Canada this August on that rig. We have had the tail bite off many times but extras don't weigh much and pack small. I started useing a Zulu on my blue/silver Johnson Silver Minnow and did quiet well wth it but nothing over 34 inches, my tail was going strong till I lost it mid trip on my last solo in September. FRED

quote AndySG: "Where are the fish pictures? Sand eels live in the ocean. Why would a freshwater fish eat them? I'm calling BS on your so called "research." We already know how to catch big pike. Helpful info?....NOT!"

Andy its just a style of jig head. I'm not trying to imitate a sand eel thats just what they call it.........but a big black grub could imitate lots of other critters as well, say a big huge leech or even a Lamprey. The jigs are pricey but I haven't found anything close which works as well with an 8" grub. They really are rather perfect for this application.

I did not catch any picture takers with this yet..........several in the 36" class, decent fish but not worthy of taking a pic. The point being is that fish would eat these where all else had failed.

The research I have done is admittedly rather thin. I have seen it mentioned at least 3 times, twice in print at Canadian fly in lodges of some reputation for producing lots of really big pike that back is the color and the Sabourin lake guides reaffirmed what I had heard by asking how many black shadzillas I had brought with me. There is also the Jensen jigs which are primarily black rabbit strip fur and it has a reputation for taking big pike as well.

I rather think all this is somewhat Interesting..........would the pike in Brady Cove eaten a chartreuse octo grub? Maybe? Probably? Maybe not? I dunno. What I do know is that people who make their living guiding gravitate to black for big northern. Do with the info as you see fit. As for me I'm throwing black at least 50% of the time.

quote FOG51: "I have used the grub for years in chatreuse as a trailer on a Johnson Silver Minnow for Northerns in weeds and around bull rushes. My son caught a 41 inch Northern in Canada this August on that rig. We have had the tail bite off many times but extras don't weigh much and pack small. I started useing a Zulu on my blue/silver Johnson Silver Minnow and did quiet well wth it but nothing over 34 inches, my tail was going strong till I lost it mid trip on my last solo in September. FRED"

I wish I would of had a Silver Minnow / curly tail combo this past August on Isle Royale to throw in some deep water reeds. Instead I had a weedless Sebille Magic swimmer which did entice one of the brutes in Brady Cove to eat but I couldn't get connected. The Johnson silver minnow weedless design rarely misses. I think guys miss the boat by not actually fishing up INSIDE the reeds and that weedless spoon would be ideal. Its been a long time since I used one. They use them here in Florida on the Big "O" to catch bass. I wonder if they make a black version? The hook on those definitely need a file however IMO.