I've been using light jigs with curl tail grubs for decades until I discoverd 100s od different shapes and action that are more versatile then the curl tail. Ballhead jigs (upainted of course) range in size from 1/32 ozz - 1/16 oz; hook sizes from #6-3/0.
Like the Slider Worm, I make sure there is no curve of the rigged soft plastic.

Does a soft plasitic need to resemble anything or another lure? Is the retrieve basically the same?

The lure usually is unnatural in shape and action and like most lures designs, have strike triggera fish can't void.
One lure I found by accident is the body used with a curl tail removed. This little guy was the fish caught on it.


Later on, I copied the shape and modified others.


The retieve is the same and always mid-depth: small turns of the reel handler alongs with a few rod tip twitches and pauses.
This modified lure is wacky rigged using a 1/24 oz jig:

Same retrieve but with more rod tip twiches as the luire drops a bit now and then. You can imagine how those quivering tips would drive fish nuts!