Jigs Vs Tubes ?

[jbmaine]

Hi All,

Forgive me if these questions are simplistic, but I was wondering what the difference/ advantages are for these two baits.

I use tubes with good success, but have never tried jigs, and am trying to justify in my mind the added expense of buying, using jigs, and the added space in my tackle box to store them.

From what I can tell they are both fished the same way, dragged or bounced along the bottom, and they both imitate a crayfish or other critter that bass like.

I know there are times when bass seem to zero in on just one bait, but generally speaking ,is there enough of a difference between the two to have both, and if so are there "rules of thumb" to know when to use one over the other?

Thanks

Jim

[BassThumb]

Profile, fall rate, water clarity/line diameter, and level of weedlessness would be the main factors for me when deciding between these two lures. Sometimes the bass prefer the larger profile jigs over plastics. Even the chunkiest tube doesn't have the large profile of a bass jig with 4" trailer, and a Texposed Texas rigged flipping tube doesn't compare to a jigs snag resistance.

How do you rig your tubes?

[smalljaw67]

Some things for you to think about, the first is size. Tubes come in a lot of different sizes and so do jigs, so you need to match the size of the bait to the mood of the fish. I make a finesse jig and I also use tubes, my favorite size tube is 3.5" but I like to fish those on with an insider jighead with an exposed hook for river smallies. Now when I'm fishing river smallies I'll have a tube rigged lust like I explained and I will also have a finesse jig rigged, if I'm fishing in chunk rock with basically open water around I will throw the tube but if there is a laydown or grass near the rock then I'll throw the finesse jig. It all comes down to confidence and what you like to do, for lakes I use a flipping style tube which is usually 3.75" or 4" and made with harder plastic. Those types of tubes I'm fishing texas rigged with heavy line and the jigs are the same way, I'm using a minimum 3/8oz jig but more often I'm using a 1/2oz jig with eith a chunk in cold water or a rage craw in warm water. I really let the water conditions and situation dictate what I'm using, dark or dirty water I have a jig on, clear water I have a tube, if the fish are in heavy cover I have the jig in light cover I use the tube.

[jbmaine]

Thanks for the replies,

I'll fish tubes t-rigged or with a varity of weighted "tube hooks". I mostly use coffee flavored tubes as they do catch more fish for me.

It sounds like for a larger profile bait, especially in dirty water, a jig may be the way to go.

I'll pick a few up and give it a try.

Thanks

Jim

[iceintheveins]

The tube seems to work better for finicky fish in clearer water. Anytime the water is dingier or bass want a larger profile, go with the jig. I think a jig catches bigger bass on average than plastics but gets fewer bites most of the time. However in stained or murky water the jig is the way to go. Weedless tubes come through grass and sticky weeds better than jigs though. In wood or rock cover, the jig is king.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Here's some more thoughts: http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/jig_worm_tube.html