Hoping For Some (Weedless) Hook Suggestions For Finesse Tubes

[Jay Ell Gee]

Hey everyone. With spring almost here, I will be up to my knees in water for my strolls through the clear streams and creeks around here rather shortly. After doing a bit of experimenting and learning last year, I am starting to kind of get keyed on to the lures I need to use.

 

A while back, I found a kit of 52 finesse tubes (2 and 3/4 inch) for less than five big ones and got all excited. This would be a perfect bait for the spotted bass around these little creeks. However, on a normal, tube weighted jighead (exposed hook) I would literally lose one almost EVERY cast. So now I have a box of tubes that I can't use effectively and am now a bit stuck.

 

I am hoping to get some good use out of them in the next few months, just hoping that you clever guys have come into the same problem or perhaps know of a solution. I wouldn't mind t-rigging them with a pegged weight, but I can't find a hook small enough. I thought that perhaps a small Gammy Skip Gap hook could work, but I'm not sure.

 

While I am at it, do any of you guys have any hooks to rig rage tail grubs weedless as well? Maybe small keel weighted swimbait hooks?

 

Thanks everyone!

 

Joshua

[EvanT123]

Try taking a small egg sinker and pushing it into the head of the tube and then t-rigging.

[RyneB]

they make weights that insert into your tube. Then you just texas rig the hook through the weight. They make plain ones, and ones with rattles. That's your best bet.

[Scott F]

I use Charlie Brewer Slider heads on tubes and all my other soft plastics. They just don't snag as easily as ball head jigs do. I rig them with the weight on the outside of the tube.

 

[Jay Ell Gee]

Problem is t-rigging would require a TINY hook. Even my 1/0's are way too long.

[Hanover_Yakker]

Try Confidence Baits 1/8oz micro Draggin Heads. Jeff designed them for small soft plastics and I use them on my 3" stick baits and 4" finesse worms. http://www.confidencebaits.net

[Darren.]

Problem is t-rigging would require a TINY hook. Even my 1/0's are way too long.

 

Unless I'm mistaken, I think BPS makes a #1 J-bend, or EWG hook that could work for you.

 

Here's an O'Shaughnessy Hook

 

Super Lock in a #1 http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-XPS-SuperLock-Hooks/product/15821/

 

Could also try Octopus hooks from BPS, Gamakatsu, others....

[papajoe222]

EagleClaw makes a weedless, straight shank hook in sizes down to a #6. For that size tube a size #1 should be about right. Don't quote me on the exact model, but it either a 249WA or a449WA and they're also available in red.  You can get away with a smaller hook as it will be exposed.  The other hook you can try and one that I use, is a straight shank worm hook rigging the tube Texas style. You can add an internal weight for a spiraling presentation or a bullet weight.  Eagle Claw's Baitholder series have a shorter shank than other brand's 'worm' hooks do.

[11justin22]

Normally I would "stupid rig" a tube for weedless but those small one I don't think would work. I use the strike king tiny ones on occasion in the creeks nearby and just use a 1/0 ewg. The hook is long but the point comes far enough back in to bury it into the plastic. So basically rig it normal and let the extra hook just hang out the back and put the point into the body like a normal Texas rig. Looks funny but the fish don't care.

[Hi Salenity]

Check Cabelas for tender tube weedless jigheads .

[ClackerBuzz]

also go lighter. a lot of snags/break offs can mean you are using too heavy of a weight for the conditions and lodging between every rock. if casting from shore or wading maybe try 1/8oz or even lighter so you can hop it up and over rocks instead of wedging in them. you just want enough weight to keep bottom contact.

 

also try the stupid tube rig.  some guys just cut half the tube open and slide the jig right in. 

http://blog.***.com/blog/bid/74504/The-Stupid-Rig-Illustrated

Edited March 21, 2013 by ClackerBuzz

[Jay Ell Gee]

I use Charlie Brewer Slider heads on tubes and all my other soft plastics. They just don't snag as easily as ball head jigs do. I rig them with the weight on the outside of the tube.

 

 

So you would basically t-rig as you normally would and simply run the tube up to the back of the weight? I appreciate that... simple and I am going to check them out.

 

Try Confidence Baits 1/8oz micro Draggin Heads. Jeff designed them for small soft plastics and I use them on my 3" stick baits and 4" finesse worms. http://www.confidencebaits.net

 

Hanover, why did you send me a link to that site!?! Those little tubes are great, and the dragging head looks amazing! I really like those hooks. Looks like I may have to grab some when my little tube kit is depleted! Wish I knew they fit before ordering a few packs. May call them in the morning.

 

Unless I'm mistaken, I think BPS makes a #1 J-bend, or EWG hook that could work for you.

 

Here's an O'Shaughnessy Hook

 

Super Lock in a #1 http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-XPS-SuperLock-Hooks/product/15821/

 

Could also try Octopus hooks from BPS, Gamakatsu, others....

 

Good idea there too!

 

EagleClaw makes a weedless, straight shank hook in sizes down to a #6. For that size tube a size #1 should be about right. Don't quote me on the exact model, but it either a 249WA or a449WA and they're also available in red.  You can get away with a smaller hook as it will be exposed.  The other hook you can try and one that I use, is a straight shank worm hook rigging the tube Texas style. You can add an internal weight for a spiraling presentation or a bullet weight.  Eagle Claw's Baitholder series have a shorter shank than other brand's 'worm' hooks do.

 

I'm new to the whole tube thing, so I wonder if the spiraling presentation does well?

 

Normally I would "stupid rig" a tube for weedless but those small one I don't think would work. I use the strike king tiny ones on occasion in the creeks nearby and just use a 1/0 ewg. The hook is long but the point comes far enough back in to bury it into the plastic. So basically rig it normal and let the extra hook just hang out the back and put the point into the body like a normal Texas rig. Looks funny but the fish don't care.

 

That sounds right up my alley bud! I'll have to see if dad has some tiny EWG's lying around.

 

Check Cabelas for tender tube weedless jigheads .

 

Tried those exact ones, as well as the XPS versions. All were lost.

[Jay Ell Gee]

also go lighter. a lot of snags/break offs can mean you are using too heavy of a weight for the conditions and lodging between every rock. if casting from shore or wading maybe try 1/8oz or even lighter so you can hop it up and over rocks instead of wedging in them. you just want enough weight to keep bottom contact.

 

also try the stupid tube rig.  some guys just cut half the tube open and slide the jig right in. 

 

I appreciate the insight. I live in Louisiana, so our creeks and rivers are more sandy and filled with laydowns, bushes, sticks and stumps. The lighter weight will more than likely help a lot!

[Comfortably Numb]

Just measured a Eagle Claw laser wide gap worm hook (like an EWG) at 1.25" from eye to bend. I dont see why that would not work Texas rigged.

 

I have a bunch of these cheap if you are interested. 2" long

 

Please delete if I am not supposed to put this here. Just tryin to help the OP

 

 

Or these 5 sliders (probably 1/16 oz) or twelve of these Eagle Claw Shaw Grigsby HP Hook designed to clip on to tubes.

 

[rockchalk06]

I use a 1/0 or 2/0 Gammy Skip Gap Hook depending on the tube with a BPS 1/8 or 1/4 oz weight. Completely weedless and great actuon

[Hanover_Yakker]

No problem Jay - I am not sponsored by Jeff nor am I on their Pro Staff.  The reason I prefer the 1/8oz micros compared to other options listed so far is the keel weighted hook design.  The flat keel provides three major benefits - one, it allows you to throw your bait into tighter cover without fear of snagging and two, it slows the vertical drop of your tube as the water displaces around the flat keel and three, it prevents your tube from spiraling and lands always upright in a perfect tail up presentation.

 

Another benefit of the Draggin' Head that I have found is that ultra soft plastics like GYCBs actually last longer than one or two fish, because the hook requires almost no real hookset.  It is a thin wire super sticky hook and penetrates the mouth of a bass very easily.  If you have to replace the bait after a strike, it is most likely from the fish thrashing about not from the hookset.  Simply twist the lure a 1/4" turn and rehook it.

 

I'll warn you though, once you start using them, you'll find that they excel for all of your small plastics

 

I have several of the 1/8 oz micro and regular lengths, use the 1/4 oz for all of my 5-7" finesse, senkos and PTL Craw D'oeuvres, and the 3/8oz version for larger creatures and big power worms.  I also have a whole tackle tray full of Little Tubes in 3 colors, as well as the alternate rigging method using his micro jig heads that insert inside of the tube, and a variety of his Floating Birds.  Jeff is a smallmouth guru and considered one of the best river anglers in the country.

 

I have several hundreds of dollars invested in his terminal tackle over the last 3 years and trust him so much that I don't use the traditional shakey head jigs anymore.  I find that they hang up too often, and the spiral lock/keeper pin is not sized for smaller plastics.

 

I'll also say that another tackle designed has a similar jig called the Flutter Head, and that is made by Allen Winco of Winco Custom Baits.  Allen and Jeff are good friends and often test/prototype each other's lures.  That's another option consider as well.

[CPBassFishing]

just thread one on one of these and put a bit of superglue on to hold it in place. completely weedless. http://www.***.com/Gamakatsu_G-Finesse_Series_Wacky_Jig_Head_3pk/descpage-SJW.html

[Felix77]

This internal weight with a 1/0 or smaller EWG is awesome.

 

http://www.basspro.com/Bass-Pro-Shops-XPS-Tube-Weight/product/44436/

[J Francho]

I'll toss a second vote in for the Confidence Baits Draggin' Head.  It's the right tool for the job.