Couple Of Questions About Tubes...

[airborne_angler]

First off...how effective are they?

I'm gonna give em a whirl T Rigged next year.

Is there a certain time of the year they work better than other times of the year?

Anyone thrown them on a punchin rig??

I've got a slither rig I may try a tube with depending on responses...

[rockchalk06]

First off...how effective are they?

Very effective. They can be made to mimmic a craw in the definsive posisition or a bait fish. I fish them when the jig bite slows before I switch to anything else. Tubes and craws are about the only plastics I fish anymore.

I'm gonna give em a whirl T Rigged next year.

Texas rigged, Texas rigged pegged, exposed jig heads, internal tube weights, weightless Texas rigged or my new favorite, rigged on a 1/4 or 3/8 oz megastrike shakey head works great.

Is there a certain time of the year they work better than other times of the year?

For me, the colder the water the better luck I have. It may be that I use them more when the jig bite slows in the cold or because 3.5" tubes present a small bait and there is much less action as with other baits. On a Skakey head, you can basically dead stick it letting the current do the work for you. Just keep a tight line and give it a few shakes and jerks.

Anyone thrown them on a punchin rig??

Never have, but I don't see why not. I would get a stiff tube like a BPS 4.5" tube or a Strike King 4.5" tube and a 5/0 heavy hook and it should work.

I've got a slither rig I may try a tube with depending on responses...

[Aluma-Bass]

Yum Vibra king tube, pegged weight... I use it mainly pitching to targets. Let it fall on slack line, has a great glide action. Most times get bit on the initial fall.

[papajoe222]

They are also a great bait for skipping and when rigged on a weighted swim bait hook. C-rig them with a piece of styrofoam inside for a presentation that will keep it up off the bottom. Fish it weightless like a Fluke........

I think you get the idea, about anything you can do with other soft plastics you can do with a tube and them some.

[wnybassman]

Several years back a 3 1/2" thin walled tube (BPS Tender Tube) was my go to flipping bait when all else failed.   Rigged it up with a 1/0 G-lock hook with a 3/16 ounce weight.   Caught lost of fish with it and won lots of money.   Oddly, I have not fished that much at all in the last few years.   I keep telling myself I'm gonna start throwing it again, but never do.

[CWB]

I take a cheap dipsey sinker or Bass Casting sinker and put the eye end into the tube first. Then I T-rig it and make sure the hook point passes through the eye of the sinker before exiting the bottom of the tube. Then finish T-Rigging as normal. 1/8 or 1/4 oz. work well. Makes for a nice compact package. Tubes will usually get bit and sometimes when nothing else will, like senkos.

[fishguy613]

I always go exposed hook 3/16 or 1/4oz, usually craw colors and drag on the bottom with the odd hop. 8lb fluoro, super effective lure for smallies

[Bankbeater]

I fish them t-rigged just like a jig.  I like to use them more in heavy brush because I can get them through the cover easier without hanging up.

[Todd2]

Google "Stupid Rig Tube" and you'll find a way to rig tubes with a jighead (to get that spiral fall) and keep it weedless. Best of both worlds. I think I saw it mentioned on another thread here. I haven't tried it yet but will as soon as I can get out.

[Siebert Outdoors]

I mostly fish them on a T rig.  The tube is one of my favorite baits.  I mostly throw a Green Pumpkin 4-4.5" tube.

[roadwarrior]

For a weedless presentation I prefer inserted tube weights. T-rigged, C-riiged or

shakey heads are other options. I have had some great luck with the MegaStrike 

Tube Craw rigged on the Shak e2 Pro Series.

 

http://www.megastrikefishingproducts.com/shop/mega-tube-soft-plastic/

[moguy1973]

Probably one of the best ways to catch Missouri stream smallmouth is a tube.  We rig them with internal tube jig heads weedless usually, but I've had a lot of success with pegged t-rigged tubes also.  We like the BPS 4" tubes the best.

[A-Jay]

Check out the  Owner PHANTOM TUBE HOOK.

 

It's a little different looking but is easy to rig and does everything you want.

 

A-Jay

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mIigynP2ts

[Hogsticker]

I caught my very 1st smallie on a tube. Very vesatile bait. Your imagination is the only limit. Give me one bait for any freshwater fish.....give me a tube and figure out the rest

[Oregon Native]

I love putting a weight inside a tube an skipping under a dock. Drop shotting in shallow water not to bad either.

[NorcalBassin]

Just started really using them this year and blown away by the results. I'm usually fishing in/around rocks and sparse wood and use Yamamoto's internal jighead just about all the time.

[Hooligan]

Tubes? They don't catch fish at all. You can't flip, pitch, punch, or skip them under any circumstance. They are a terrible bait for deep structure as well. They equally terrible in warm and cold water, and everything in between. I never always have a tube rigged on the deck of the boat. I don't fish Larews or Strike King flipping tubes, and I never fish the LFT craw tube either. I don't have any in Dark Watermelon, Green Pumpkin, or Black Neon. I don't ever fish them in the SK green pumpkin chartreuse tail, either.

[basscatcher8]

Tubes? They don't catch fish at all. You can't flip, pitch, punch, or skip them under any circumstance. They are a terrible bait for deep structure as well. They equally terrible in warm and cold water, and everything in between. I never always have a tube rigged on the deck of the boat. I don't fish Larews or Strike King flipping tubes, and I never fish the LFT craw tube either. I don't have any in Dark Watermelon, Green Pumpkin, or Black Neon. I don't ever fish them in the SK green pumpkin chartreuse tail, either.

 

LOL smells like denial lol

[JayKumar]

Very effective. Not used as much anymore because other baits like Beavers have gotten more in fashion. Hook type is key, and look for a way to pin the bait on there or you'll go nuts re-rigging.