Tubes vs. Skirted Jigs

[Heron]

Are there any specific circumstances when you would choose a jig instead of a tube for smallmouth?

 

or vice versa?

 

thx

 

 

[A-Jay]

For smallies, a tube seems considerably more effective for me than a jig.

I'll fish a jig in deep wood quite a bit and there are times when a football jig is pretty killer.

But my confidence in the tube has me reaching for one more times than not.

A-Jay

[desmobob]

8 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

For smallies, a tube seems considerably more effective for me than a jig.

I'll fish a jig in deep wood quite a bit and there are times when a football jig is pretty killer.

But my confidence in the tube has me reaching for one more times than not.

A-Jay

 

+1

 

As crayfish-eaters, I had figured that a 1/4 oz. skirted jig with a craw trailer would clean up on smallies but, in my experience, they definitely seem to prefer tubes.  

 

Tight lines,

Bob

 

[Heron]

Makes sense

 

I wasnt really seeing much sense in throwing a jig instead of a tube, unless circumstances demanded it.   Guess I'll find out when I get on the water.

 

In the meantime, when bank fishing for smallmouth....Im finding the Fat Ika, and the 3 inch Senko have been the most productive for me so far.

[mattkenzer]

19 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

For smallies, a tube seems considerably more effective for me than a jig.

I'll fish a jig in deep wood quite a bit and there are times when a football jig is pretty killer.

But my confidence in the tube has me reaching for one more times than not.

A-Jay

 

8 minutes ago, desmobob said:

 

+1

 

As crayfish-eaters, I had figured that a 1/4 oz. skirted jig with a craw trailer would clean up on smallies but, in my experience, they definitely seem to prefer tubes.  

 

Tight lines,

Bob

 

I agree with A-Jay and desmobob on skirted jigs vs. a tube.

I rarely use a skirted jig on smallmouth unless i am swimming it.

I do however, use a non-skirted jig and craw more often than not.

[Choporoz]

I've only limited experience fishing for lake smallmouth, but a bit more in rivers. 

In swift smallmouth rivers, I can clean up with jigs, but can't buy a bite with a tube.  I readily admit that lack of success leads to lack of confidence and a lot less usage, but I like to think that I've given tubes a fair chance on multiple occasions. 

[mattkenzer]

5 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

I've only limited experience fishing for lake smallmouth, but a bit more in rivers. 

In swift smallmouth rivers, I can clean up with jigs, but can't buy a bite with a tube.  I readily admit that lack of success leads to lack of confidence and a lot less usage, but I like to think that I've given tubes a fair chance on multiple occasions. 

Interesting .... Are you using a skirted Jig? What size?

[Choporoz]

Almost always 'finesse jigs' - both because of the weight and the flared/front skirt.  I have mostly Sieberts, but I've used others like Buckeye.  The lightest ones I want the current to take and bounce down river through the rocks -- a bit heavier, not more than 1/2oz to stay closer to the bottom and move a bit subtler

[Bluebasser86]

I seem to catch more numbers of smallmouth on a tube, but bigger ones on a jig. I like a 1/2oz football jig for them if I can get away with it.

[OkobojiEagle]

My success with a tube over a skirted jig is a direct correlation to carrying no skirted jigs in my tackle bag...  I catch more smallmouth with a jighead/curly tail grub than a tube if that matters to you.

 

oe

[WI_Angler1989]

I fish both a LOT. Probably 70% tubes 30% finesse jigs. There are times when one is the better choice and gets hit more, but usually if one works for me the other does too. 

I will say that I catch a lot of fish and sizes on a tube, but the average size on a jig tends to be bigger. 

[mattkenzer]

I am going to give the skirted jig (bottom contact) an honest effort on the Smallies this year .... Thanks.

 

PS: Many years ago, i thought the only thing to catch smallmouth was an Avocado Color Tube.

[NYWayfarer]

Tubes are the clear winner in this fight for me. River Smallies love a Zoom Salty Super Tube!

[PatrickKnight]

I prefer tubes to skirted jigs but in the river I fish I will take a jig head tipped with a grub or swim bait over them both.

[Spankey]

4 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

My success with a tube over a skirted jig is a direct correlation to carrying no skirted jigs in my tackle bag...  I catch more smallmouth with a jighead/curly tail grub than a tube if that matters to you.

 

oe

 

1 hour ago, PatrickKnight said:

I prefer tubes to skirted jigs but in the river I fish I will take a jig head tipped with a grub or swim bait over them both.

I love a Roadkill tube, but I'd like $.10 for every Smallie I've caught on a 3" Power, Mr. T or Kalins Grub since the 1970's

[desmobob]

1 hour ago, Spankey said:

 

I love a Roadkill tube, but I'd like $.10 for every Smallie I've caught on a 3" Power, Mr. T or Kalins Grub since the 1970's

 

  I think I have enough Kalins' grubs to last me the rest of my life.  Fish catchers!

 

Tight lines,

Bob

[WI_Angler1989]

12 hours ago, desmobob said:

 

  I think I have enough Kalins' grubs to last me the rest of my life.  Fish catchers!

 

Tight lines,

Bob

 

"Enough" Kalin's grubs? What's that?! I always have room for another pack of Lunker Grubs hahaha

[PatrickKnight]

I used the heck out of a 3 inch Kalins for a while but my go to has changed to the 4 inch Yamamoto in green pumpkin. I do love that smoke hologram color Kalins has though.

[Turkey sandwich]

I'm going to go a little against the grain here.  I fish tubes and grubs quite a bit, and they're excellent numbers baits for me.  They're both great producers in both lakes and rivers.  Sometimes, smallies just want something drug across the bottom or something that I can work fast vertically, and jigs are the best option.  If I need to pitch into small current breaks in fast current, into lay downs along banks, etc I'm almost definitely using an arky jig of some sort.  Similarly, If I want to keep good bottom contact and swing something down and across or worked slowly across a run with small to medium sized rocks (not boulders) football heads are the only option and this is something I do quite a bit.  Sometimes in or along faster current a reaction bit is the ticket.  Other times, I've noticed that slower presentations worked along the tails of islands, weed edges, etc immediately adjacent to fast current can be money for larger fish.  The only way I know to do this well without a whole lot of frustration is a 3/8-3/4oz football jig.  I pretty much always keep all of the above tied up on a river and let the fish, the conditions, and what presents best where they're holding be what determine which options I favor.

 

On lakes, I'll use where fish are holding to determine which I'm going to throw first, but if I'm fishing for smallmouth, barring chocolate milk conditions, this is rarely ever a time when I don't have a tube and a jig rod on deck from March thru December.  Tubes catch lots of fish.  Jigs catch mostly big fish.  

 

 

[J.Vincent]

Here in Michigan I have a lot of confidence in tubes, they have great versatility and can mimic gobies or crawfish , and just seem to catch greater numbers of fish....However, my biggest Smallies have actually been caught on 1/2 oz BlackBlue Skirted Jigs, off shallow rock piles at night. So I think , low light situations are one circumstance when the bulkier skirted jig should be a better choice. Just my two cents : )

[TOXIC]

On our annual trip to Lake St Clair those smallies see their fair share of tubes and to be honest in the early years that's the main bait I threw.  As time went on, I found some alternative plastics that gave me 75+ fish days.  Not suprisingly, the Yamamoto double tail Hula grub has been a top producer on a 1/4 oz gamakatsu football head jig.  Likewise a 5" senko on the same jig head has been my secret bait for years.  I rarely throw a tube anymore.  

 

 

[Heron]

2 hours ago, TOXIC said:

On our annual trip to Lake St Clair those smallies see their fair share of tubes and to be honest in the early years that's the main bait I threw.  As time went on, I found some alternative plastics that gave me 75+ fish days.  Not suprisingly, the Yamamoto double tail Hula grub has been a top producer on a 1/4 oz gamakatsu football head jig.  Likewise a 5" senko on the same jig head has been my secret bait for years.  I rarely throw a tube anymore.  

 

 

What size hula grubs? 4” or 5”?

[Heron]

2 hours ago, TOXIC said:

On our annual trip to Lake St Clair those smallies see their fair share of tubes and to be honest in the early years that's the main bait I threw.  As time went on, I found some alternative plastics that gave me 75+ fish days.  Not suprisingly, the Yamamoto double tail Hula grub has been a top producer on a 1/4 oz gamakatsu football head jig.  Likewise a 5" senko on the same jig head has been my secret bait for years.  I rarely throw a tube anymore.  

 

 

What size hula grubs? 4” or 5”?

[TOXIC]

Normally 4 inch because the gamakatsu football head jig is only a 2.0 hook.  

[FryDog62]

A follow up to those that prefer jigs for bigger fish - has anyone used a “mop” jig with success for smallmouth?  I’ve only used it for largemouth, but with its big profile would it work well for smb too or a bit overpowering?