what size tube jigs and heads for river?

[Dennis1972]

I have never been a tube jig guy but watching videos on youtube makes me want to try them. what length body and what weight and style of heads do you guys recommend? I will be fishing a river that is usually about 4 to 6 ft deep with current speed around 4 or 5 mph. hopefully you guys can recommend me some bodies and jig heads I could pick up at Walmart. Thanks

[Scott F]

4-5 mph is flying! Bass can’t hold in current moving that fast. What river are you talking about?  You’d need VERY heavy jigs in current like that. Are you fishing anchored in a boat? Wading? Drifting?

[Dennis1972]

im not sure its 4mph but it seems a bit faster than a brisk walk. im talking about the Indiana side of the Kankakee river. I usually just drift in my boat with a coffee can filled with cement anchor down and even then a lot of times im going much faster than I would like so I can get a good cast in all the good looking spots.

[Patrick Reif]

 You know your waters better than I do, but that does seem to be a high estimate for water speed.

 

I can tell you what I use for the New river and James river in SW Va and the Yadkin river in NC.

 

I pour a 3/16oz roundhead jig with a wire weed guard on a 3/0 black nickle hook.  I prefer the Gammy G604, but will pour it on a Mustad steelhead hook 32833NPBN for a less expensive alternative. I also pour this in a traditional teardrop 1/4oz tube jig. Both work well for me

The wire guard is made with a size 12 wire.  This is fine in rocks, but sucks in wood.

 

My favorite tube is the 3" stubby salt tube by Venom.  Green pumpkin and black is all you need.

 

You'll want to target any current break you can find.  From shoreline structure to submerged midriver ledges. 

 

Venom also sells weedless tube jigs, but I have never fished them.  They look good though.

 

You may want to buy a few 5 packs in the various weights to see what works best for you, and then stock up. https://www.venomlures.com/weedless-tube-heads-60-degree-venom-lures.html

 

edited to ask; do you throw any jigs at all?  If you bounce the bottom and have a weight that holds still for a few seconds, you're getting close to what you need

[roadwarrior]

BPS Tender Tube, #71.  Owner Phantom Tube Weight, rigged weedless.

 

[Scott F]

The Indiana portion of the Kankakee River is a channelized ditch they dug out to drain the Grand Kankakee Marsh. It’s not your typical river anymore. Hasn’t been for over 100 years.  I used to duck hunt the area many years ago. Instead of fishing the channel, stick to the downed wood along the banks. Also pay attention to the spots where the other drainage ditches enter the river. You’ll have much better luck. Don’t be too concerned about exact brands of tube jigs. The pike in the river are going to bite off most of what you are going to throw. 

[Dennis1972]

right, that's where I mainly catch the smallies is around downed trees and rock piles. I do use curly tail jigs and have had some luck with them, but I saw guys on youtube using tubes in different rivers doing very well, not sure if tubes will be better or not, but I have had fishing on the brain big time since deer season ended and I want to be ready when I get my boat in the water. I haven't fished the river a lot but I plan on hitting it harder this year.

[TnRiver46]

1/8 oz round ball head and 2.75 inch tube 

[MickD]

You just have to experiment to find the right weight jig, size of tube, color of tube, for what the fish want.  Even in still water smallies sometimes want a fast fall rate, sometimes slow.  Start with 2.75 as suggested , in green with red flake, the darker the water, the darker the green.  Some fishermen around here fish only greens.

 

I would think eddies in addition to the cover suggested already.  Smallies like the edges/current breaks, on the slow side.

[Ivey]

If your fishing current and structure I'd go with the "stupid tube"

 

[Kdizzle]

On 2/25/2020 at 8:18 AM, TnRiver46 said:

1/8 oz round ball head and 2.75 inch tube 

This guy gets it.  I change it out with a 1/8 ounce Hayabusa baby shooting ball football jighead if I get around a lot of rocks.  If Im just poppin it around in current I stick to the round head. 

[gim]

The weight of the jig and the shank length of the hook should depend on how big the actual tube is and how deep you are fishing, in addition to how much current there is.

[Ogandrews]

To get used to throwing a tube get some 2.5” power tubes and some regular ball heads 1/8-1/4 depending on the current. Tubes are my number one river bait and I still throw 2.5 power tubes as much as any other tube, they are also an incredible lure for brown trout in streams. Majority of the time I drag a jig or just let it move with the current, but don’t be afraid to pop it or pull it. I can’t tell you how many fish I have caught burning the tube back to the boat too

[MGF]

I fish the Tippecanoe in Indiana. I fish tubes a couple of different ways. During warmer months when I'm not afraid to "stroke" the jig, I often use a traditional tube jig head in 1/8 oz or 1/4 oz and 2 1/2" to 3.75" tubes.

 

I also do the "stupid tube" thing a lot. This lets me drag the bottom a bit more without hanging up but still gives me that classic tube action when I bounce it.

 

I'll also Texas rig a flipping tube once in a while.

 

I guess I like the stupid tube the best but it requires a 3.75" tube or longer to make room for the hook...at least on the jigs I have. If smaller baits/more fineness is required I go to something different.

 

 

[moguy1973]

I would suggest a 4-4.5” tube with a Blue Rock Custom Tackle stupid jig head 1/4-3/8oz with a 3/0 hook.  I’m not a fan of small tubes as they tend to get deep hooked.  

[gim]

20 hours ago, moguy1973 said:

I would suggest a 4-4.5” tube with a Blue Rock Custom Tackle stupid jig head 1/4-3/8oz with a 3/0 hook.  I’m not a fan of small tubes as they tend to get deep hooked.  

I use a small 2.5 inch tube almost exclusively for brownies. When I used the bigger tubes you refer to, I was missing half the fish because their mouths were too small for the tubes. Z man makes an even smaller tube I intend to try.

 

I use the bigger 3.5 to 4 inch tubes with longer shanks for largemouth.

[moguy1973]

4 hours ago, gimruis said:

I use a small 2.5 inch tube almost exclusively for brownies. When I used the bigger tubes you refer to, I was missing half the fish because their mouths were too big for the tubes. Z man makes an even smaller tube I intend to try.

 

I use the bigger 3.5 to 4 inch tubes with longer shanks for largemouth.

Do you mean their mouths are too small?  I've caught smallies as little as 6" with the 4.5" BPS Magnum Flipping Tubes.  Those are the only size tubes I ever use for smallmouth and do fine with them.

[Ogandrews]

12 hours ago, moguy1973 said:

I would suggest a 4-4.5” tube with a Blue Rock Custom Tackle stupid jig head 1/4-3/8oz with a 3/0 hook.  I’m not a fan of small tubes as they tend to get deep hooked.  

In rivers I seem to catch more and bigger fish on smaller tubes for some reason, in lakes I will usually throw 3.5” and have success with them. 

[Glaucus]

I was going to say, I live relatively close to the Kankakee river and fish it from time to time and it's nowhere near that fast unless there it's flooded, then it roars like all flooded waters with a flow.

[gim]

12 hours ago, moguy1973 said:

Do you mean their mouths are too small? 

Ya that's what I meant I typed that wrong.  Fixed it

[AdamT]

I use the Owner phantom weighted tube hooks for the “stupid tube rig” and usually use a 3 3/4” tube most of the time.  Sometimes in creeks and shallower rivers I’ll use a 2 1/2” or 3” tube on a ball head jig.