Tubes

[ajschn06]

I purchased some tubes for the first time this week- looking around, standard tube size seems to be about 3.5".  I went with the Maxscent tubes, so when the time came to select a size I went with the 3.5" model.  These things are pretty big, you guys throw these on spinning gear?  I'm planning on throwing a 3/16 weight on it and tossing on casting gear.... just doesn't seem very finessey to me...

[OkobojiEagle]

3 minutes ago, ajschn06 said:

just doesn't seem very finessey to me...

"finessey" isn't the size or weight of the bait, its how you fish it.

 

oe

[A-Jay]

 I usually fish 1/2 oz & less on Medium spinning gear - 10-15 lb braid mainline and a 8-10lb  Fluorocarbon leader (AbrazX). Heavier than 1/2 oz, I'll either pump up my spinning gear (rod & line) or go to casting gear that will present, hook & land a spirited Smallie.  3/4 oz heads are reserved for deep (more than 20-25 ft) and or big wind & waves.  This size can & does get "thrown" on the jump by bass more than the lighter heads - so that's something to be aware of. 

A-Jay

[TnRiver46]

I never have any luck with 3.5 inch. 2.75 inch tube is probably me and most of my friends number one smallie produces for many years 

[GRiver]

I just bought a few bags of tubes too, can’t wait to get out and try them, one of my bags was Maxscent too. Got me some stupid jigs heads, made by secret lures. 
I have never fished tubes before,so I got a few different weights of jig heads to try.

[gim]

25 minutes ago, ajschn06 said:

I went with the Maxscent tubes, so when the time came to select a size I went with the 3.5" model. 

I snagged some of those this winter too.  I got 2 packs of the smaller ones and 2 packs of the bigger 3.5 inch versions.

 

If you are intending to use them for largemouth, the 3.5 inch versions will be fine.  I prefer the smaller ones for brown bass.  I normally use spinning gear if I'm fishing them with an exposed tube jig.  But I use a bait casting setup with the 3.5 inch tubes in the weeds for largies with a skip gap hook.  The BC works better when there's more weight and you need to horse fish out of weedy habitat.

[EWREX]

unless i'm pitching a tube texas rigged with a heavy weight in grass, i always throw one on spinning gear with a 1/8-3/8oz. tube jig head depending on the depth i'm fishing. like @TnRiver46 stated above, i also tend to have more luck and get more bites on a 2.75" more than others. both brown fish and green fish

[Mbirdsley]

Like said above I throw tubes on jigs from 1/16-1/2.  I don’t believe I’ve ever thrown the 1/2’s though.  Those were for a situation on a certain lake I haven't found my self in yet like +30 feet deep.
 

I used to throw them on a MH spinning and still consisted finnesse.  I’ve down graded though m/l and medium spinning rod.

 

I’ve had most success on 4.0 inch tube for smallies and large mouth.  I’m thinking of getting smaller ones for this spring though. Definitely interested in the maxx scent tubes 

[KP Duty]

42 minutes ago, OkobojiEagle said:

"finessey" isn't the size or weight of the bait, its how you fish it.

 

oe

"That's what she said"- Michael Scott

[ajschn06]

3 minutes ago, KP Duty said:

"That's what she said"- Michael Scott

 

"That's what she said" -Michael Scott

                     -KP Duty

[FryDog62]

I throw both the 2.5 and 3.5 Maxscent tubes for smallies and LMB. Which size is usually based more on depth/cover.
 

FWIW, I do throw the 3.5 in both lakes and rivers - usually on a  3/0 1/8 oz Owner Phantom Tube hook. Fantastic rig especially around rocks, weeds, lay downs. It’s a little more center-weighted for that lazy, spiral falling action vs. Texas rigging which just nose-dives and can get hung up.
 

I throw it mostly on Medium or sometimes MH baitcasting gear, 10-12 lb fluoro. Spinning would work too..
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/search-tackle.html?start=0&count=30&searchtext=Owner+phantom+

 

[Basser2021]

58 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I never have any luck with 3.5 inch. 2.75 inch tube is probably me and most of my friends number one smallie produces for many years 

I have had great luck with that size as well

I usually go with strike king bitsy tubes

[TnRiver46]

19 minutes ago, Basser2021 said:

I have had great luck with that size as well

I usually go with strike king bitsy tubes

Me too! That’s what’s in the pic 

[Jmilburn76]

I also just picked up some tubes and tube jigs to try this year, we shall see if they produce for me.

[ajschn06]

2 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

I throw both the 2.5 and 3.5 Maxscent tubes for smallies and LMB. Which size is usually based more on depth/cover.
 

FWIW, I do throw the 3.5 in both lakes and rivers - usually on a  3/0 1/8 oz Owner Phantom Tube hook. Fantastic rig especially around rocks, weeds, lay downs. It’s a little more center-weighted for that lazy, spiral falling action vs. Texas rigging which just nose-dives and can get hung up.
 

I throw it mostly on Medium or sometimes MH baitcasting gear, 10-12 lb fluoro. Spinning would work too..
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/search-tackle.html?start=0&count=30&searchtext=Owner+phantom+

 

 

These are the hooks I was eyeing for the 3.5" tubes with the 5/0 model hook and 3/16 oz weight...

[FryDog62]

1 hour ago, ajschn06 said:

 

These are the hooks I was eyeing for the 3.5" tubes with the 5/0 model hook and 3/16 oz weight...

Go with 3/0...on the 3.5 inch tubes.  I use 1/8 oz 90% of the time, and 3/16 oz the rest if in deeper water and/or stronger current, 

[Darth-Baiter]

I worked this out as a punch bait alternative. 
 

I buried a 1 oz tungsten weight.   I need a heavier hook. But it will work. 
 

 

[thediscochef]

I've also acquired some tubes, 3.5" BPS tender tubes, and some KVD coffee ones. 1/16oz and 1/8oz heads. I intend to bring the 1/16oz tubes to clearer waters than I normally fish...Ray Roberts is clear enough but I've done better on chatterbaits. I think tubes may do me better in clear, cool water. Need to get some shakeyheads too.

[walleyecrazy]

I throw most all of my tubes on spinning gear. I throw pretty much exclusively tubes in the 3.75” size with the Secret Lures Stupid Tube and the Xzone X-Tube being my favorite two. In lakes with grass I fish the stupid rigged on a Megabass Levante Enforcer. If I’m fishing the river or more open water I fish them with an open hook jig head on a Daiwa Tatula  TTU701MFS. In either case I generally use either a 1/8 or 1/4 jig head. The only time I ever go heavier is if the current requires it when fishing in the river. 

[papajoe222]

Although I do use spinning gear on occasion, I much prefer using a baitcaster for any jig 1/8oz. or heavier.  My rod of choice is rated for 3/16-3/8oz. and 4-10lb. line and my Daiwa Sol is spooled with 8lb. mono.  If I go smaller/lighter, the spinning gear gets the nod and much heavier on a Med/Mod casting rod.

[Munkin]

If I am actually using a tube most of the time its 3.5" unless conditions are really tough the 2.75" is what I use.

 

Allen

[Mr. Aquarium]

3.5 inch strike king coffee tubes are my

favorite. I fish all the time on a 1/4 ounce tube jig. Crawl and bounce it on bottom

[MickD]

My fav  is the 3.5 SK coffee, watermelon-candy most of the time.  I had one occasion when they preferred a smaller tube, but I've tried the smaller ones many times since without much success.  I vary the retrieve-sometimes they are on enough to hit on the fall, which is neat.  Other times drag, short hops.  I've not had much success on long agressive hops.  If I do that it's usually with a swim bait, snapping it off the bottom.  

[heavyduty]

River Rock Custom Baits. 1/8-1/4oz weedless tube jigs (oldham style) depending upon current. Generally speaking, I'll start early Spring with 2.5 - 2.75" and work up to 4" by late Summer.

But there have been days when I'm throwing a smaller tube and won't get a sniff, change to a 3.5 - 4" and they start crushing it; and vice versa.

I throw tubes on spinning gear with mono. If I had mono on my baitcaster, I'd throw them on that also. I like mono to "snap" the tubes free if they get hung in rock.