Coffee Tube Surprise

[jbmaine]

Last Thursday, my wife and I spent the day fishing up at our favorite lake. This is a lake that we have fished for years and usually we are pretty dialed in on what works. However, this year has been kind of strange. So far, the fish don't seem to be where they are expected to be and although we had a couple of good days, most of the time we had to really work for them. We were fishing a stretch of shoreline that drops off pretty quick and we noticed that we were picking up fish on the fishfinder in about 25-30 feet of water. Each of us were fishing a different color/brand of tube, bouncing it across the bottom without much luck. Finally, for lack of any better ideas, I put on a coffee tube. We had bought a package of these this spring, but hadn't really done much with them. Long story short, I started catching fish. My wife switched to a coffee tube and for the rest of the day, we did well. The surprising thing is, that we caught small mouth, large mouth, and even a pickerel from the same spot all in about 25 feet of water. We much have caught a dozen fish, two pounds or better, and lost 5 or 6. The only down side, is a couple of the fish were deep hooked and I wasn't sure they made it. It was surprising how much they tried to inhale these tubes. Even one small mouth was spitting out small yellow perch when I brought it up to the boat and it still had the coffee tube halfway down its throat. I think next time we are going to try just running the hook through the nose of the tube, to try to get shallower hook set. I can't say for sure that it was the (coffee) that did it, but they sure weren't hitting any of the other tubes we were tossing at them. We are going to try for a repeat performance the end of this week and we will let you know how it goes.

Jb

[fishbear]

I have heard coffee colored plastics are pretty hot.

[Sam]

Jbmain,

I have read about the coffee flavored tubes but never thought much about them.  I wonder what the fish like about the taste?  Maybe one day I will try them to see how they perform in Virginia waters.  I would think fishing them on a Carolina rig or split-shot setup would work, too.  And what about during the spawn?  They could produce during the spawn if the bass actually like the smell or flavor.  I would think we would not use any attractants on the coffee tubes. What do you think? And how deep were you fishing them?  And do they come in different colors?  Just asking as I have not seen them in any stores around here. And who makes them? I can probably find them in the local tackle stores if I know the manufacturer.  Thanks for the great story.  It is amazing what these different baits can do when you use them.  

[FishTank]

I also like using the coffee tubes.  I have caught all sorts of fish on these things including LMB, SMB, carp, catfish, and crappie.  I think Strike King has a winner on their hands.  

[jbmaine]

Hi Sam

I usually take all the hype about "this lure is bigger, better and will catch more fish" with a grain of salt. But, in this one case, anyway, it seemed to work. Before trying the Coffee Tube we tried tubes by YUM and VENOM without so much as a tap. And as I said, once we tried the Coffee Tubes, we were picking up fish at a steady rate. Same color, same presentation, same spot... I can only think the coffee flavor helped. We were slowly dragging the tube across the bottom in about 25 feet of water rigged with a 1/8 oz and 1/4 oz weighted tube hook. We are hoping to get back up to the lake the end of this week and I'll let you know if this is a pattern or one time fluke. The Coffee Tubes are made by STRIKE KING. The colors were Watermelon with red flake, and a Goby colored. Both seemed to work.

jb

[ptomacbass]

i have heard great things about these lures.  the coffee adds scent and gives the baits a good color.  so now strike king is adding coffee to some more of their soft plastics.  here is the link check the one about caffeine

http://www.strikeking.com/press/press_releases/index.php

[fishbear]

I smell a new attractant coming on......  maybe Starbucks will help with materials for development!!

Just what we need.... Bass on a caffeine rush!!!  ;D ;D ;D ;D  Then getting irritable and a headache when they dont get the caffeine.... : :

[Jeff C.]

I have caught a lot of fish on my own hand pours with coffee scent added.

And it smells kinda good when you are making the baits. Some of the scents smell kinda bad ( very strong ) when making baits.

[SuthernProg]

Now we just need a cream and sugar attractant to coat the tubes with. ;D

[.ghoti.]

Now we just need a cream and sugar attractant to coat the tubes with. ;D

NAH, everybody knows that you have to have donuts with coffee.

I've actually caught quite a few decent fish with the coffee tubes this year.

[Pitchinkid]

Jbmain,

I have read about the coffee flavored tubes but never thought much about them. I wonder what the fish like about the taste? Maybe one day I will try them to see how they perform in Virginia waters. I would think fishing them on a Carolina rig or split-shot setup would work, too. And what about during the spawn? They could produce during the spawn if the bass actually like the smell or flavor. I would think we would not use any attractants on the coffee tubes. What do you think? And how deep were you fishing them? And do they come in different colors? Just asking as I have not seen them in any stores around here. And who makes them? I can probably find them in the local tackle stores if I know the manufacturer. Thanks for the great story. It is amazing what these different baits can do when you use them.

STRIKE KING MAKES THEM, IM NOT SURE ON HOW MANY DIFFRENT COLORS THOUGH. I HAVENT TRIED THEM MYSELF.LOL CANT STOP USING GITZITS LONG ENOUGH TO GIVE THEM A SHOT.

[Mike 12345]

I just picked up a pack of these on my way home today. Is it easier to use these with a weighted tube hook, or T-rigged with a worm hook?

[Fishingelbow]

If they sell well enough, everybody will want to jump on the bandwagon next year. Did somebody say cappuccino, latte, espresso, mocha? :

[catchnm]

If they sell well enough, everybody will want to jump on the bandwagon next year. Did somebody say cappuccino, latte, espresso, mocha?

I still lean toward the coffee and donuts idea. Buy a bag of tubes and a dozen donuts, head to the lake, eat a donut, rig up a tube, grab another donut, rub the tube all over the donut, cast it out and catch fish-------or if ya don't even catch a fish at all, at least you'll attract the local patrol boat into the vicinity.  

[OH-bass614]

im might get them just for the smell in the mourning ..nothin better then the smell of coffee early in the mourning