Tube jig fisherman.

[SWMIBASSER]

I don't generally fish tubes much. Around docks and that is about it.

I intend to change that next season.

Please chime in with any tips or techniques you care to share. I'll gladly take private messages if you don't care to share with the entire board.

Any links to good web articles would also be appreciated.

[fishfordollars]

I Texas rig and C-rig them most of the time.

I really like to hop them out a clay point and then kill them down the drop.

I never though about c-rigging them until I had a draw partner just kill them from the back of the boat one day. He was fishing them with a 1oz. weight and a three foot leader. I'm a little slow I guess, as I let him put almost 10 pounds in the boat before I gave in and switched up. He finished up with a little over 18 lbs. that day and I never caught up.

[bilgerat]

As I answered in the first version of this thread, 1/8 to 1/4 tube jigs (exposed hooks) jigged in open water. The same rig can be drug along the bottom if there's no grass or weeds to hang it up. Vary the retrieve; yo yo, swim it straight, jerk it up off of the bottom, etc.

When rigged weightless, a lot of tubes stay on or near the surface. At times this rig can be a jackpot. Just twitch it ever so slightly and hold on. The tubes I gave you a link to have enough weight to them to get good distance.

In my opinion, tubes are a lot like senkos in that you really can't fish them wrong. I even have used them as jig trailers in a pinch and they have put fish in the boat. I'll take tubes over worms any day.

[Captain Rhino]

It isn't necessarily a jig bait, but a tube that I like to use is the Kinami Palm Tree. It is a solid tube type bait that doesn't require any extra weight to make solid casts. It falls slow, so it is good for dead-sticking IMO. I have caught a couple of 5# on them.

Rhino

[WRB]

Cap 'n gown; Hopkins Shorty 3/4 oz with shad colored tube slid over the spoon (lube the spoon with attractant, great fall/winter lure combination.

WRB

[roadwarrior]

Here ya go:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1167358924

8-)

[bassnleo]

LOL, that post is still kicking. Ya know, even though I started that thread I still pick something up every time I read it!

I haven't caught a fish on a tube in.......'bout 24 hours Smallies on the river here are still biting them in 47 degree water.

[roadwarrior]

You da MAN!

[MNGeorge]

We had an awesome day yesterday with Smallies on tubes and beavers in 41 degree water. 2 of us fishing about 7 hours wound up with 6 20" or better and another 9 that were 19" or better. Even got 1 LM about 18 1/2" in that 41 degree water, but she came on jig and Paca Craw combo.

[fishermantony]

I like the Strike King coffee tube, they have alot of scent and they are very durable.  A tube is a crawfish imitation and I believe the key is to work it around areas that the crawfish will be relating at that time.  For example, in colder water temps (40's) they will relate to rock.  If the fish are lethargic and you aren't getting bit you may need to work the tube really slowly.  I've also caught spawning fish on beds with tubes, that would probably be the first bait I throw at a spawning fish.  I'm new to tube fishing myself so these suggestions are just things that have worked for me with limited experience, but i'm sure exited about countless more outings with the tube in my arsenal.  Good Luck!

[simplejoe]

I've been T-rigging a Strike king bleeding baits tubes in Chartruse pepper and been killing em on it.

[champlain-champ]

all i have to say is.. melon pepper on an 1/8 ounce tube head in 12-18 feet of water fishing for smallies. sometimes when a drop shot is the ticket i cast the tube out the back of the boat and just drag it around if im drop shotting a flat. you would be suprised how many times my little buddy has legally caught fish for me while i was catching them on a drop shot.

[paul.]

homemade "paca tube". one of my favorite flippin' baits.  even deadlier with a jig rattle inside.

[paul.]

backwards on a jig head as a "hula craw".

[midnighthrasher]

that thing looks awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chris]

Generally when I skip a tube I want the bait to mimic a fleeing baitfish so I tend to use a 1/8 oz or lighter weight. After the bait hits the water I tend to just reel it in. It don't look like much reeling it in no real action but they do wack it. When I am fishing deeper water if you rig it with the jig head eye moved up from the end the bait will spiral on the fall. This works well in summer and fall when you are fishing the ends of points. Depending on how far back you place the jig head effects the how wide the spiral is. You want to use a lighter jig head for this technique. If I am fishing it with a Carolina rig I sometimes fill the tube with cotton filled with fish scent (Fish formula bio sound is a good one for this)or push foam in it to make it float off the bottom or to adjust the fall rate. You can use it like a jerkbait which works well at times without any weight. When you flip a tube what makes it different is that when it falls it falls different every time unlike a jig and draws more strikes at times because of it. The internal weights are great with the hp hook but before they came out I would shove a worm in the tube to fill it and push a nail in it for weight. The bait lays flat on the fall because the weight is even. (pre fat ika lol) You can also use that worm to hold your flipping rattle in place. Another thing I did for Carolina rigging is to take the head off one tube and melt it with a lighter and shove it into the other tube to create a air pocket. On a belly weghted hook it falls like a senko and works well in weed pockets. In the winter I use the tubes that have the filled in head to flip weightless. The filled head acts like a weight with the hook and it falls super slow I think strike king makes it. Prowler has a big butt tube that has a wider back section which works well for displacing water on the fall. I have found that it makes a difference at times. Also with skipping and spiral fall you want to use a tube that the tails have has been hand cut not injected. The hand cut tails collapse when it enters the water trapping air. Injected tails hold its form and any air in the tube leaves on the fall. 

[SWMIBASSER]

In my limited experience I've had serious trouble hooking up when texas rigged.

Anyone else?

I'm going to give up on TX rigging them and always rig them with an exposed hook jig head.

[SWMIBASSER]

How does tube construction effect bait action?

For instance what is the difference other than durability of a thicker tube vs a thinner tube?

[Chris]

How does tube construction effect bait action? A palm tree or fat ika is a solid tube that is filled with salt. Salt adds weight and because the weight is even throughout the bait the lure falls like a senko and can be used with out weight. As I mentioned the tails effect the fall rate by either trapping air or releasing air on the fall. Tubes that have more of an umbrella tail parachute more than one with slim tails. The thicker the walls of a tube the more salt can be added to it. The thicker walls also change the noise it produces to a degree also when you put a rattle insert in it. Tubes that have a solid head can be turned and re-hooked many times before it tears. Tubes that have a solid head also add front end weight as I already mentioned. It also gives you a place to use a Florida rig bullet weight. The weight can be screwed into the head no problem. With a cyber flex tube because of the material properties you can counterbalance the weight to manipulate the fall rate more so than a normal tube because it floats. As far as your hook ratio in texas rigging them here are some pointers. I tend to use a between a 3/0-5/0 wide gap hook depending on the size of the tube. After I thread the hook point into the head I want the hook to lay between the tails with only the hook point covered in the bait. I like to use Gama EWG hooks. When a fish grabs it the hook pops out and they get all hook.