What color tubebaits work best to imitate Goby?

[fishinnstudyin]

I went out on Lake Michigan to fish for smallmouth. Did fairly well catching on the jerkbait bite but then my friend started throwing a tubejig and absolutely smoked me until i started using the same color as him. I was throwing anything from smoke purple fleck to green pumpkin red flake, pumpkinseed, mustard, etc. The hot color he had was mardi gras, purple and yellow flake.

Just wondering what color tube jig do you guys have a ton of success fishing either Lake Erie or Lake Michigan smallmouth since they have the same forage, crayfish, gobies, alewives, shiners, etc...

Caught 10 between the two of us on rock piles on shore. Average fish was about 3- 3 1/2 lbs with his biggest going 4 1/2 and mine going a solid 4lbs. Had a smallmouth easily hitting 5lbs that I had a long time bringing in and when he came up and saw me, he made a sudden surge and dove straight down, wrapped my line against something and cut me clean off.

Caught fish on

Zenith Z-65 crankbait (more like a small jerkbait)

Tubes

Kalin 3" Smoke Grub

Color tubes would be great. I heard anything with purple flakes work but would like to hear your thoughts. Also a particular company would be good. I found a great deal on Venom Tubes and having colors from Roadkill, Green Pumpkin, Pumpkinseed, Mustard, etc etc. Also have the 4" Big Shots, has anyone here had luck using those fatter tubes?

Thanks

John

[roadwarrior]

Mizmo 3 1/2" Kent's Classic (squash green/ baby diaper yellow) rigged on a 1/8 oz  jig head or if the cover/structure is a problem, T-rigged with a 3/0 EWG Gamakatsu Offset Worm Hook. I fish all soft plastics on spinning tackle and #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft.

8-)

[fishinnstudyin]

Thanks Roadwarrior..

I was throwing tubejigs on 1/2 oz tube weights.. i needed that extra weight to get down and stay down. we were only fishing in like 8-12 feet of water right along steel but it seemed today they did not want tubes dragged at a 'normal' speed. we got all our hits when we would throw the tubes, wait 10 secs, drag half a feet, wait 10 secs, etc.. all the hits were on the pause.

also, when you throw Senkos, are you guys throwing weightless? it takes the senko about 45 seconds to drop about 6 feet to where the smallmouth are at, is that normal or should i speed it up by putting it on a small weighted hook??

[bassnleo]

My top 3 Lake Erie colors are:

Green Pumpkin

Green Pumpkin

Green Pumpkin

If those colors don't work I'll try a Mizmo color called "Work of Art" which is basically watermelon. A dark melon rounds out my goby immitators. I've never found a need to get funky with colors like GP w/ some color flake. IMHO presentation is far more critical, just like your example of having to wait between drags. Find the right presentation and you'll catch 'em if your tube color is close to goby!

[roadwarrior]

My top 3 Lake Erie colors are:

Green Pumpkin

Green Pumpkin

Green Pumpkin

If those colors don't work I'll try a Mizmo color called "Work of Art" which is basically watermelon. A dark melon rounds out my goby immitators. I've never found a need to get funky with colors like GP w/ some color flake. IMHO presentation is far more critical, just like your example of having to wait between drags. Find the right presentation and you'll catch 'em if your tube color is close to goby!

Hey!

Have you tried those "babt diaper yellow" I sent you?

[bassnleo]

My top 3 Lake Erie colors are:

Green Pumpkin

Green Pumpkin

Green Pumpkin

If those colors don't work I'll try a Mizmo color called "Work of Art" which is basically watermelon. A dark melon rounds out my goby immitators. I've never found a need to get funky with colors like GP w/ some color flake. IMHO presentation is far more critical, just like your example of having to wait between drags. Find the right presentation and you'll catch 'em if your tube color is close to goby!

Hey!

Have you tried those "babt diaper yellow" I sent you?

Hey back!!!! Yep, used 'em up last fall on the Alleghney River in the Pittsburgh area. Tried them a few othe places also.

Thanks!

[Garnet]

You got the colors down! White and white /red fleck can be good. Size wieght use what makes it work............action to get a bite is everything you can think of. Remember to just fire it out and steady reel. Lots of times smallies want to swin up and crush a bait.

Garnet

[TeamBerettaGold]

Poor Boy's Tubes in Golby.  Fish lake michigan for smallies and this color works great.  Another one that works well, dont laugh it catches fish, is the Mister Twister Tubo in watermelon/red flake.  Not a lot of guys use them, but they work, just look strange.