Tubes. Couple questions

[NewAngler]

I'm going to be taking the tube pkunge pretty soon.

Actually, whenever I can find them. I can't find them in

Wal Mart, Dicks, and breifly looked in Gander to no avail.

1. I did buy a pack of "tube rattle hooks" 1/8 oz. Good?

2. I see the term "dragging tubes"- what does it mean?

3. Are tubes money in the winter?

4. What kind (brand if possible) of tubes you guys use?

5. I would guess to use flouro, but have braid, with a Yo-Zuri leader. Will this suffice?

thanks, homies.

[SuskyDude]

1. Never been a big fan of anything but a standard barrel-style tube jig head. Don't care about rattles.

[FuzzyGrub]

I'm going to be taking the tube pkunge pretty soon.

Actually, whenever I can find them. I can't find them in

Wal Mart, Dicks, and breifly looked in Gander to no avail.

1. I did buy a pack of "tube rattle hooks" 1/8 oz. Good?

I wouldn't bother with rattles.  I mainly use standard tube jigs in 1/8, 3/16, and 1/4oz.

2. I see the term "dragging tubes"- what does it mean?

Dragging them on the bottom vs jigging or swimming.

3. Are tubes money in the winter?

Tubes account for over 80% of my river smallies.

4. What kind (brand if possible) of tubes you guys use?

For smallies I like 3.25" to 3.5" fat style tube, not the thin finesse style.  Green Pumpkin and sometime Black perform the best in my stomping grounds.

5. I would guess to use flouro, but have braid, with a Yo-Zuri leader. Will this suffice?

Probably, but mono still works for me.

thanks, homies.

[retiredbosn]

3. Are tubes money in the winter?

seeing that tubes imitate crayfish, and crayfish hibernate in the winter, I would use another finesse type bait. A straight worm without any action on a drop shot rig.

I catch more smallies on grubs than anything else, I rely on minnow imitators for catch quantity.  When the craws start coming out of hibernation is the time to start with the tubes, the smallies really load up on them in the spring.

[SuskyDude]

Wierd. I'll try again:

1. Like I already said, I prefer a plain barrel jig head.

2. Like Fuzzy said, dragging them on the bottom. Let your jig fall to the bottom, pick up the slack, pause and wait for a strike. Hold your rod at 45 degrees and just slowly reel so you drag the tube. When you start wedging into something snaggy, lift/wiggle the rod to pop it out. Let it settle to the bottom and wait for it. Resume drag if it dosnt come. Keep a tight line and be ready at all times.

3. Tubes have been CASH money for me in the winter. I don't think smallies care if its the wrong time of year for a crayfish to be wandering around, or if crayfish are the ONLY creatures a smallie might mistake a tube for. Darters come to mind.

4. Four inch Mizmo Big Boys on a 1/4 oz head. Somtimes a 3.5 inch slim.

5. Whatever you like. Abrasion resistance is something to consider when you're dragging in the rocks/junk alot. Your line rubs the bottom alot when you drag.

[grimlin]

3. Are tubes money in the winter?

seeing that tubes imitate crayfish, and crayfish hibernate in the winter, I would use another finesse type bait. A straight worm without any action on a drop shot rig.

I catch more smallies on grubs than anything else, I rely on minnow imitators for catch quantity. When the craws start coming out of hibernation is the time to start with the tubes, the smallies really load up on them in the spring.

IMO you are missing out.Drop shot a white tube and I think you may be surprise at the results.Tubes don't always remind me of a crayfish. 

[retiredbosn]

You know I've never tried a white tube.  I guess in that instance it would be a baitfish type imitator, which would work.  Thanks for the tip.

[roadwarrior]

I'm throwing a white (00-Ghost) Mizmo 4" Big Boys

on a C-rig this weekend. My thought is popping the

tube off the bottom as the rig is dragged down the river.

Using a weedless set-up, I hope to reduce hang-ups and

have a free-floating presentation.

We'll see.

8-)

[roadwarrior]

I'm throwing a white (00-Ghost) Mizmo 4" Big Boys

on a C-rig this weekend. My thought is popping the

tube off the bottom as the rig is dragged down the river.

Using a weedless set-up, I hope to reduce hang-ups and

have a free-floating presentation. The idea is to mimic

a fleeing shad.

We'll see.

8-)

[retiredbosn]

definitely let us know how it worked

[Jig Man]

White has always been a good tube color for me in the late fall and early winter.  I haven't used them yet because my boat is in the glass shop, but when it gets back they will go for a swim.

[J Francho]

1. I did buy a pack of "tube rattle hooks" 1/8 oz. Good?

I don't generally use rattles.  Bit Me and Venom jigs are my preferred brands.

2. I see the term "dragging tubes"- what does it mean?

It means just that, dragging them, as the boat slowly drifts.

3. Are tubes money in the winter?

They are money year round.

4. What kind (brand if possible) of tubes you guys use?

Venom.

5. I would guess to use flouro, but have braid, with a Yo-Zuri leader. Will this suffice?

Yep.

[NewAngler]

Thanks guys. If it is a prety swift moving river and I'm wading, which weight would you guys suggest for my hooks?

[roadwarrior]

I really depends how you are rigging. If you use

an inserted jig head, inserted weight or T-rig, 1/8

oz may be enough. If you choose a C-rig, you want

to keep the weight on the bottom and will need at

least a 1/4 oz barrel weight, maybe 1/2 oz.

8-)

[J Francho]

I'll go up to 3/4 oz.  But usually 1/8 to 3/8 oz. is just right.

[roadwarrior]

I'll go up to 3/4 oz. But usually 1/8 to 3/8 oz. is just right.

My point, and I think J Francho's too, is to

use the least weight you are comfortable

fishing. Lighter weights allow the tube to

"float" down and spiral.

8-)

[roadwarrior]

I'm throwing a white (00-Ghost) Mizmo 4" Big Boys

on a C-rig this weekend. My thought is popping the

tube off the bottom as the rig is dragged down the river.

Using a weedless set-up, I hope to reduce hang-ups and

have a free-floating presentation.

We'll see.

Saturday went well, 24 smallmouth, all about

the same, 3-4 lbs. I caught a couple on the white

tube, plus some green fish and cats. However,

most of fish were caught on the split shot rig.

8-)

[FuzzyGrub]

Today it was 40 degree water, and green pumpkin tubes accounted for 19 of 32 caught. All the 18"ers were included in the 19.

[edit]Removed self-promotional link. Please see the FAQs regarding self-promotion[/edit]

Sorry, it was just a personnel, no-advertising website.

Here is just a pic with the tube still in the mouth:

[FuzzyGrub]

FWIW: Was out yesterday, with 43F water and actually caught a crayfish.  He clamped right on to the jig.   I put it in the cup holder for a latter picture, but it escaped.   Bass are still hitting the tube, as well. 

[Crestliner2008]

Fishing the CT River last week with tubes was very productive. Water a was a bit high and murky with vis about 3' or less. Temp was 42 degrees.

Used 4" green pumpkin tubes with a 3/8 oz. inside jig head, hook exposed. Slow drag method worked just fine. My "normal" jig head weight is 1/4 oz., but the conditions required the heavier head to keep the tube on the bottom.

Surprisingly, with these "cool" water temps, the bass were not in the deeper holes; rather the 10' - 12' flats along the edges of these holes. And they were spread out.

Tube can be productive all year long. Just depends on what they want at any given time.

[JDK.]

tubes are one of of not the most productive winter bait here in Tn for smallies

[Garry2Rs]

In the fall the cooling water kills a lot of shad minnows.  White tubes fished weightless, hopped, dragged or on Carolina rigs would match the hatch...

Garry2R's

[Crestliner2008]

If you get the WFC channel on cable, catch the show, "Extreme Angler" this week. Talking about tube dragging in cold water. Great show!

[Tin]

When I fished the Weekend Series as a co-angler I out fished a lot of boaters by actually dragging the tube while they were actually hopping it.

I would drag it like a c-rig and pop it when it hit something, where as a lot of guys fish it like a t-rig or shakey head. The differences in fish catching are crazy. Just much more realistic when dragged like a c-rig. But sometimes those smallies just dont care and eat it if it comes within 5' of them.

[SWMIBASSER]

Thanks guys. If it is a prety swift moving river and I'm wading, which weight would you guys suggest for my hooks?

It really depends on what your idea of swift is. I don't think we can give an accurate idea of weight here.

When I fish the creek in my back yard I fish wacky worms weightless, and let it drift down river reel in and cast again....Whatever you call that : Same basic idea as salmon fishing.

When I fish a jig I use a 3/8oz but with a trailer doesn't fall terribly fast. It will make it to bottom but drift down stream when lifted off the bottom.

I've hauled several 3lb fish and a few 4lb fish out of the creek along with a bunch of other smaller chunks. That creek was a pleasant surprise when we moved here! ;D