T-Rig Tubes

[Jigfishn10]

I've been having problems with tubes getting fatigued at the tip too easily causing the tube to slide down the hook. Today I experimented with a new rigging method I read about and thought I would share it because it worked really well.

I used and offset 4/0 widegap hook and took 2 pieces of line and tied them to the line lie of the hook with improved clinch knots. I cut the tag ends (4 total) to a little less than 1/2". I tied the hook onto the main line with the main line tied between the 2 knots and cut a the tag end to the same size as the others. I rigged my tube as you normally would on a T-Rig, slid the nose of the tube up and over the now 3 knots. What I got was a nice mesh of tag lines underneath the tube at the tip.

I fished matted weeds and lilly pads and never had it slip down the hook shank. The only time it would slide down was when I caught fish.

I hope this helps and if anyone has a better method for T-Rigging tubes, please post. I would be very interested.

Happy tubing and tight lines.

[B-Dozer]

Hey buddy, love dem tubes huh! When I fish tubes weightless T style, I use them coilspring things (forget their name, hitchhikers maybe?) that you can hook on any size hook. They seem to hold very well. But what's really been good to me is Oldham's weedless jigheads. Again they have a built in coilspring thingy, and a wire-type weedguard that clips on the hook. They come in 1/8 and 1/4 oz. heads. I can drag/hop these through most any kind of weed w/o getting hung up. I got them at Dick's, but haven't seen them anywhere else. If you like I can send you some. I have got more on tubes this year than everything else put together for some reason. Not complaining at all.

[A-Jay]

Hey John,

You might want to check out Parasite clips and worm weight.

I use them quite a bit and they do extend the life of what ever bait I'm heaving at the time.

A-Jay

http://parasiteweights.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=30

[JacobK]

jigfshn can you post pictures?

[BassThumb]

Are you using the right kind of tube? Some tubes are meant for Texas rigging and others are meant for fishing with an internal jighead inserted into them. Those that are meant for the T-rig have about 1/4 - 3/8" of extra plastic in the tip that's meant to hold the worm hook more securely.

[Jig Man]

Have you tried using a bell sinker inside the tube? I do this sometimes and put the hook through the eye of the sinker. It holds the tube very well and I don't have a sinker hanging on stuff.

[J Francho]

I was going to recommend the parasite clips as well. I don't use them much, but when I do, they work.

I'm not a fan of internal tube weights. I think it changes the appeal of the hollow tube, and I don't feel very confident with al that metal in the way of the hookset. Many use them, so that might be unfounded, but it's easy to blame failure on what you don't feel good about.

[basshunter81]

Try the Gamakatsu Skip Gap Hooks.

[Siebert Outdoors]

Try the Gamakatsu Skip Gap Hooks.

Thats one of my favorite tube hooks.

[Jigfishn10]

There's a lot of great advice on here and I appreciate all who have posted. I haven't fished tubes since the late 90's early 2000's, my apologies to all for the newb thread...

B-Dozer, I got back into fishing these again this year because a member on here lost a bet during the Bruins & Flyers playoff series. He included a few of his favorite tubes with the lure that I won. I can't for the life of me figure out why I strayed from them, but now I'm hooked on them again. My son too! You saw his first fish this year I posted on the My Fishing Trip Forum? "Dad, that tube and jigs, are def my favorite lure."...LOL...Gotta love kids.

A-Jay, I had forgotten about those parasite clips and sinker. I know we had a discussion about them and I totally forgot. I'm 45 and must have had a senior moment. Thanks Bud for the reminder, I will be putting an order for them soon.

Bass Thumb, you can be sure I'll be doing some research this winter for my 2012 stock list...LOL

basshunter81, going to get some later tonight, thanks!

Jig Man, I'll be giving that technique a whirl as well.

JacobK, if you still want that pic after reading all the great advice given above, I certainly don't mind posting it for you. It worked great for a dummy like me and it's real easy to rig. Just let me know.