Tube questions

[Slyster]

This summer, I've been going nuts with plastics! (Senkos and trick worms with good success- I need to change my avatar! Not much success on spinnerbaits this summer) but today I used tubes for the first time.

What are the best ways to fish a tube? Today I did ok using tubes for bass (the cheap bulk tubes from Gander).. The only way I really have used them so far is on one of those hooks with an oval sinker built into the top. Is that generally a good way? Seems to do a lot of up and down motion while pulling it in with plenty of yanks.

What other ways do people fish them? And to be weedless (using those hooks with oval sinker built in) do you just turn it around and insert the hook tip back into the tube? (I know.. I should get some bass books... I will be soon)

Had a great time tubing! In fact caught my first bass on a tube just today. (Have had great catches with little 1" tubes for panfish.. but this was the first time I used the large 4" tubes)...

Also.. are all tubes fine? Or is there a reason NOT to buy those cheap bulk tubes at Gander?

What colors would you suggest for clear water? (WBL)

[Deitz Dittrich]

Sly-tubes are a great bait.. One of my faves for sure!

So many ways to rig them, weightless over slop like a scum frog, texas rig, carolina rig, with an internal weight, with a jighead. All will give the lure a different action, that some days will out produce another. Its up to you to find which one works which day.

Keep in mind there are also many different sizes and even shapes of tubes, as well as colors.

Yes to your question, tunr the hook back twards the body of the tube and insert the hook back in the body of the bait to make it weedless.

Green Pumpkin and watermellonseed are great colors for WBL, I won a tounament a few years ago on WBL on watermellonseed Exude Salatubes rigged on a carolina rig.

[Slyster]

Tx. What brand do you use? Or is that basically irrelevant?

[Ray Esboldt]

Sly,

I'm of the opinion that a tube is a tube...to an extent. Sure, the bulk tubes are fine. If it's the color you want, that will work. Some tubes are a little tougher skinned, some are more vibrant colors, some have scent...you know all the little extras that some plastics offer.

For a while a couple manufacturers were making tubes with a solid plastic tip. I really like those. You could rig them every way known to man and the they had a little extra weight to them. Does anyone know if these are being made anymore?

If you get the Outdoor News, last week's addition had a nice article about Tube baits by a good friend of mine and former tournament partner, Scott Peterson. It's worth a read.

[FI Guide]

I really dont think its matters what brand it is but what does matter is color, size, and how fast that the tube sinks.

[Slyster]

Would bassers say they outperform cranks and spinners? I have had so much luck on plastics (senkos/worms) that I have hardly used the others this year.. I figure... "well.. if these are working so well.. why change?"... although I do take the time to cast spinners and cranks still.. maybe 10 casts then back to plastics.. seem to get only pike on spinners this summer.

[st.crioxfishin]

Ray,

I believe that strike king still makes the tubes with the solid head on it. I think they are called "flippin tubes". I have some right now and like them, they are 4.5"-5" long and nice and bulky. But I usually opt for the YUM brand in my favorite Black/Blue color.

sly,

I would say that tubes can out-produce spinnerbaits and cranks on certain days, but also the oposite can happen at other times. When I'm fishing I will always have a spinnerbait on and a tube or a jig on. Try 'em both in the same areas.

For example sometimes you can run a spinnerbait along a dock or pitch it under a dock and pick up a bass, continue casting around it and not get another bite. Then you set that rod down pick up your tube pitch it to the dock and pick up the other fish that was less agressive than the one that hit your spinnerbait. This also helps you in becoming versitile which in turn will help you pick up more fish.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Sly-in my opinion you can not compare a tube to a spinnerbait or crankbait. They have 2 different jobs, and target different mood fish. A Crank or a spinnerbait is a much better search bait, while a tube is far better at picking a part a small area!

I use all Exude tubes, the Salatube has a solid head awesome for flipping and texas rigging.

[EBass]

Quote:

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For example sometimes you can run a spinnerbait along a dock or pitch it under a dock and pick up a bass, continue casting around it and not get another bite. Then you set that rod down pick up your tube pitch it to the dock and pick up the other fish that was less agressive than the one that hit your spinnerbait. This also helps you in becoming versitile which in turn will help you pick up more fish.

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Good post!

I use the gander tubes. 3-3.5" If I want bigger I go to a fluke or creature bait. That's just me though. I do have 6 rods and a spinnerbait is always tied on, OK crankbait to.

[nitrotmaxx]

I just started to fish bass this year and are having troubles with tubes. I was having great luck this spring on senkos. The fish were in real close to the shore. But now I noticed that they are gone. I figured they went to deeper water. Anyway I was just wandering if a tube would work well for fishing the weed line?

[fisherman-andy]

Believe it or not, I never really liked tubes. The only frequent plastic I throw is the Berkley Power Worm. There is no plastic like it in the world if you want bass. Combo that in with a red hook... very deadly.

[waltinader]

I like to texas rig them. There great for thick cover. The later the year gets the bigger the tube ill use. Late summer I will go from a 3 1/2" to a 4 or 4 1/2".