tube baits

[twigass]

hey all, i just started fishing with a tube took me all summer but i did and i am catching fish, but the next couple lakes i fish are real heavy cover and i dont know how to fish it weedless or if u can use the tube head jig a weedless style, any way i fish on wednesday. the way i have been trying is texas style but it seems like i waste more tubes than i catch fish so ane help would be appreciated. also the color thing is hard for me the only 1 i used is green how do u match colors, the lake is very murcy with sharp drop offs.

[bassfisher02]

If you are just trying to make a tube weedless without a jighead, simply use a smaller r-bend or EWG hook, and do what you would usually do T-rigging. Now if you are trying to use a tube as a trailer on a jig, simply get a jig with a weedgaurd, and thread on the tube, keeping the hook exposed. matching jig skirts and trailers isnt so much a big deal. Sometimes not matching the 2 will actually work to your advantage, I believe Zooker mis-matches colors.

[twigass]

thank you ill try it tomorrow

[carolina-rig-01]

i really like these tube weights for rigging weedless. http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...=SearchResults

[millsryno]

I have 2 favorite ways to throw a tube. In deeper water, usually around a lot of riprap and rock, I like to throw a 3.5" salty tube on a texas rig, with a small weight. the smaller the weight the better, just enough to get it down there and feel contact with bottom.

For flipping, I go with a 5.5" flipping salty tube. They are made with extra salt in them so you can fish them weightless. They flip far and sink without a sinker. The action is awesome.

I just got serious into tubes last year and now I have them tied on at all times.

[Patrick Krueger, Jr.]

For really clear water I shove splitshots into the the tube before T-rigging it. It lets me use various sizes for different depths and I have more splitshots than I'll ever use otherwise.

[bassthumb32]

i like a bullet style weight for tubes it gives it a more crawfish like action. the weights that c rig reccomends have more of a baitfish appearance because the weight is through the whole tube so it appears more horizontal when it falls. the bullett weight falls with a vertical action and has a more erratic action when you peg the weight.

[robbor]

push a small bass casting weight up your tubes butt and then rig it like a worm but make shure you get the hook throught the eye on the weight. Very simple and cheap.

[BigBassin144]

I'd rig the tube Texas style for going weedless, but to not lose a ton of tube, go with the right hook. I use this hook for more than just weedless though, but it will solve your texas rig tube loosing problem. Its the GAMAKATSU MAX GAP SURE GRIP HOOKS. I don't know if BPS or Cabelas will have them, I have to get them from my local lure building/tackle shop. Here's a pick and a website you can get 'em from.

http://www.jannsnetcraft.com/gamakat...ks/830900.aspx

BB144

[twigass]

thank u to all, fishing a big tournament on hubbard lake here in michigan and thats about the only bait that u can catch them on there so ill try these tricks out and let u know how i did

[Rebbasser]

If you don't want a weight outside the tube use a small bell sinker. Insert it in the tube with the brass ring pointed towards the open end of the tube. When you insert the hook run the hook through the brass ring like so:



and rigged:



No, I can't take credit for that one-learned it from a guide on Lake Ray Roberts up north of Ft. Worth.

[Mac10]

In thin weeds or non weedy areas, I use the bubby rig......simply squeeze a splitshot on the outside, on the curved belly of the hook underneath the middle of the tube. This outside weight catches and releases on the bottom and rocks the tube and shakes the tail when doing so. It also makes a little noise when dragging on the bottom, probably raising a little silt and clicking when hitting pebbles.

Also, tear out every third tentacle on the skirt, much more freedom of tail action.

[adamchasejones]

For four inch tubes I ALWAYS texas rig mine with a tru tungsten sinker and a 4/0 gamakatsu EWG hook. I always use a 7ft heavy rod with this too. Flippin tubes and heavy cover just go together.

[3dkicker]

Some tubes hold up real well when fished in heavy cover and some don't. Try some different brands to find out which work best for you. T-rig them with an EWG hook and you can peg the weight. Or you can use a screw type bullet weight if the head is thick enough to hold it. Use size and color to match the crawfish. Currently the bass on the Potomac are eating small brown/grey craws with red legs and pinchers. So a 3" brown/red tube should do the trick. If they were eating 5-6" green/brown craws then I'd throw a bigger bait, probably a 5" or a 6" Goliath in GP. Make sure you match the hook size with the bait, remember length and thickness matter (or so I'm told ). 2/0 for 3", 3/0 or 4/0 for 4" and 4/0 or 5/0 for 5" and definately a 5/0 + for the big boy tube.
Most common color craw around here is a mix of green/brown/grey with black spots and orange claws. They're normally around 3.5 to 4.5 inches.

[BigBassin144]

Reb, that's an awesome idea, thanks for sharing it, I'm gonna go try that when I'm done here.

[twigass]

thanks again guys all ideas are helping and making me a better fisherman

[PowerBass]

Originally Posted by Rebbasser

If you don't want a weight outside the tube use a small bell sinker. Insert it in the tube with the brass ring pointed towards the open end of the tube. When you insert the hook run the hook through the brass ring like so:



and rigged:



No, I can't take credit for that one-learned it from a guide on Lake Ray Roberts up north of Ft. Worth.

SSHHHHHH!!! Reb we know that rig dont work......