How to rig/fish Tube baits

[andrewlamberson]

I just got the 3" smooth tube bait mold  so I was looking on the forum for what the two different inserts did...and how. As I read...the shorter one gives you a thicker head for Texas Rigging....and the longer one a shorter head for insert jig fishing.

Being a long time...fanatic of tube fishing for smallmouth and largemouth (and crappies) I thought I would give a couple thoughts on how to I fish them...and the "logic" behind it.

Tubes are to smallmouth....like rubber worms are to largemouth!!!!

But I also have caught a bunch of largemouth on them.

I fish them to imitate two things. A bait fish ...and a crawfish....

1. I have always fished them with the insert jig...and exposed hook....mainly because "that's the way you do it up here!". The big thing when fishing a tube jig this way is to have heavy enough line to slowly pull the bait off a snag by bending the hook (really!). Just keep the pliers handy to bend the hook back.

2. BEFORE you bend the hook....try raising your rod tip as HIGH AS POSSIBLE...and shaking the tip like crazy..starting straight up and then at a couple different angles. 90% plus of the time you can rock the jig off the snag (normally a rock in the Mississippi) because the weight in front...and the hook in the back..allow you to really rock the bait back and forth...thus freeing the bait. I was guiding a couple this summer that really liked to hang up their jigs....and I got them unstuck 100% of the time doing this. I'm not kidding when I say they snagged up 50+ times!

3. I like to fish them with as light a weight as possible...right up into the rocks along the bank. The smallmouth hit them the moment they hit the water (sometimes before it hits the water!)...or on the fall. If I don't get a hit on the fall...I let it sit for 10 seconds (count to 10!!!!) and then give it a small hop. Wait 10 hop. Wait 10 hop...reel it back in. Fall-3 hops...real it in! Since you are fishing them as light as possible...a spinning rod is a must. If you can cast them on a baitcast reel....you're going to heavy!!!

4. On rare occasions (like when the bass are hitting shad or shiners) I let it hit the water..twitch in back in for about 3 feet and then let it fall. The bigger smallmouth like to feed under the little guys chasing the bait and pick off the injured bait that is sinking towards the bottom.  A white or silver tube can be deadly for big smallmouth (and largemouth) in these situations.

5. And yes....I have fished them Texas rigged...but it just doesn't seem right! One of those confidence things. I'm sure it would work great...if you have confidence in it...

The  CCM mold and mandrel makes a really nice tube bait...and I'm really pumped! I probably go through at least a hundred tubes a year...so I might have to get a few molds to keep up! Tonight I'm going to do laminates....watermelon brown with red flake top.... chartreuse bottom.....that will be a killer!

FYI...my favorite jig (and tubes...until now) is from the folks that started it all...Getzit

http://www.gitzitinc.com/store/index.php/lead-fat-gitzit-lead-c-70_50

Although this is probably intrinsically obvious to everyone...except some people I guide!!!....but you insert the weighted end of the jig (the front) ...into the back (open) part of the tube...push it carefully to the front...and then poke the hook eye up through the top of the plastic...THEN tie on! I can't help but it a little laugh when I watch someone tie the jig on first....and then try to figure out how to get the tube onto it!!!! I guess that would be one of the advantages of Texas Rigging!

Sorry for the long diatribe.... but I love my Tubes!!! And the CCM tube molds and mandrel make it really easy to make them!

[Jason]

Thanks for the awesome info Andy. 

Now you know why I fish them Texas Rigged.  I never could figure out how to get the Tube Jig in the tube with the line tied on!!!     

Another great way to fish a tube is on a short line.  This could be a Carolina Rig (tube weightless), split shot a few inches up the line, or my favorite, a jointed jig head (bury the hook in the tube for weedless presentation and plug the hole so it floats - killer good).

I think tubes are way underutilized in Texas / the South, especially if you factor in their effectiveness as a flipping bait.

Now you made me want to go fish vs. work...  Not hard to do, but I'm now suffering just the same.

Jason

[andrewlamberson]

I wish I could go fish...without having to drill a hole first!!!! :'(

[Muskygary]

Another thing I do is when fishing on a tube jig, after rigging take a twin tail grub (like a glade grub), bite part of the neck off and thread it on the tube jig working it up into the tube. This gives the tube two claws like a crawfish. It also gives the tube a airpocket which will make the back of the tube standup on end!

[andrewlamberson]

Ohhhh...I like that idea! That would really make it look like a craw! And the air pocket thing is brilliant!

I think that could be the "tip of the year" for smallmouth!

[kipbass]

Not to sound ungrateful that you shared knowledge, but a few pics showing the rigging process along with the steps would be nice. You know for us light hair follicle challenged folks!

[andrewlamberson]

Here's a link to an article that pretty much reviews all the ways to rig a tube!

http://www.bassfishingandcatching.com/tube-baits.html

[MonteSS]

I use the weight inserts if imitating a baitfish. Brings the balance back a bit and swims better instead of nose diving.

....Bill

[Muskygary]

The reason I haven't posted any pictures is I haven't figured it out (how to do it ). Guess I'll have to read up on it (posting pictures)

[Jason]

The reason I haven't posted any pictures is I haven't figured it out (how to do it ). Guess I'll have to read up on it (posting pictures)

Others may know an easier way, but I just post them in the gallery and then link to them from there.  I'll create a post on how to do this in the support section.

Jason

[susquehannasean]

Another way to rig a tube is with a football head.  You need to lube the head up first. I use smelly jelly.  The fatter head will help the tube a) stand up and b) be more snag resistant.  I have been doing this side by side with guys fishing insert heads and at times it is the ticket.  Depending on your tube choice will dictate how heavy ahead you can use.  I pour my own heads and customize my heads/hooks with my tube of choice.  With all that said I usually only use tubes on the North Branch of the Susky.  On the main stem everyone throws tubes so I throw other plastics.

[Muskygary]

OK I got a couple of pictures to post in the gallery, but haven't figured out how to get them here yet.

[Jason]

OK I got a couple of pictures to post in the gallery, but haven't figured out how to get them here yet.

Gary,

Here is a tutorial I put together for adding pictures.  Let me know if it's helpful or if I need to make changes to it.

http://www.caneycreekmolds.net/index.php?topic=963.0

Thanks,

Jason

[Muskygary]

OK test to see if pictures will copy. You can see how I make the bait. The "pocket of air" between twin tail and lead head will make the bait float up.