Tubes

By. Justin Hahaj

Tubes have become the go to bait for many northern anglers in the past five years.   The 2000 Bassmaster Classic in Chicago was won with a tube, Woo Daves fished a seawall with a tube on light line to claim the victory.  Primarily a proven smallmouth lure, the tube is also effective for largemouth.  Denny Brauer won the 1998 Bassmaster Classic by flipping a tube bait, on heavy tackle, into heavy cover.  Tubes are very versatile; they can be fished shallow and deep, in heavy cover or open water.  Tubes have become one of the most effective baits for my tournament partner Rich Charleston and I.

The inventor of the tube bait was Bobby Garland.  Garland worked for Gitzit at the time.  Almost every bait company makes their version of the tube.  There is every style and color imaginable.  The key is picking one that best fits the conditions your fishing in.

Equipment and Rigging 

I usually rig a tube one of two ways depending the pattern I’m Fishing.  If I’m fishing heavy cover I use a Texas Rig.  I normally use a 2/0 Wide Gap Gamakatsu hook and a 1-1/2 oz screw in weight.  I fish this bait with a 7’6’’ Heavy Action flippin’ stick and casting reel lined with 50lb braid.  My favorite tube for this technique is the Strike King Flippin’ Tube. 

To fish open water I rig a tube differently and use different equipment.  I rig a tube with a 60-degree tube jighead. 

Simply push the jighead in from the bottom until the eye comes out the top.   Depending on the depth and technique I use 1/16 oz-1 oz jigheads.  When fishing open water I tie a tube on a 7’6’’ medium light, extra fast action G-Loomis spinning rod.   The spinning reel I like the best is the Quantum Energy pt 20.  I spool up with 6-10 lb fluorocarbon depending on the water clarity.  My favorite brand is Shuberts Rite-Bite 3 ½ in tubes.  

Presentation

Tube baits are very versatile and can be fished in a variety of ways.  Tubes can be flipped, pitched, skipped, jigged, swept, and even used as a drop shot bait.  Tubes are often used to imitate two types of bait: shad and crayfish.  Smoke and clear tubes best imitate shade whereas brown, red, and watermelon tubes imitate crayfish.    

·                  Flipping and pitching a tube is the most common way of fishing them.  You delicately flip or pitch a 4 in tube into heavy cover or weed pockets.  These are excellent ambush points for a lunker largemouth to be hiding.  This presentation works well during the pre-spawn and spawn in lakes were the fish are not visible.

·                 Another presentation is fishing deep-water structure with a 3-½ inch tube jig.  Look for weedy drop-offs and slowly jig the tube down the slope.  This tactic works very well in the summer when fish are forced deep because of the heat. 

·                  Skipping a tube under boat docks is another great presentation.  Docks offer great cover and shade during hot summer months.  Rig your tube with a 1/16 oz jighead and skip it way underneath docks. 

·                  Sweeping a tube on weedy flats is also very effective.  Rich Charleston originated this technique.  Simply cast your tube out onto a 3-10 ft flat with scattered weeds and sweep it in.  Hold your rod at a 60-degree angle and jerk the tube with slack line.  The tube will look like a wounded minnow.  When you feel any pressure then reel down and the hook will set itself.

·                 Lastly, tubes are deadly on beds, especially smallmouth beds. 

Conclusion