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CTbassmaster

12-10-2004, 10:54 PM

Tubes, tubes, tubes, besides the word senko these undersized baits have been the key plastic thrown by many tournament anglers thoughout New England for the last decade. What happened to the 10" worm, the 6" lizard and a big beefy jig for that matter? (well I still love the jig in Largemouth country). A strong majority of the fish weighed in at most tournaments got placed in the livewell by being duped by a tube. I still have the age old thought process of "big baits", "big bass" and many times this is true but when the money is on the line and limits of bass are needed I usually find myself slinging a tube bait. This little creature seems to put numbers of fish in the boat as well as 4's and 5's. After a long discussion with my tx. partner over a case of Heine's, I hollered out, " I believe a strong increase in fishing pressure is one of the main reasons of this downsized baits performance." Crawfish are many times the number one forage of both the largies and smallies at many of our lakes. A look in the livewell after a tournament can usually confirm this. Also an increase in hook up percentage is evident too, due to the usually fully exposed hook, when fish suck this bait in and attempt to swim many times the hook starts to set itself instantly. There are many diff ways to fish a tube, but we will not discuss flippin them which is a totally diff animal entirely, instead I am talking mainly of the draggin technique. Some may like to hop, twitch or swim them but my greatest success has been on the drag and pause method. Close concentration, line watching and feel is vitally important in this presentation. There are four important aspects to consider when tube fishing: first is "fall rate" which is determined by the weight of the insert head selected, second is, believe it or not "color", third is "line test" which also has an impact on fall rate, feel, hookset power and fish deterency. and lastly is "sound" , rattles sometimes can take an exteme advantage over silent presentations, epsecially in deep or off colored waters.
Tube head weights of 1/16 and 1/8 work better when fished relitively shallow waters less than 8 ft. Light line proves positive for a slow and natural fall, for soft presentations in colder water.
Tube heads of 1/4 and 3/8 oz. are better suited with line tests of 8-12 lbs and get the majority use during most of our fishing year. At these weights keeping good contact with your bait and feeling structure is key feeling tell tale taps and thumps of a biting fish.
Tube heads of 1/2 oz. + are good for warm waters when fish are staged deeper and heavier line tests are needed for long casts in deeper water 20ft+ where ram home hooksets are sometimes lost due to mono stretch of lighter lines.
Color was my second choice and to be honest I personally do not have to think about weight after I know the depth and pattern of the fish I am after, so really this ranks high in my book. When many fish are keyed to a crawdad bite using a color that matches the hatch will catch many more fish than a strong off color tube will. Watermelons, Green pumpkins and blacks will usually get the job done throughout most new england waters. I have seen to many days where the optimum color for that day was crucial to catch more and many times the larger fish.
Sound is an oftened overlooked aspect of tube fishing. Rattling tube heads were the reason I actually started my Hookerz company because I use them and believe in them that much. Over the past 5 or so years I have fished many Pro am format tournaments where myself and my non-boater were draggin tubes. I usually throw a Rattlin tube jig about 75% of the time and most other anglers in the boat do not use them. Usually after boating a few fish I always get the question "what color is that, that you are using?" After I answer I will throw him/her a few of mine. After I boat a comfortable limit (hopefully) I will usually share the rattlin tube jig with them and they say thats neat, and I have a customer for life. The rattlin tube jig really shines in off colored water where visability is limited and many times when fishing deeper depths in clearer water.

Mastering the tube technique can be done by anyone with patience and perserverence. Once done, and confidence is found this will add to everyones fish catching skills. Good Luck and tight lines to all.

Jason Cuda
Hookerz Tackle

Lpbassman

12-10-2004, 11:15 PM

Excellent reading Jason. I have just "downloaded" these important "updates".
I will really look forward to a first hand lesson in the spring. Any news on the fan tails yet?
LP

CTbassmaster

12-11-2004, 08:00 AM

I just ran the tracking number and they will arrive on Tues. I should have them on the site for ordering by next weekend.
Jason

earthworm77

12-11-2004, 01:16 PM

No doubt about the effectiveness of tubes. Can you believe that when Garland introduced them in the 70's, they didn't catch on. It wasn't until guys started winning tournaments on Mead in the 80's did the craze start.

Paul_M

12-12-2004, 11:21 AM

I fished the gitzits in the late 70's in Hell's Canyon.

earthworm77

12-12-2004, 02:03 PM

Paul, were the tubes you were using different from the Gitzit as it is sold today. I have a few hundred of the original Fatzee which is about 3" long and has the diameter of an OTB pencil, very thin. Likely the best finesse tubes ever made. Very hard to find.

Hookset

12-12-2004, 03:39 PM

Great read! At the end of this season I committed to myself to make learning to fish a tube a priority for next year. Thanks for the article. Hookerz-nice site!

HOOKSET :beerchug:

BooBee

12-13-2004, 01:31 PM

You mention good hook up rates because of the "exposed" hook. I'm afraid to fish a tube with an exposed hook in weed cover. What would be a good method, if any, fishing a tube in heavy weeds?

I will toss my lures ANYWHERE (no fear of losing a lure) but I am afraid to expose a hook in weeds.

-Eric

earthworm77

12-13-2004, 02:22 PM

Texas rig the tube with a sliding bullet weight and glass bead. Go to the archives Eric, I wrote a whole article on it a while back. Texas Tube Madness.

Lpbassman

12-13-2004, 03:51 PM

Eric,
The worst thats going to happen fishing an exposed hook in the weeds is that you get hung up. Why would you worry about loosing a plastic tube and a hook. I'd be a lot more concerned about loosing an expensive crankbait!

Woodman

12-14-2004, 09:27 PM

Eric,

I use XPS Rattln' tube weights. These go inside the tube and then you T-rig the hook through the tube weight to hold it inside. Works great in weeds. Plus the tube weight also has a rattle.

I use a 2/0 EWG hook on zoom tubes. By doing this, you can use the same rod and reel to wacky rig a senko using the 2/0 hook.

Woody

CTbassmaster

12-15-2004, 01:01 AM

My post dealt mainly with the Draggin' technique. for flippin into grass you might want to try what Woodman had suggested, as I normally do the same, but I use generally larger tubes with larger hooks and heavier line.

Woodman, if the Zoom tube is your high confidence bait than stick with it. I am a big Zoom man myself but their tubes have not performed not nearly as well as many other companies I have tried. I do not currently sell a Flippin size tube of my own yet ( coming in 4 weeks) so I am speaking from personal experience only. I used the larger Micro Munch tube this past season with great success. My reasoning for disliking the Zoom tube is the injection process Zoom uses to create their tubes gives the tubes much thicker tails which lack alot of underwater movement. A comparative test in dunk tank will show that. I am never satisfied with something the way it is, I am always trying to build a better mousetrap, hence my line of tubes called Black Widow Baits was created. Yes, there are only 5 major tube manufacturers in the US and I am using one to build for me. But, our Ultra finesse tubes are made for us only, after giving them the size, circumference, salt, garlic and body and tail length percentages. As will be our next 2 lines of tube baits coming very soon. I hope this may help you put even more fish in the boat. When I release our Flippin tubes shoot me an email with your address and I will get you out a couple samples. Tight lines.

Jason

Charlie

12-21-2004, 09:17 AM

No question that the tube or gitzit has been a productive bait for many years. Back in 1998 I wrote an article of the use of what was Bobby Garlands Gitzits, after the company had been purchased by Budz Fishin Wayz, of New Jersey. I was on Bud's staff for two years and "re-discovered" ways to fish these amazin little things.

Working with Bud, we came up with many new colors, and many sizes from tiny 1-1/2" to the mighty 10' gitzit.

I will not go into the many ways in which a tube can be fished, but compaired to most other plastics, it is certainly one of the most versatile and has more applications than any other lure in your tackle box.

Nice read and thank you for keeping the tube alive. It is a vital bait as most who read this site will confirm.

FYI apart from the mighty Senko, GYCB does also make an amazing tube! Just imagine the softness of the Senko hollowed out with a skirt added.....WOW !!!!

I think I have to go lay down again!!!

Tight Lines!

Charlie :cool: