Post by Admin on Sept 25, 2007 18:20:32 GMT -5
Tubes Rule!
By Al Bach
Ask anyone who’s spent sufficient time on the business end of a fishing rod what he would do if stranded on a gravel bar with Cindy Crawford (hey, a guy can dream right?) and forced to choose one and only one lure with which to show off his fishing prowess and gain the affection of the aforementioned supermodel. Hmm…what would you choose? (keep it clean now)\Well, my guess is that the hands-down winner would be the simple tube jig. Tubes are regarded by many as the single best all-season, all-weather, day in and day out lure for catching smallmouth bass (and impressing supermodels). Quite simply, a tube is one of the few lures that can catch smallies practically anywhere and anytime.
Perhaps the tube’s simplicity is what makes it so effective. A tube jig is a tentacled, hollow-bodied, soft plastic lure that is usually threaded onto a large hook or jig head. Like many finesse techniques, tubes originated in the Western U.S. during the 1970s courtesy of Bobby Garland and since that time its popularity has spread throughout North America. Regardless of how you fish it, the tube’s simple design makes it extremely versatile. Depending on your choice of color and speed of retrieve, a tube can imitate essentially every type of forage available to smallmouth bass including crawfish, hellgrammites, shad, shiners, sculpin, darters, and round gobies. Popular tubes for smallies range from 2-4" in length in colors such as brown, black, olive, watermelon, smoke, clear and combinations of these colors. The tube’s tentacles subtly undulate as it is retrieved through the water and its thick body provides a large profile for fish to key on.
Tubes are often scented or salted by the manufacturer to improve their fish appeal. Brands that have been tested and approved by TOSA members include Berkley Power Tubes, Cabin Creek, Jann’s Netcraft, Nichols, Schubert’s, Zoom, Venom Erie Series, and Venom Super Do’s (a hybrid tube/grub) and of course the Gitzit, the tried and true original tube jig.
Tubes are probably the most popular lure for smallmouths on Lake Erie, but are deadly anywhere you fish for bronzebacks. In most stream fishing situations a brown, pumpkin, or smoke-colored tube embedded on a 1/16 oz. or 1/8 oz. jighead is all that’s needed. Some anglers choose to ‘Texas Rig’ by threading the tube onto a large hook (1/0 or larger) with a 1/8 oz. slip sinker. Others peg the slip sinker with a toothpick and fish it on a Carolina rig. Tubes can be fished a variety of ways, but like most jig presentations it’s best to keep the lure on or near the rocky bottom. One effective retrieve is to let the lure settle to the bottom, then lift the bait a foot or so off the bottom, and let it gently glide back to the bottom while watching and feeling for that telltale twitch indicating the strike from a fish. On those occasions when smallies are suspended off the bottom several feet or more, the tube can easily be fished on either a Carolina, Drop shot, or Mojo rig.
Another retrieve known as ‘deadsticking’ works well in heavy cover or in areas that receive heavy fishing pressure. Simply cast the tube into a fishy looking spot and just let it sit there awhile. Then wait awhile longer. Nope, don’t move it yet. Just when you can’t stand waiting any longer to turn the handle on that fancy new spinning reel of yours, quickly switch the rod to your other hand and repeat the steps above. Got the idea? Don’t move the tube. After a couple of minutes, s-l-o-w-l-y drag (don’t hop) the tube across the bottom about a foot or so. Then let it sit awhile longer. At times this can be a very effective tactic especially for big fish, which are accustomed to seeing lures go zooming by. One technique I learned from TOSA member Steven Flint is to occasionally tap on the rod blank with your index finger, doing so imparts a very subtle and natural pulsating action to the tube. Works great.
Switching from one end of the speed spectrum to the other, tubes can also be fished like jerkbaits to generate reaction strikes from active smallmouths. Simply rig a ball-bearing swivel a couple feet ahead of the lure (to prevent line twist) and attach the tube to an unweighted hook (or add a small split shot for just the right amount of weight). Cast out and begin a fast retrieve with intermittent twitches. When properly balanced the tube will dart to and fro under the surface (like the popular Sluggo plastic jerkbaits) and Mr. Smallmouth will chase it down.
As you can see tube jigs are an extremely versatile and productive lure choice. Next time you’re on the water give ‘em a try. And tell Cindy I said hello.
© The Ohio Smallmouth Alliance
By Al Bach
Ask anyone who’s spent sufficient time on the business end of a fishing rod what he would do if stranded on a gravel bar with Cindy Crawford (hey, a guy can dream right?) and forced to choose one and only one lure with which to show off his fishing prowess and gain the affection of the aforementioned supermodel. Hmm…what would you choose? (keep it clean now)\Well, my guess is that the hands-down winner would be the simple tube jig. Tubes are regarded by many as the single best all-season, all-weather, day in and day out lure for catching smallmouth bass (and impressing supermodels). Quite simply, a tube is one of the few lures that can catch smallies practically anywhere and anytime.
Perhaps the tube’s simplicity is what makes it so effective. A tube jig is a tentacled, hollow-bodied, soft plastic lure that is usually threaded onto a large hook or jig head. Like many finesse techniques, tubes originated in the Western U.S. during the 1970s courtesy of Bobby Garland and since that time its popularity has spread throughout North America. Regardless of how you fish it, the tube’s simple design makes it extremely versatile. Depending on your choice of color and speed of retrieve, a tube can imitate essentially every type of forage available to smallmouth bass including crawfish, hellgrammites, shad, shiners, sculpin, darters, and round gobies. Popular tubes for smallies range from 2-4" in length in colors such as brown, black, olive, watermelon, smoke, clear and combinations of these colors. The tube’s tentacles subtly undulate as it is retrieved through the water and its thick body provides a large profile for fish to key on.
Tubes are often scented or salted by the manufacturer to improve their fish appeal. Brands that have been tested and approved by TOSA members include Berkley Power Tubes, Cabin Creek, Jann’s Netcraft, Nichols, Schubert’s, Zoom, Venom Erie Series, and Venom Super Do’s (a hybrid tube/grub) and of course the Gitzit, the tried and true original tube jig.
Tubes are probably the most popular lure for smallmouths on Lake Erie, but are deadly anywhere you fish for bronzebacks. In most stream fishing situations a brown, pumpkin, or smoke-colored tube embedded on a 1/16 oz. or 1/8 oz. jighead is all that’s needed. Some anglers choose to ‘Texas Rig’ by threading the tube onto a large hook (1/0 or larger) with a 1/8 oz. slip sinker. Others peg the slip sinker with a toothpick and fish it on a Carolina rig. Tubes can be fished a variety of ways, but like most jig presentations it’s best to keep the lure on or near the rocky bottom. One effective retrieve is to let the lure settle to the bottom, then lift the bait a foot or so off the bottom, and let it gently glide back to the bottom while watching and feeling for that telltale twitch indicating the strike from a fish. On those occasions when smallies are suspended off the bottom several feet or more, the tube can easily be fished on either a Carolina, Drop shot, or Mojo rig.
Another retrieve known as ‘deadsticking’ works well in heavy cover or in areas that receive heavy fishing pressure. Simply cast the tube into a fishy looking spot and just let it sit there awhile. Then wait awhile longer. Nope, don’t move it yet. Just when you can’t stand waiting any longer to turn the handle on that fancy new spinning reel of yours, quickly switch the rod to your other hand and repeat the steps above. Got the idea? Don’t move the tube. After a couple of minutes, s-l-o-w-l-y drag (don’t hop) the tube across the bottom about a foot or so. Then let it sit awhile longer. At times this can be a very effective tactic especially for big fish, which are accustomed to seeing lures go zooming by. One technique I learned from TOSA member Steven Flint is to occasionally tap on the rod blank with your index finger, doing so imparts a very subtle and natural pulsating action to the tube. Works great.
Switching from one end of the speed spectrum to the other, tubes can also be fished like jerkbaits to generate reaction strikes from active smallmouths. Simply rig a ball-bearing swivel a couple feet ahead of the lure (to prevent line twist) and attach the tube to an unweighted hook (or add a small split shot for just the right amount of weight). Cast out and begin a fast retrieve with intermittent twitches. When properly balanced the tube will dart to and fro under the surface (like the popular Sluggo plastic jerkbaits) and Mr. Smallmouth will chase it down.
As you can see tube jigs are an extremely versatile and productive lure choice. Next time you’re on the water give ‘em a try. And tell Cindy I said hello.
© The Ohio Smallmouth Alliance