Tube Jig?

[Fishin4Fun]

Hello All,

I have seen a lot of discussion on here about using a 3" tube jig for smallies/brownies on the Finley. Can anyone tell me the best colors to use, favorite brands, weight of the jig heads and best way to present this to the fish? I have fished with tube jigs very little, but I know a lot of people swear by them. I really want to learn how to fish these, especially in a creek or stream setting.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

Tyy

[Dutch]

I'd go with something in the brown or green tones. For a stream that small either use a jig head insert or Texas rig the tube. You should be able to use 1/8 oz and lighter weights. A 3/0 to 4/0 hook should work fine on either.

Bass Pro has some real nice tubes in the smaller tender sizes.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/s...__SearchResults

[Wayne SW/MO]

I agree brown or green in ugly. A weedless 1/8th-1/4oz tube jig works well. They don't have to stick to the bottom, in fact sometimes a drift is the best presentation. You do have to stay alert with tubes in streams because they will swallow them if you're too slow in setting the hook.

[smallmouthjoe]

And if you have to go into cover and get them I would recommended a Texas rig. You should look at the bitsy tubes, I've had really good luck with them everywhere I've gone. They have some really good colors as well.

[RSBreth]

I don't use tubes as often as some of the other fishermen on here, but I've had the most luck with the smaller Zoom tubes in "Grasshopper." http://www.landbigfish.com/tacklestore/showcase.cfm?PID=669

I usually use a wide-gap offset bend hook, and stick a 1/16 or 1/8-ounce bullet weight up inside. Works good.

[OzarkFishman]

RS,

Always great reading your posts, especially for a decent fisherman at best. I never thought to put the bullet weight inside. Thanks a million.

OzarkFishman

[Fishin4Fun]

Thanks guys! There is some great info here. RSBreth, when you stick the weight up inside the tube, do you put the hook through the weight somehow or beside it? I am trying to picture how you do this. Thanks.

I am also curious how you fish these in the streams. Do you cast up stream and then let it float through a riffle or hole? I guess what I am trying to ask is where do the smallies/brownies hang out in these streams and how do you present these tube jigs to them? Stream fishing for smallies/brownies is new to me and I am trying to learn the techniques and areas to look for when fishing for them.

Thanks for all the help. This has been great and I know my boys are getting excited to get out again here soon. Hopefully this weekend.

Tyy

[Wayne SW/MO]

It depends on the stream and the season generally, but any hole created by an obstruction is good, and generally the bottom of shoals if deep enough. Tubes work well drifted, but so do jigs and the Smallies don't swallow them. You have to be alert when fishing tubes to avoid injuring too many fish. The takes are very subtle.

[smallmouthjoe]

In the summer I don't waste my time with slack water unless I'm looking for a LM. Like Wayne says any obstruction in the current that a smallie can sit behind and wait for something to come along. Current seams are also really good, it seems like a lot of people ignore them, but they'll hold the fish that are actively feeding.

[RSBreth]

Thanks for the kind words guys. I wish I had more time tonight to write something and maybe take some pictures of the rigging of tubes - maybe an idea for the blog, right? Anyway, I searched the web for a good diagram but everyone that has some article about tube rigging doesn't have a good picture of it, but it's pretty simple to describe. I have an extra wide gap hook (I think it's a Mustad 3/0 for that Zoom tube) and I Texas-rig the tube on that hook, then stick the weight up the back end of the tube (gently squeeze it past the bend in the hook or you'll tear the tube), pointed end first. You can make sure it's all the way near the head for a quicker spiraling fall, or keep it more in the center for more "glide". A 1/16-ounce weight works good for a slower, drifting presentation, the 1/8 will get you down quicker.

Where and how to fish them? Find a nice half-submerged tree or large rock that breaks the current. Cast so the tube lands just upstream of the cover, and where the current will just barely drift it past the cover. Let it drift on a semi-slack line, but watch your line like a hawk. Some days fish will hit the tube as it drifts, other days you'll need to have it tick along the bottom, just experiment.