Baits For The Buffalo

[OzarksRiverman]

I dont drift tubes down current. I never have gut hooked a smallie with a tube.

I can second this. And this summer and last I've used almost exclusively bitsy tubes.

[Al Agnew]

Actually, I've only gut hooked one fish that I can remember on a tube. I don't know whether it's the way I rig them or if I'm just "good" at knowing when the fish take it and set the hook really quickly. The one I did hook too deeply was a 20 incher on the Shenandoah River in VA. Spent 20 minutes trying to revive it but didn't succeed. If that happened more often I wouldn't fish tubes. But so far, although I don't fish them every trip, I've fished them pretty extensively on a few trips, especially in the cooler water periods, without problems.

By the way, the way I always rig mine is to pick out a EWG offset worm hook that's big enough that the eye of the hook will barely stick out the front end of the tube and the bend of the hook will fall just about where the tentacles start. Rig it texposed and back into the "skin" of the hook. Before you insert the bend of the hook in the back edge of the body, slip a split shot into it that's big enough that you have to kinda force it up into the body. Then finish rigging. Maybe it's the big hook that's part of the reason I don't hook them deeply.

[KrookedKreekKing]

In regards to fishing with a tube jig, I've been inserting a weight, like an egg sinker, into the tube, and if it wants to slip, I just put in a dab of super glue to hold the weight in(if time permits, this could be done before you get on the water on several tubes). Then I'll squirt a little scent in and texas rig it with a worm hook. It makes it less prone to getting snagged and I don't get the hook down the bass's gullet as much either. And thinking about it I guess you could nose hook it, like if you were dropshotting. I don't know if you would get hung up as much as using a traditional tube jig weighted hook, but I bet you wouldn't kill as many bass.

Mizmo makes a sweet tube rig like the one you were describing but more efficient. I used to rig tubes like that until I used these.

[tjulianc]

On 8/15/2011 at 5:28 PM, KrookedKreekKing said:

 

T

[TroutRinger]

That's amazing. You're the only guy that fishes tubes that hasn't gut hooked a smallie. Yet.

Can't remember a single time I've gut hooked a fish with a tube. I drift Bitsy tubes 99% of the time smallie fishing. I hook them in the top of the mouth pretty much every time.

...Al has has probably caught more smallies than anyone on this board and he's only gut hooked one...

Ham, if you have problems gut hooking them, maybe you should watch your line a little closer, give a twitch every couple seconds to see if anything is on, or reconsider how it's rigged.

Sorry you've had troubles...I think I'll stick with what works...Bitsy tube with a 1/8th oz marabou crappie jig

It also might be worth considering that the reasons guides on the East coast experience gut hooking with tubes is that they are catering to inexperienced fisherman who might not set the hook fast enough. If you are from MISSOURI and an experienced smallmouth angler as many of us are, I don't think there should be any problems.

[DaveMac]

As a totally CR angler who has used tubes for over 20 years I can say that gut hooking has never been a problem. If it was, I wouldn't use them and this is why I will never (again) use powerbait when fishing for trout (yes I've gut hooked a few rainbows that way which I then kept).

I don't mean to dismiss Ham's and Wayne's concerns about tubes and smallmouth - I can only vouch for myself - so any approaches that emphasize less risk of harm to the fish (and provide a more interesting fishing experience!) are certainly worth trying. Having my notions challenged and being encouraged to think about the consequences of my actions on the river is why I participate in this forum.

So thanks to Al and others of you who have been gracious enough to let us tube fishermen in on your topwater expertise.

[KrookedKreekKing]

Talking about the Mizmo Insider Jighead? Where do you get them?

I don't know where you live, but there is a tackle shop in Harrison next to FedEx on Rock Springs Rd. They got em', but if you want to use small tubes, I don't know if these will work. I have the 1/4 ounce size, and it looks like its got a 3/0 or maybe 4/0 hook. Perfect for a 3.5 or 4 inch tube. Some guys aren't cool with the heavier weight but I like covering water. Also the ones they got have red hooks. Hope this helps.