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Knowing how to fish with tube baits can give you an extra string to your bow. While there may be plenty of other lures and techniques to catch bass, tubes can be a great choice for a range of conditions and can be ideal when other methods are not working.
But you’re probably wondering how and when to use them, which is why we thought we’d put together some tips to help you discover why you might want tubes baits in your tackle box.
Tube Baits – What Are They?
A tube bait is a soft plastic lure that tends to be in the shape of a cylinder or tube but with added tentacles at the end and a rounded head at the top. The actual tube is mostly hollow and is open at the end where the tentacle skirt is.
They can come in a wide variety of sizes and colors to suit different species and for applying different techniques. Natural colors may work best in certain situations, for example when bass are feeding on crawfish it can be a good idea to match the color of the tube to the color of the crawfish in your local lake or pond where you plan to fish.
Tube baits can be ideal when other lures just won’t cut it, such as when you’re fishing in shallow vegetation. But they can also be great to use in a variety of situations, including around docks, spawning beds and in cold water conditions.
Ways To Rig A Tube
1: Use It As A Jig
One way you can use a tube bait is to add it to a jig head. The weighted jig head sits inside the tube at the top. To do this, slide the jig head into the tube from the bottom and slide it up to the top. Keep going until you pierce the eye of the jig head through the top of the tube.
Video: Best Way To Rig A Tube Jig – 3 Options
The end of the hook should be exposed and pushed through the tube so that the tube looks straight and the end of the hook is flat against the side of the tube.
2: Texas Rig
A Texas rigged tube can be an effective way to catch bass and can help to keep the tube straight on the hook. To Texas rig a tube you might want to opt for a wide gap hook, as tubes can usually be pretty chunky.
To rig the tube, put the end of the hook through the top of the tube. You may need to go in at an angle to allow for the bend in the hook. Push the hook all the way through until the eye goes through the tube.
Video: How To Texas Rig Tube Baits | Bass Fishing
Once the eye of your hook is buried in the top of the tube, twist the tube so that you can start to put the hook into the body of the tube. As you put the end of the hook through the tube, keep in mind that the tube should be straight. This may take a couple of tries to get it right.
With your hook through the body of the tube, put the end of the hook back into the tube so that the hook is flush with the side of the tube and the end of the hook is hidden in the tube.
3: Weightless Rigging
Using a weightless rig with a tube can let you fish similar to fishing with a senko worm, except with the added bonus of the natural movement of the tentacles.
To rig a tube weightless, use a Texas style rig but without the weights. So, insert the end of the hook into the top of the tube and push it through so that the eye of the hook is buried in the top of the tube.
Rotate the tube so that you can push the end of the hook through the body of the tube and out the other side, where you can then bury the end of the hook back inside the tube for a weedless presentation.
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Techniques To Catch Bass With Tubes
Tube Jigs
Fishing a tube on a jig head can be a good choice if you’re fishing in cold water or open water. But they can also be useful for throwing under docks and around other structure.
You can also swim them along rocky banks or fish it like a vertical jigging spoon, which can work well because of the weight within the tube and the added movement from the tentacles on the fall.
Texas Rigged
A Texas rigged tube can be best used in areas of cover and vegetation because it’s weedless. This type of rig can be ideal for fishing in weed beds or around submerged wood. Texas rigging can also mean you can cast it more accurately into the area where you know the bass are holding out.
They can flipped into cover and can be a good lure option for targeting bass in the summer. It can be a good idea to use braided line for this, but if the water is really clear you might want to think about using a fluorocarbon leader tied on to braided line.
Weightless
A weightless rigged tube can be used in various conditions, both in the shallows and in deeper water, making it a versatile choice. One tactic is to let it fall and gently twitch your rod to make the tube move, almost in a walk the dog type of action.
Because it’s rigged weedless, you can throw it into thick vegetation, around structure and just about anywhere.
Final Words
Tube baits can be a versatile lure to have in your tackle box and can often trigger bites when other lures won’t, especially in heavily fished waters. They can work in various conditions and can be used all year round.
Let us know your thoughts on tube baits for bass fishing and let your fishing buddies discover tubes by sharing this short guide with them.