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BASS
COMING OFF THE BEDS
WOO'S
CORNER
TUBE BAITS
Tube
baits have become very popular on the tournament trail
in the past few years. Once considered sissy baits or
strictly smallmouth baits they have proven to be very
effective for big bass. Tube fishing has come along
way since Bobby Garland introduced them out west many
years ago. Again these once thought of as finesse baits
have become power baits that are fished many ways now.
I would venture to say tubes are in the top five of
most popular baits on the tournament trail.
I
really like the Zoom tubes which come in the two most
popular sizes 3 ½ and 4" and any color you
need. Green pumpkin and watermelon are my two favorites
but they all work at times. The small tubes I fish almost
exclusively on jigheads 1/32 oz. to 1/8oz. I want a
jig with a 2/0 Mustad Ultra Point hook. I rig this with
the head about ½ inch back from the nose so that
the jig has a horizontal fall, so when you twitch it
the bait darts and actually swims. I use this technique
on smallmouth and also largemouth in clear water.
The
four inch Zoom Big Tube is a real popular flipping bait,
dragging bait and Carolina bait. When flipping I will
rig with a Mustad Big Mouth tube hook usually in 4/0
or 5/0. I insert the Bass Pro Shops XPS tungsten tube
weight in 1/8 oz. or 1/4 oz. in the tube. If you haven't
used this weight you need to try it because it works.
This is a rubber insert that has ground up tungsten
in it. Your hook goes right through the tube and through
the weight, which not only holds the hook in place but
gives the tube the natural horizontal fall, which is
so important. You can pitch this rig into the thickest
of cover without hanging. Spray it with Jack's Juice
crawfish scent and hang on because the fish are going
to bite it. This is a big bass lure period.
When
finesse fishing the tube I will use a Woo Daves' 6'8"
Extreme spinning rod and 8 to 10 lbs. test Bass Pro
Shops' Excel line. When pitching I use the Woo Daves'
7'4" Extreme rod and a minimum of 17 lbs. test
Bass Pro Shops' Excel line. I will use the Bass Pro
Shops' XPS Fluorocarbon line if the cover is heavy or
the water stained. When Carolina rigging I will go with
the Mustad Mega-Lite hook which is a lighter hook with
an extra wide gap.
One
thing that has really impressed me about the tube and
especially when flipping, is that you can go right behind
fishermen that are using jigs and big baits and catch
fish. Also when fishing a lake of an area that is heavily
pressured the tube will catch bass when all else fails.
If you're in stained water try dying the tail with Spike-It
in a chartreuse or red color. I have seen this turn
the bite on many times. You can also add an XPS tube
rattle to your bait as I have seen the extra noise help
the bite in many situations.
Next
time you are out in your Nitro give the tube a chance
to go to work for you and I think you will be very pleased.
Be sure to wear your Woo Shoes and may God Bless.
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