I have used tubes almost exclusively for over 25 years. Once a fisherman realizes that most fishing "stuff" is made to sell to fisherman instead of being made to catch fish then the list of fishing equipment needs greatly diminish. Tubes are cheap, they come in a variety of colors, and they catch fish. I have found times that a different shaped lure like a Joker will work better but most of the time a tube is all I need. I also use some of Frank's "Gdaddy" lures when the fish are really aggressive because they are so tough and don't tear upeasily. I also use a lot of spoons but I make my own spoons. I get my tubes from Midsouth Tackle and while I have most every color they make I have found that 4 or 5 colors do all I need year in and year out. Granted that list of 4 or 5 colors changes from year to year still a tube works fine. I like the Midsouth tubes because they are thicker and seem to last longer than other brands and they are also just a little larger at 1.75" When the tube tears just remove it from the hook and rotate it 90 degrees and put on the tapered hook again and keep fishing with it.

Early in the spawn I will use a crank bait to locate crappie but I buy unpainted crank bait bodies from china for about $0.70 each and paint them myself and put my own hooks on them. I guess I just like making as much of my own stuff as I can as I have chronicled in the past.

I think the actual internet address for the tubes is midsouthtackle.com. Go to products then "by product number" and see all they have. I guess I should mention that they don't know I recommend them and I get no freebies for doing so. I just like their product and have been a customer for many years and found them to be honest to deal with.

As for color, any form of black and chartreuse, white and chartreuse (joker), white and orange (this year) and the old clear water standard pink and white. Colors change from year to year.