Tubes, a versatile bait

A tube bait for many folks is just that, a tube with legs. They thread the tube over the jig or insert a jig head inside the tube and fish away. However if you think outside the box a tube can be a really versatile bait. The standard 2.5 Arkie tube looks like this Attachment 181138

Well my friend crappie pro showed me a while back his favorite way to fish a tube bait to get more action like a split tail is like this Attachment 181139What you do is just pull or cut out the middle tails on the tube and you have an instant split tail bait. Make sure you thread the tube with the hook in between the splits. You can slide a nibble right up into the split of the tube and it keeps a while longer.

Now one of my favorite ways to fish a tube is to take the legs off either side and make a stinger out of the tube. Attachment 181140When u thread the tube on the jig hook place the point coming out the legs instead of between them.

There is some advantage to the split tail and stinger tails in that with elimination or thinning of the legs, you will get more movement from the remaining legs. These thinned tubes will also fall at a faster rate. Now the original tube with out modification has its benefit also in that it is bulkier and will fall slower but there is also less leg movement. There is a time and place for many different baits.

Also if you need some color when fishing minnows just thread the tube up over the hook. This is what what we did before teasers came around. Attachment 181141

You can use this method on small tubes all the way to the big tubes. Tubes have the ability to be really versatile bait from split tails, stinger tails, or when needed a bulkier bait without any modification.

Hope this helps you put more fish in the boat!!

Love simple ... Good ideas!!! Good stuff

Good info ... Thank you.

Great article!!

Good stuff.

Nice ideas. Thanks.

Good post JW, Jig head can play apart in how many strands to leave on each side of hook also. 1/4 !/8th oz/3-5 strands on each side, 1/16 oz 3-4 strands, 1/32oz 2-3 strands on each side of hook. In other words the bigger the jig head the more strands you can leave on each side to obtain a sleek natural looking presentation. Keep strands all close to the same length and never fish with a strand that has been bitten off half way down poking out short and stubby. They just wont bite it as well as it looks un-natural. A properly trimmed tube has a sleek natural look to it as it travels through the water column. I use a trimmed jig most times except during the Spring/Spawn when fish are mainly looking for something big to bite.
I like a small loop knot or some type of fast snap on the end of my line, slightly bend my hook out for better hook ups and apply a scent and you have done about all you can do to increase your odds, except for color selection and size of tube. If you use painted heads never fish a head that has a big paint chip knocked off it as it also looks un-natural and they just won't hit it as well. Good luck and nice post JW.

Thanks for the info Bowhunter and Crappie Pro!!!

A small touch of super glue on the collar of your jig head will also keep that tube locked in place, make it last allot longer and keep you from having to constantly move that tube back into position through a day of fishing.:ThumbsUp

Insert the tubes with jig head and sliding back never is a problem. When inserted from the rear of tube with eye then poppred through they must distroy tube to get it off jig head!

What is the jig head weight and what size hook on the jig head ?

Excellent post. Thanks for the information.

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

Insert the tubes with jig head and sliding back never is a problem. When inserted from the rear of tube with eye then poppred through they must distroy tube to get it off jig head!

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Nimrod, can you change colors without having to re-tie?

Mac daddy he cannot change without retying the way he uses them. I guess if you wanted to do quick swap outs you could use a snap or fastach clip and have other colors preloaded on jig heads.

Pesce, the size head depends on different variables but I use 1/16 a lot, 1/32 some and 1/8 some. IMO a time for each size head and size tube. The heavier the weight head the faster the fall of the bait. The smaller head obviously the slower the fall rate and smaller profile.

Great summary guys of some very useful information!

Good read

Thanks guys I try to post stuff that actually helps people.

Thank you very much good read.

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Originally Posted by Mac Daddy

Nimrod, can you change colors without having to re-tie?

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No , but if your change'n tubes your not catching. I seldom change colors just to be doing something. I match color to water and most times it is the same color I always use.

I caught over 60 Crappie plus several whites and Black Bass on my signature color today..:fish

I seldom use anything other than !/8 oz heads but when I do it is 1/4 oz. I don't use tiny tubes and want bigger hooks. Works for me so that is all that matters to me. There are some guys that use mostly 1/4 oz. The big tube baits still flutter down with the heavier jig heads.

I 've fished NIMROD Specials ( 2'' umbrella tubes on 1/8 oz round lead head) several times x longer than Bowhunter has Crappie fished. I was fishing my home lake before he was hatched . :Rofl

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

No , but if your change'n tubes your not catching. I seldom change colors just to be doing something. I match color to water and most times it is the same color I always use.

I caught over 60 Crappie plus several whites and Black Bass on my signature color today..:fish

I seldom use anything other than !/8 oz heads but when I do it is 1/4 oz. I don't use tiny tubes and want bigger hooks. Works for me so that is all that matters to me. There are some guys that use mostly 1/4 oz. The big tube baits still flutter down with the heavier jig heads.

I 've fished NIMROD Specials ( 2'' umbrella tubes on 1/8 oz round lead head) several times x longer than Bowhunter has Crappie fished. I was fishing my home lake before he was hatched . :Rofl

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Dang Nimrod, don't hate on Bowhunter. He's the only one around here that actually tries to help people!!:biggrin

Mac Daddy im sorry you had to take that hit from Nimrod! Yes you can re-tie a jig head. Simply put another tube jig on color of your choice?

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Originally Posted by Cmj

Dang Nimrod, don't hate on Bowhunter. He's the only one around here that actually tries to help people!!:biggrin

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Got to pick on him cause he should take it as he dishes it out enough.:twocents Most cases folks spend more time changing jigs than spending time finding the fish.

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Originally Posted by coolerfull

Mac Daddy im sorry you had to take that hit from Nimrod! Yes you can re-tie a jig head. Simply put another tube jig on color of your choice?

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His question was ''do you have to cut off jig to change tubes. I answered his question . Inserted inside it is not possiable to change tubes until you cut off lead head. I don't change many. Like someone posted , does'nt hurt to rig up a few in advance ,ready to tie on. I did not think I said anything wrong .

Attachment 181353 another use for crappie tubes!! Crappie spin's!!Attachment 181354

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Originally Posted by jackie53

Attachment 181353 another use for crappie tubes!! Crappie spin's!!Attachment 181354

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Jackie - are you just putting tubes on an old spinner bait frame or is that made specifically for crappie tubes? Thanks.

Nothing wrong with inserting a head into a jig...did it last year on Maumelle to do well in a tourney and adapt to that specific lake. Sometimes folks get locked into a way of fishing and try nothing else, even if they struggle on a different lake that's not their home lake...but hey if that works for you stay with it. The best way to get out of a rut is go fishing with some other goodfisherman and see what they are doing to catch fish, may not be your style but you will be a better fisherman for it. I promise.

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Originally Posted by D10

Jackie - are you just putting tubes on an old spinner bait frame or is that made specifically for crappie tubes? Thanks.

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Yes Deadly smallmouth lure and crappie on brush piles and places you cannot get a jig through the brush without hanging up!!
1/8 oz and 1/16 oz!! Caught my biggest crappie on one of these on Lake Fork Texas!! Real close to 3 lb'er 2-10 oc on our scales!! We were bass fishing!! Did'not know what we had!!

Barlows tackle is working on a "ready Rig" for crappie tubes. Is a tube insert that you can change tubes with out breaking or cutting line only in 1/32 oz , 1/16 oz and 1/8 oz!! They are designed to go into top of tube without splitting tube!! Can see them at Barlows tackle!! New Items released!! Looks like pretty good prices!!!

Great discussion! Thanks for all your insight and sharing of your knowledge. Trying to adapt the information for fishing Oklahoma lakes. I do have one question: What does CrappiePro do with all those fish?

I bet he does what most of us do. I share alot with neighbors and friends, mostly the older folks around. Then again he may eat alot of fish .

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Originally Posted by davebrown42

Great discussion! Thanks for all your insight and sharing of your knowledge. Trying to adapt the information for fishing Oklahoma lakes. I do have one question: What does CrappiePro do with all those fish?

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My absolute favorite folks to give fish to is a father/family fishing with their kids...I just love the look on the kids faces when I pull up and start throwing slab after slab in their live wells...If mamma ain't there I tell them to make sure you tell Momma you caught them so she will let you go next time. They always smile and shake their heads up n down yes...LOL