"Tube Lures"… Number 1 In My Book
By: Will Whitehead – aka "The Fishin' Gypsy"
When asked… "What is your favorite lure?" I can answer quickly, without hesitation….. "TUBE LURES!"
Tube lures have rapidly become one of the most popular and productive lures in the tackle boxes of today's anglers. Pro, semi-pro and novice anglers alike have benefited from the productivity of this little tube of soft plastic with the tentacle tail. Since its introduction several years ago, "Tubes" have evolved into many sizes, shapes, designs and a myriad of colors. Some are "soft", some are "hard", some are "flavor enhanced", some are "salt impregnated", some are "salt coated", and the list of variables goes on and on. The basic idea is still the same, "To imitate a creature of nature, the food forage for bass and other species of fish." The "Tube" lure has accomplished this feat in many ways.
I, personally, am NOT a big fan or believer in "scents" or "attractants", but a FIRM believer in "salt impregnated" tubes and other soft plastic lures. Besides, most of the "scented" baits leave your tackle box; boat, vehicle, hands and everything else smelling like a pizza parlor, seafood restaurant, shrimp boat on a hot sunny day…. Or worse! I'll stick with the tubes from Cabin Creek Bait Company. I have found them to be as productive as ANY and MORE productive than MOST other tubes on the market. They have an outstanding feel, texture, salt content and color selection, and besides… THEY CATCH FISH!!
What do bass, and other species of fish, think a "Tube" resembles? A small minnow? A bottom crawling crawfish? A tasty hellgrammite? Some other aquatic creature? I don't know the answer to that question, and I can't say that I much CARE. As long as the fish are mistaking it for food, or threat, and are eating it, and I am catching them, it really doesn't matter to me. I KNOW tubes work! THAT is all I really need to know.
If I had to choose just ONE lure, to fish with the rest of my life, which I hope will be a long, long time, it would definitely be a "Tube". Without hesitation or doubt and with no second thoughts. And the reasons are……..
- They are very versatile, and can be rigged to fish the
water column from top to bottom, over any type
of bottom and in any cover or structure.
- They can be used anywhere, for any species of fish,
in both fresh water and salt water.
- They come in a vast array of colors.
- They are reasonably priced.
- Best of all…THEY CATCH FISH! All kinds of fish!
Tube may be rigged in a variety of ways. By far my most favorite is to use a Cabin Creek Bait Company "Tube Head". These heads are different in that the lead is long and tapered along the hook shank. Most tube heads have all of the lead bunched-up near the eye of the hook. This long tapered lead gives the tube better balance and allows you to "swim" the tube, instead of having it rocket to the bottom like a stone. This swimming action has been very productive for me and out catches the straight falling action many times over. Often I will use one of Cabin Creek's "Weedless" tube heads, when fishing heavy grass or other cover. With the long, tapered lead, it is much easier to just thread the tube onto the hook and "ease" the head into the tube body without tearing it.
Another method of rigging is to use a 2/0 size Mustad "Tube Hook" and rig the tube "Texas" style, with the hook point imbedded inside the tube. Then I place one of the new Water Gremlin "Bull Shot" on the line, against the head of the tube, and I am rigged totally weedless and snagless. Be sure to place one-half of a foam rubber "Ear Plug" inside the head of the tube, to make the tube head solid and give the hook something to "bite" into. These are just two of the many ways I rig and fish a "tube" lure. For a complete description of these and several other rigging methods, favorite colors (and why to use what color and when), favorite sizes, favorite rigging methods, and a few "secret" tricks for fishing tubes and making them even MORE productive, well illustrated with simple to follow directions and drawings, you will want to purchase my new book……"Tackle Box Textbooks" Issue number one… "Everything you ever wanted to know about Tube Lures", available from E-Bait Express.
We are beginning to see more and more tubes, of varying design. Tubes are beginning to appear on the market that are flat and wide and resemble a minnow, complete with fins, eyes and gills. Another tube, Cabin Creek Bait's "Salty Tube'N Craw", has the standard tube body, and has appendages attached resembling the arms and claws of a crawfish. An awesome bait for BIG bass. Personally, I prefer Cabin Creek "hand-dipped" tubes over the "molded" ones. The body thickness of the hand-dipped tubes is much more uniform, there are no mold seams, and there are fewer defects in the bodies. Some anglers prefer using fat tubes, some prefer the shorter tubes, and still others prefer the standard tube, which is approximately three and one-half inches to four inches in length and about three-eighths of an inch in diameter. As the water warms, and reaches a temperature of 52 degrees or more, I will begin to throw the longer five or six inch tubes. I am a firm believer in the "Big Bait… Big Fish" theory. As I have said many times, "Big fish are a lot like me… old, fat and lazy." The are not going to exert much effort to eat a small meal, when they can lie in wait for something bigger and better to come along.
The key to a good and productive tube is the plastic formulation used. Some manufacturers prefer to make their tubes stiff and hard, while others take the softer approach. I have used tubes of every hardness and softness, and I feel that the consistency of the plastic is one of the keys to a good and productive tube lure. I firmly believe that Cabin Creek Bait Company has come upon the perfect balance in their plastic formula. TRUE… the softer the plastic, the easier it will tear, rip and become unusable. BUT… It will catch more fish and the fish will hold onto the lure longer. And a tube that will NOT catch fish is naturally going to last a lot longer. Besides… with a little dab of "Zap-a-Gap" glue, you can extend the life of any soft plastic lure.
In my opinion it is a "toss up" as to which is more important, the plastic or what is IN the plastic. As I have stated, I am an ABSOLUTE believer in "granular" salt being IN my soft plastic lures, not just ON it. Some manufacturers use a "liquid" salt that is much cheaper and less effective. Some manufacturers use "granular" salt, but stick the salt to the outside of the tube. This salt washes off rapidly, gets all over your tackle box, boat and other gear, and is much less effective than salt IN the plastic.
Without a doubt, "Tubes" are a very versatile and productive lure. If you have never tried fishing with them…. START! If you fish with them, but not very much…. use them MORE! If you don't know the many methods of rigging and fishing them, what colors to use, when to use what colors, and all of the facets of fishing tubes, by all means…….
Get yourself a "Tackle Box Textbook". Stick with the twelve basic colors that I recommend and you will be equipped to fish any type or color of water, for any species of fish, in fresh water and salt water alike.
Good fishin', safe boatin', keep your net wet and …………
Tight Lines,
Will Whitehead
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