Tubes are extremely popular for bass fishing. Most bass anglers think of tubes as a great smallmouth bass bait, but these baits are also great baits for largemouth bass. You can use tubes by themselves or as a trailer on a bass jig.
Popular Techniques
Flipping & Pitching Them Around Cover
Tubes work great when fished weedless around wood, vegetation and other types of cover. With the heavier cover, you may want to add the tube to a bass jig or use a Texas rig to help you avoid snags when fishing around cover.
Hop It Along The Bottom With Some Pauses Mixed In
The most popular way tubes are fished are by hopping them along the bottom with some pauses mixed in. Use a steady consistent hopping motion or use erratic jerks and twitches. Both techniques will work. Just make sure to pause the bait as most of your bites will come on the pause.
Crawl It Along The Bottom With a Steady Retrieve
Another great technique is to just slowly crawl the tube along the bottom to mimic a crayfish that is just slowly moving along the bottom. Do not pause the bait. Just slowly wind it in and you will get plenty of bass to pick up and eat the tube.
Popular Fishing Rigs
Bass Jig
This may be one of the most effective ways to fish a bass jig and most anglers would never think of using a tube as a trailer on a bass jig. The slender profile is perfect for adding a finishing touch to a bass jig.
Carolina Rig
The Carolina Rig is one of the best ways to fish a soft plastic tube. Fish the bait slowly along the bottom and you’ll catch some fish.
Texas Rig
The Texas rig is a good way to rig a tube if you want to rig it weedless. Anglers that fish for largemouth bass will use the Texas rig over the tube jig because largemouth bass are found around snaggy cover more than smallmouth bass. With smallies, it’s the opposite.
Tube Jigs
Tube jigs are made for fishing with tubes. They are easy to set up and they work great with tubes.
