Bassology : Tube jigs might not be pretty, but they work
Mike Yurk
I remember watching ABC’s Monday Night Football in the 1970s when color commentator and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Don Meredith, would comment after one of Howard Cosell’s lengthy and intricate analyses of a play by just stating, “It might not look pretty, but it worked.”
The same thing might be said of tube jigs. Tube jigs are just a fat chunk of plastic and might not have the sleek designs of other plastic baits, but they are a proven bass catcher and one of my favorites.
In a recent bass fishing catalog I noticed 27 pages were devoted to plastic baits and only two pages to tube jigs. Perhaps, as Rodney Dangerfield would say, tube jigs don’t get any respect.
Although they may not be pretty or get a lot respect, tube jigs are a great bass bait.
I have been using tube jigs for about a dozen years and find them to be a deadly bait on bass. Because of their compact size I think they must replicate crawfish, which, to bass, is like lobster to us. Bass go crazy for crawfish, so it makes sense that a bait is a winner if it looks like crawfish to bass.
Sizes, Colors and Things
I normally use a 2 ¾- or 3 ½-inch tube. They are also available in 4-inch sizes. Those can be effective on larger fish.
Jigs for tubes will run anywhere from 1/16- to 1/2 ounce sizes, but I find the ¼-ounce jig works in all situations.
When it comes to color, it doesn’t take long to be overwhelmed with choices. One catalog had over 70 colors available with such exotic names as “puke,” “disco candy zucchini” and “road kill,” to name just a few.
I believe in keeping it simple. I have two groups of colors I use: a couple dark colors such as black and blue and a dark smoke, or black with red sparkles. The other colors I carry are more natural such as pumpkinseed, watermelon, June bug or mustard-type colors. One of these colors always works.
How They Work
Tube jigs are ideal for rocky, gravely or sandy bottoms, especially rocky bottoms where crawfish are found, since they seem to imitate that forage. Because of the weight and compact size of the jig, they drop quickly, which allows them to work well in deeper water. They can easily be used in 20 to 30 feet of water. Because of their weight and size they are a good bait to use in current when fishing a river or in rough water.
Perhaps because tube jigs are so similar to crawfish and can be fished in deeper water, they are especially effective for smallmouth bass. They are my number one bait of choice anytime I fish a lake for smallies.
For tube jigging I use a 6-foot medium weight rod and 15-pound braided line, which has a 4-pound diameter. The braided line makes it easier to feel the bottom as well as the lightest of strikes.
To fish a tube jig, let it sink to the bottom and bring it along slowly by lifting the rod tip a foot or so at a time. Set the hook when you feel any additional weight or light ticks on the line.
Although tube jigs might not be pretty or get much respect, they are a very effective bait that all bass fishermen need to keep handy.
Mike Yurk has published more than 600 articles in national and regional outdoor publications. He has published five books on outdoor subjects. He is a retired Army officer and lives in Hudson, Wisconsin. Contact Mike at bassinmajor@yahoo.com.