Gorgebassman

I have some that I purchased years ago when I was doing alot of trolling for walleye on the Columbia River in Oregon since I have used them on some of the lakes here in the Ozarks and have done pretty well with them. I might also suggest looking into the Luhr Jensen line of deep divers. I often do deep water cranking with the Power dive minnow as well as the Hot lips and the Baby Hot lips.

3.5 lb fish is a great catch and something to be proud of as well.

What a I would have to agree it isnt the same fish but if I caught a state record you can bet that I would keep it.

Excellent post Matt I never fail to learn when I come to this forum its guys like you that make learning enjoyable.

If there are alot of bait fish present I would try throwing some shad colored crank baits at diffrent depths or I would throw some weightless flukes.

I would fish those endless lilly pads and I would either go with floating frogs or go with a tube with a heavy weight and peg the weigh or use one of the screw in type worm weights.

WELCOME ABOARD!!!!!!! Theres alot of great info on this forum study all you can stand.

WELCOME ABOARD!!!

I feel that a 3/0 hook is a little small with the standard 4" tube bait I personally only use a 4/0 ewg with the thick plastic in most tubes I seem to get better hookups with the bigger hook, as far as hooking them to deep I think the others advise is spot on.

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WELCOME BACK !!!!!

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There are a few ways I fish tubes. One of the ways I do most is a tube rigged texas with a 4/0 ewg hook tx-posed with a 1/2 oz to 1 oz pegged worm weight for penetrating thick cover I pitch and flip the tubes into the little holes in the cover let them hit bottom trying to feel the weight all the way through the cover. I than shake the rod tip just a little to get some movement out of the tube in this case I feel it is mimicking a crawfish. I than jerk it out and find the next little hole in the cover. I use mostly dark colors for this. I also rig them weightless with the same hook and swim them like a fluke. I usually use the white to silver type baits mimicking a shad or wounded fish. The other way I have used them is fishing open deep water structure with a bullet head inserted inside with a exposed hook and fish them verticle on that structure here again mimicking a crawfish. Recently I have been trying some on a dropshot rig as well using a smaller tube and have caught a few that way as well. I think the tube is one of the most versitile baits around there one of my few year round confidence baits I alway have one rod rigged with one.

I fish my weightless flukes with a 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu and texpose the point in the back but like Rolo I also fish mine upsidedown and have fished them with a 3/0 EWG Gammie rigged sidewards.

Go back to your local Wal-Mart store and ask them to order them for you I can get them at my store unrigged. Your paticular store may not have a Mod for them mine has the unrigged ones on a side display on a end cap. Your store should order them for you.

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I was under the impression that *** was still awaiting arival of those jigheads did they get them in now or do you just know somebody?

Gitzits are made by canyon plastics and may be purchased on there website at. http://www.canyon-plastics.com/index.html?c56.html&1

I rig all my T-Rig tubes on a EWG Gamakatsu 4/0 hook.

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Most definatly sarcasm. I have fished lizards and other big baits that are not considered finesse type baits and caught fish on the drop shot.

WELCOME ABOARD!!!! I too often fish rivers I grew up fishing the Columbia river in Oregon and I learned a few things that might help. For one look for any kind of cover IE downed trees, weed lines, ETC anything that will change the current flow.