All,

 

I have another friend who fishes finesse tubes.  He rigs his with a slightly larger hook.  He prefers to rig the tube with the hook slightly going past the main body and skin hooking it.  I use a slightly smaller hook and get it through the body.  I was curious what you all thought ...

 

The picture shows a 3.5 Gitzit rigged two ways.  The one above is the one I use ... a 2/0 EWG.  My friends method is below with the 3/0 EWG.

 

Thoughts about which you would prefer.  Is there another method proven to be successful for you besides these two?

 

Thanks

 

I like gizit tubes and i prefer to use the 3/0 ewg hook because of the bite on the hook. When I tried the 2/0 i missed a lot more bites or lost fish. the 3/0 yields fantastic results with the larger gap. 

Either way is fine. I like to use as big of a hook as I can get away with. So I am more partial to the bottom tube in the picture. But as long as your hook up % is fine, keep doing it your way.

His way I doubt that hook would stay skin hooked and pop out alot.

 

I would switch to a 4" and use a 3/0 ewg your way.

I usually skin it, unless I am in very heavy weeds.  If that is the case I keep the end of the hook inside the tube.  I like a 2/0 ewg hook. 

I used to use your method, but since I tried the Trokar tube hooks I haven't looked back. 3/0 size on a 3.5" tube.

I used to use your method, but since I tried the Trokar tube hooks I haven't looked back. 3/0 size on a 3.5" tube.

Would you mind posting a pic of that Trokar tube hook on a finesse jig?  I never heard of that hook and would love to see it.

 

Thanks

Would you mind posting a pic of that Trokar tube hook on a finesse jig? I never heard of that hook and would love to see it.

Thanks

I'll post the picture tonight.

I do the same as you Felix and I probably fish a tube more than most as I use the 3.5" most of the time and I use it T-rigged with a 2/0 EWG style hook the way you have it and I use it on an inside jig head. The inside jig head is when I fish them on the river for smallmouth, you don't get snagged by weeds or brush but instead the head usually wedges in rock so we use as light of a weight as possible and hang ups are minimal. For the lakes with smallmouth I use the T-rig just like you, the only time I go with a 3/0 EWG hook is when I use the 4" flippin style tube but you got it down, the way your friend does it with the oversize hook works too but I've had them come back to the boat with the tube resting on the bend of the hook from bringing it through cover that I just stopped doing it and with a good hook there isn't any drop off in hook up ratio.

Either is fine, but I prefer an Owner Riggin' hook since the hook point is offset from the hook eye.

Trokars look good.

 

http://bassjunkiesfishingaddiction.blogspot.com/2012/04/great-finds-bps-gagnons-sail.html

On the back of a pack SK Coffee tubes it recommends a 3/0 hook for 3.5 "tubes and a 4/0 hook for 4.5" tubes...

Sizes are not standard between brands.  As long as the hook doesn't interfere with the action, and isn't too big to bury the point, it's fine.

On the back of a pack SK Coffee tubes it recommends a 3/0 hook for 3.5 "tubes and a 4/0 hook for 4.5" tubes...

 

It depends on where the tail is cut, on a 3.5" Gitzit or Cabin Creek tube a 3/0 would look like the bottom tube in the picture Felix posted.

I would fish the top out of those two but really either will work fine.  For about the last year I have switched from fishing offset worm hooks to putting a hitch hiker on jig hooks.  It has seemed to increase hook ups and save the ends of the tubes for a few more fish.  Rigging the point would be the same.

I usually skin it, unless I am in very heavy weeds.  If that is the case I keep the end of the hook inside the tube.  I like a 2/0 ewg hook. 

 

 

Exactly what I do, I use a 2/0 G-Lock and let the hook point float freely inside the tube.   Only works with thin walled tubes though, but that's all I use anyway.

Would you mind posting a pic of that Trokar tube hook on a finesse jig?  I never heard of that hook and would love to see it.

 

Thanks

I hope this helps. The tube is a 3.5" Lt. Melon pepper orange. A guy from Michigan named Fred Schubert makes them.

Thanks for the pic.  That is one bad hook!  

Thanks for the pic. That is one bad hook!

I haven't missed a fish using them. With EWG hooks I would occasionally have one get unbuttoned.