under what circumstances would some of you opt for a skirted style jig for smallmouth? It seems to me that this would have many advantages over a tube as far as customizability and maybe they look a little more natural to a bass? Personally all I have ever used is tube jigs when trying to imitate crayfish, but I'm thinking about switching it up a little bit this year. Thoughts?

Switch it up by texas rigging your tubes and you will see an increase in production. Tube headed jigs never really took off as much as t-rigging the tubes.

The advantage of a tube is that not only do they imitate craws but have the profile of a baitfish. I start with craw colored tube, but often switch to baitfish color, and instead of dragging the tube, I'll hop it or lift it and let it fall like an injured bait fish. Try some baitfish colored tubes, I think you will be surprised.

I like tubes in rocky areas a bit more because they seem to come through the rocks better than a jig. 

I like tubes in rocky areas a bit more because they seem to come through the rocks better than a jig. 

 

Yep, tubes can be rigged weedless.

 

Give the new MegaStrike Mega Tube Craw a try:  http://www.megastrikefishingproducts.com/shop/mega-tube-soft-plastic/

What hooks do you guys for Texas rigging a tube?

Depends on the size of the tube. I use EWG's, some of them I can cram a 5/0 in there no problem.

5/0 EGW for my tubes.

I had pretty good luck Texas rigging a 4" Chomper tube with a 4/0 hook last year. I'm going to try them rigged on a stupid tube head this year and see if they work any better.

I use a 4/0 EWG for most of my tubes. If it's a little Bitsy Tube I may have to drop all the way down to a 2/0 EWG, or go up to a 6/0 if it's a big flipping tube.

For my four to five inch tubes I use Gammy Heavy Cover Flippin Hooks in 4/0 or 5/0 and leave the point of the hook inside the tube.  Less snags compared to EWG hooks.

 

Using braid  have not experienced problems with hooksets

 

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5/0 hooks.

To the O.P. why not have both tied on ans switch as you see fit.

I only "resort" to using a tube when a jig isn't working. And it's not simply just a bait change, it usually envolves a change in location, and presentation method as well. Those..... I will keep to myself...LOL.

  It would be rare for me to fish a tube. I don't feel the hook ups are as good. As a norm when I stick a jig fish it stays on. For me the stupid tube is the worst one of all. Though I did have a partner one year that fished it all the time and he didn't miss many. It was costing me to many fish and had to put it down.

mostly depends on water clarity and conditions, but tube.

Jig for me! Tubes seem to hang way to easy and I am very good at fishing a jig. Last year I used exactly 2 tubes and one is still setting on my boat deck. Now I know they catch fish but just don't work very well for me.

 

Allen

Carolina rigged tube also an option.

I'm in the same boat as far as using tubes over skirted jigs and I've never had problems with hook sets when using a tube jig, especially if they are actively biting! The lakes I fish are deep, clear, and rocky and the tubes seem to trigger the best bite but I think it's time to give the skirted jig a try.

If  the normal, triggering affect of a falling tube isn't what the fish are responding to, I'll opt for a skirted jig (no rattles). The only time I T-rig a tube is when I'm flipping and the only time I flip a tube is in pads or cabbage.