I have watched several people use the tube hooks with the lead on the end of them. The problem that I have is that some of the tubes that I throw will not take the abuse of shoving the weight thru the plastic. Does anyone have any insight on a better way?

You shouldn't have to put the weight through the plastic. You should be putting the weight into the open end of the tube, then, once you have it pushed all the way back into the tube, just poke the eyelet through the plastic then tie it to your line.

If you're fishing this rig with an open hook, then I believe Dan has given you the best direction.  If you are wanting to T-rig with this type hook then you may be wanting to try the 'Stupid Tube' rigging:

http://tackle.redshad.com/proddetail.php?prod=WNS&cat=24

click on 'rigging instructions'.  I use these insider heads with Zoom Big Tubes and if done properly, I can get several fish from one tube.  I'm sure there are other brands out there that will work, perhaps better.  Post if you know of them

There is no "best" way to rig a tube, rigging method depends on the cover conditions and bottom composition of the lake, that determines first: if you are going to rig it with an exposed hook or not ( heavy cover ----> weedless rig ); second: if you are going to rig it with a tube jighead or not ( cracked chunk rock ----> no jighead ) and third:if you are willing to sacrifice comfort over function ( like rigging your tube with a jighead to fish cracked/chunk rock ---> hangs up a lot ).

I appreciate all of your advise. I will give all of the methods a shot the next time out. Again, thank you for helping

I accomplish the same thing by texas rigging the tube with a wide gap hook, and putting the weight inside the tube. You get the same spiralling fall that you get with a jighead without the hangups.

Cheers,

GK

hey msberry you should look into the mizmo tube, it's the best i've used in has a pointed weight the dangles on the shank that you shove through the tube into the middle of it, it's awesome...

http://www.mizmo.com/rigginginsider.html