whats the best way to rig them

Lead head with hook exposed whenever alot of weeds are not present or texas rigged for a weedless presentation.

I flip a Reaction Innovations Tube rigged Texas style with a 4/0 EWG and a 1/2 oz Tru-Tungsten flipping weight (Penetrators are good too) and pegged with the new Smart Pegs, also from Tru-Tungsten.

I just recently started using braid as well, so far so good.

Prog

Please consider the following from Ike:

Use an internal jig head or a bell weight.

If using an internal jig head, have the weight along the hook's shank.

You can also use a bell weight and put the hook through the metal loop of the bell weight inside the tube.

Sizes of Weights

Water Depth and Jig head size.

0-5 Feet

Continuing as the computer sent the reply too soon:

Water Depth            Jig Head Size

0-5 Feet                  1/16 to 1/8 ounces

10-20 Feet               3/16 to 1/4 ounces

20+ Feet                 3/8 to 1/2 ounces

Use a 1/16 to a 3/8 bell weight.

A 1/0 EWG hook works well.

Now Kevin VanDam says the following about tubes:

If you use the round ball head jig, use the ones with the 30 or 60 degree eye and not the 90degree eye.

You can Texas rig the tube by using a bell weight system or a cylinder weight.  Bury the hook barb into the top of the tube to make it weedless.  In heavy cover, use a bullet sinker on the nose of the tube to make if fall straight down.

Some jig heads have bush guards.  Use these to swim the tube through grass beds.  Be sure to jerk it and let it fall during the retrieve.  You can place a 3/8 weight inside the tube and fish the docks.

As for weights, use heavier weights in warm water for a fast fall regardless if the water is clear or stained.  He also likes the heavier tubes for warm water.

In heavy cover have the tube fall fast.

You can peg the bullet sinker but KVD says he likes a freely sliding sinker. He does peg the bullet weight when he fishes grass or brush to get to the bottom.  

He also likes Tungsten sinkers as they are smaller. He suggests placing a glass bead between the head of the tube and the weight.

I hope this helps and is not too detailed or confusing.

All in all, fish the tube the way you like.

Now, how about colors??????

Great post Sam, very informative.

Thank you,

Falcon

Open water - jighead.

Cover - Texas rigged with an EWG hook and unpegged/pegged weight.

Brad

This may be a little unconventional, but fishing with the little 3-1/2 in zoom tubes in rivers for smallies I've been using these Charlie Brewer slider heads:

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&partNumber=46145&hvarTarget=search&cmCat=SearchResults

They work great!  at least in that application.

Hadn't thought of the Slider heads. Good idea.

Prog