What is the best size tube to use for Smallmouth? 3 inch or 4 inch? Also what size tube jig would you use for a 4 inch tube and a 3 inch tube? I'm guessing a 4/0 for a 4 inch and a 3/0 for a 3 inch? Do you like Seckel hooks or regular for tubes? Lastly favorite color? I am going to start fishing tubes more this year and was wondering. Thanks for any info.

Personally Tom I'm right in the middle 3.5 inch tubes work best for me. I use 1/4oz weight with a 3/0 hook and 1/8 ball head with a 1/0 hook. I buy the jigs in bulk off the auction site because I could lose 5 in 5 casts. Tube brands don't matter much to be either again I look in bulk. I scored over 300 zoom tubes for 30 bucks over the winter. As far as colors I like a junebug/black for muddy water, green or a copper for clear water.

What is the best size tube to use for Smallmouth? 3 inch or 4 inch? Also what size tube jig would you use for a 4 inch tube and a 3 inch tube? I'm guessing a 4/0 for a 4 inch and a 3/0 for a 3 inch? Do you like Seckel hooks or regular for tubes? Lastly favorite color? I am going to start fishing tubes more this year and was wondering. Thanks for any info.

How bout right in the middle. 3.5" is the only size tube I use. My favorite jig head is the 1/8 ounce, 2/0 hook, owner darter head. My favorite colors are green pumpkin and old ugly (made by dry creek and skinny bear) and brown craw green flake (gitzit). EDIT: darter head is 1/4 oz not 1/8 oz.

Gitzit 3.5 in with 3/8 1/4 ounce

PROvider Tackle makes a bite size 3.5 inch tube that has been very good for me for several years now.

 

The "Performance Series" baits really shine in the clear waters I fish.

 

Btw, the Performance Series tube heads have 2/0 Owner hooks on 1/8-1/4oz. and 3/0 Owner hooks on 3/8-3/4oz.. These hooks are STRONG. With a "hooked" barb, you'll find better hook ups. Lower profile hooks are used for the benefit of cutting through grass better and less hang ups on rocks.

 

A-Jay

 

 

http://www.providertackle.com/store/index.php?route=product/category&path=66_70

 

 

PROvider Tackle makes a bite size 3.5 inch tube that has been very good for me for several years now.

 

The "Performance Series" baits really shine in the clear waters I fish.

 

Btw, the Performance Series tube heads have 2/0 Owner hooks on 1/8-1/4oz. and 3/0 Owner hooks on 3/8-3/4oz.. These hooks are STRONG. With a "hooked" barb, you'll find better hook ups. Lower profile hooks are used for the benefit of cutting through grass better and less hang ups on rocks.

 

A-Jay

 

 

http://www.providertackle.com/store/index.php?route=product/category&path=66_70

Nice!  I'ma get me some of their 4" tubes too!  Look like nice tubes.

 

I use all sizes of tubes on smallies but got a surprise last fall.  They were hammering on these big fat 4" Prowler Big Butts and wouldn't touch anything smaller the first 2 weeks of Sept.  I had never fished a tube that big for smallies before but they were suckin' them down deep!!  They liked Junebug best.

Nice!  I'ma get me some of their 4" tubes too!  Look like nice tubes.

 

I use all sizes of tubes on smallies but got a surprise last fall.  They were hammering on these big fat 4" Prowler Big Butts and wouldn't touch anything smaller the first 2 weeks of Sept.  I had never fished a tube that big for smallies before but they were suckin' them down deep!!  They liked Junebug best.

 

Good.  I think you'll be happy

 

btw - the 4" in "Roadkill" is money.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

Tried ordering Gitzits but their site is terrible. Slow as hell and just simply doesn't let you put in an order...

I use Cabin Creek's 4 inch tubes in the salt and pepper with flake colors. The green and blue are my two favorites and are killer in clear water. Smallmouth love them and I have caught some huge largemouth on them also. I prefer to rig them on the weedless tube heads instead of texas rigging. They seem to spiral more and I have better hook up ratio with them. 

BPS Tender Tube #71. This has been killer on Pickwick.

 

 

 

 

Cabin Creek is my favorite..  My favorite color is Pumpkin Copper..  If the sun is shining and the water is clear, Pumpkin Copper is money!!  Also, there are days when size doesnt matter but there are others when I have to use a 2.5" Strike King bitsy tube..  

Green pumpkin 3.5" Strike King coffee tube or a zoom super salty 3.75" in white pearl

Tried ordering Gitzits but their site is terrible. Slow as hell and just simply doesn't let you put in an order...

order them on tackle warhouse. I never order any thing from there website for that reason.

order them on tackle warhouse. I never order any thing from there website for that reason.

They don't have the 3.5 tournament colors. The colors TW had are garbage.

I use 2.5" to 5" tubes with 3.5 being my best producers. As for heads, depth dictates the weight. I cast my own and have 1/8oz with 4/0 and 5/0 hooks, 1/4oz with 4/0, 5/0 and 6/0 and 3/8oz with 5/0 and 6/0. I also have some I bought in 1/2oz with 6/0 hooks. The larger hooks are great for when the fish are just nipping the tails......you still hook-up.

I use several brands of off the shelf tubes mentioned above.  

 

Have also ordered River Rock Custom Baits tubes.  They come in various sizes.  They are custom made and they will provide single, double and triple dipped tubes.  There tubes are soft, at least the ones that I got were.  Talk to Robert Shue the owner about what your expectations are. 

1/8 oz will snag far less than 1/4 oz. 1/16 oz snag even less and work great under clear water conditions.  

1/4 oz is better for staying down in current or heavy wind.  I adjust to the conditions/fishery

I like a 3.5" for smallies.

3.5 dry creek double dip watermelon / chart. Money in the bank with 1/8 oz dart heads 3/0 hook.

PROvider Tackle makes a bite size 3.5 inch tube that has been very good for me for several years now.

 

The "Performance Series" baits really shine in the clear waters I fish.

 

Btw, the Performance Series tube heads have 2/0 Owner hooks on 1/8-1/4oz. and 3/0 Owner hooks on 3/8-3/4oz.. These hooks are STRONG. With a "hooked" barb, you'll find better hook ups. Lower profile hooks are used for the benefit of cutting through grass better and less hang ups on rocks.

 

A-Jay

 

 

http://www.providertackle.com/store/index.php?route=product/category&path=66_70

I've never seen these before! They look great, and their dropshot weights are exactly what I need.

I did get my PROvider tubes today that A-Jay recommended.  These are nice tubes!

In Door County 2 1/2" tubes from Howie's Tackle kill smallies.  I use Kalin's ultimate darter jigs 1/8 oz size, 2.0 hooks

 

http://www.howiestackle.com/category/HT.html

I used a 3.5 inch tube with an 1/8 4/0 tube jig I got off of EBay to land this 6.7lb smallmouth. Thanks for all the tips guys they were money for me. Also got some Provider tubes and jig to try. Possible jet boat next? Now that's crazy talk if I want to stay married. Hmmmmm.........

Awesome job. This is a prime example of why forums like this exist!