We are still getting pretty strong cold fronts that screw things up, but the weather is rebounding in between.  The second day temps slide up into the mid-upper 60's, the bass push back up into the shallow weeds/algae.

 

Tube baits have been getting me some pretty decent fish in the weeds.  Largest so far this year is 3.75lbs, but that's pretty decent for early Feb.

 

I usually use vmc tube bait jig heads in 1/8oz bc I can rig it weedless like a Texas rig....using a 4.5inch Powerbait Power Tube in green pumpkin goby.  They still pick up a lot of salad with pretty much every cast though.

 

Anyone have any tube jig tricks?

You won't get the same action on the fall, as with a tube jig, but rigging a tube with a bullet weight Texas style will all but eliminate picking up the salad.  Peg the sinker and maybe add a little oil based scent.

Just now, papajoe222 said:

You won't get the same action on the fall, as with a tube jig, but rigging a tube with a bullet weight Texas style will all but eliminate picking up the salad.  Peg the sinker and maybe add a little oil based scent.

 

I use bang pure craw spray to lube all my bottom baits.

 

I'll try the pegged sinker...having the jig head inside the tube I figured would cut down on all the algae it picked up.  I was WRONG lol!

What parish are you from Crash?

1 hour ago, papajoe222 said:

You won't get the same action on the fall, as with a tube jig, but rigging a tube with a bullet weight Texas style will all but eliminate picking up the salad.  Peg the sinker and maybe add a little oil based scent.

Texas rigging a tube is something I keyed in on last year towards the start of the "fall transition" I fish in rocky rivers so if I don't texasrig I will get hung a billion times every trip.

And you guys in Louisiana aren't the only ones with crazy temperatures 

Yesterday it got into the 70s here and then today it was in the low 30s all day with a lot of wind

 

I also find that things like tubes and jigs work good for me in crazy weather changes like what we just had here in TN

 

 

7 hours ago, Mr. Bassin II said:

What parish are you from Crash?

 

FROM st Mary...currently in EBR.

Put a bell sinker inside the tube, run your hook through the sinker eye when rigging. Gives it a good spiral action on the fall and picks up almost no weeds.

Stupid Tubes are the deal! 

On 2/13/2022 at 2:46 PM, Bluebasser86 said:

Put a bell sinker inside the tube, run your hook through the sinker eye when rigging. Gives it a good spiral action on the fall and picks up almost no weeds.

Needs a technique name, I vote NSF, Not So Free rig...  

On 2/12/2022 at 9:00 PM, CrashVector said:

We are still getting pretty strong cold fronts that screw things up, but the weather is rebounding in between.  The second day temps slide up into the mid-upper 60's, the bass push back up into the shallow weeds/algae.

 

Tube baits have been getting me some pretty decent fish in the weeds.  Largest so far this year is 3.75lbs, but that's pretty decent for early Feb.

 

I usually use vmc tube bait jig heads in 1/8oz bc I can rig it weedless like a Texas rig....using a 4.5inch Powerbait Power Tube in green pumpkin goby.  They still pick up a lot of salad with pretty much every cast though.

 

Anyone have any tube jig tricks?

Hello Crash,

 

In Illinois I use tubes in almost every conditions such as early spring, summer, and fall. The tube I found to be the best overall is a Strike King Flip-N-Tube 4 1/2" I use the Black Feck or a Pumpkin Seed. I also Texas rig it. I think the longer body of the tube the bass hold onto longer. Also the scent strike king has infused into it really makes the bass hold on longer. When no other lure is working the tube has caught me fish. Try the Strike King Flip-N-Tube. Ive tried many different tubes but the length and the scent on the Strike King Flip-N-Tube I've caught 5 to 1 Bass over other Tubes.

 

When the weeds are too thick for a tube jig, I use a gamagatsu skip gap hook and a bullet weight.  The skip gap hook is specifically designed to be used with a tube in a weedless fashion.

On 2/14/2022 at 11:48 PM, lunkerboss923 said:

Stupid Tubes are the deal! 

The only downside to stupid rigging under the OP's conditions is that it will pick up moss at the line tie. You could bring the line tie out closer to the nose, tie it on and pull it back inside the tube, but the line will end up ripping an opening and you'll end up with the line tie sticking out.  Much better under those conditions to go with either a bullet sinker pegged, or some form of T-rig with an internal weight.  I've used the bell sinker rigging as BB86 mentioned and you do get some spiraling on the fall vs. a T-rig.

There's no way to avoid it all together.  Too much fillamentous algae