I’m pondering other (maybe less expensive) free-rig bait options.  In my imagination a spiraling tube seems like a great idea.  I have a huge tube I have tried using as a punch bait.  No luck. x-zones or something. 
 

I have some strike kings as well.  It’s what I’ll try this weekend.   Any others?  I remember a bud using some Zooms, but those are tough to find. 

Provider Tackle has been my go-to for all things tube for a long time.

BBQ Melon is a must.

https://www.providertackle.com/store/index.php?route=common/home

A-Jay

I like the ISG intimidator and Dream tubes..

 

https://isgfishing.net/product-category/bass-lures/bass-plastic-tubes/

Bass Pro Shops Elite tubes 

Oh boy.  There’s a whole big world out there. 

Howie's Tackle. 

I like secret lures and dry creek...and zoom. The local DSG usually carries those although the color selection is less than what I would consider to be ideal.

I’m with @Brian11719 Another vote for secret lure, 

https://shop.secretlures.com/

Bass pro used to have a tube craw…it had a ribbed body, kinda bubbled on the way down. I have 1/2 a bag left of Okeechobee color.

Strike king bitsy tube and gitzit

I was actually gonna suggest - if you have a tackle shop even semi local to you - consider ordering from them online - most have in house pours and they almost all roll their own tubes!

I use Poor Boy's almost exclusively now.

I also like Mizmo.  

16 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Oh boy.  There’s a whole big world out there. 

Yeah...I said ISG is my favorite, but I own at least 7 different brands of tubes, and they dll work 👍

I use to swear by Power bait 3” tubes in “New Penny” but couldn’t find them after awhile so I just use BPS brand or Strike King. Since I have a BPS close and an Academy close, I just grab plastics locally. 

About the only tube I use these days are the ones from BPS.

River Rock

https://river-rock-custom-baits.myshopify.com/products/2-3-4-standard-tube?variant=32037485805638

6 hours ago, Rockhopper said:

I use Poor Boy's almost exclusively now.

I was a big fan pre 2010, then I got a couple orders with really terrible tentacle cuts and moved on.  Sounds like they're back to quality?  They really were a bang for the buck company at one point.  If I ever drop shot again, the smoke Eerie darter will be purchased.

 

scott

 

I stumbled upon Kalin's, I can't remember where, and have been impressed with them. Plenty of salt and they still hold up extremely well. Another very soft one is Sheel's house brand. They're my go to when I know I'm probably going to be loosing tubes to snags. Sadly, they dropped the 3.75 from their line-up, but I have four packages, so I'm good for most of the season.

Tubes are one of the only plastic categories where I really don't care. Any tube I've found has worked just fine so I buy what's on sale or is made locally. I don't feel like I'm missing out. Only thing to decide for me is size/colour. 

 

That said I have a large value bag of pour boys and have used those for awhile. 

 

Strike King Coffee tubes, Keitech Salty Core, Pour Boys, Berkley, Netbait, Set the Hook. All fine. 

tubes dont seem popular around here.  the shops dont seem to carry much. 

 

I hope that translates to a bass looking at my tube-bait and thinking, "hey, never seen that before..looks yummy"

 

I'm going to free rig it.  I went into my junk bin and found a few packages of strike kings coffee.  probably need to dump them out and stuff pieces of plastic worm up the bung hole if I want to use an Owner Haymaker hook. 

First tubes I've used were Secret lures when someone showed me how to rig a stupid tube (invented by the owner of SL). I've stuck to them mostly since then.  They work great for smallies in the river but I haven't had any luck outside of that.

cast again tackle   https://castagaintackle.com/

 

They have probably the most complete lineup of sizes and colors on the market.  

 

Goby Melt is a very popular color that does a good job imitating gobies, craws, shiners, etc and is a unique color in their lineup.

 

They are also available on tw and omniafishing

I use the stupid tubes by Secret Lures, Also the Mega Tubes by Mega Strike.https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Megastrike_Mega_Tube_Craw_8pk/descpage-MEGATUB.html

11 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

tubes dont seem popular around here.  the shops dont seem to carry much. 

 

 

 

Around here they are top 3 most used bait especially for smallmouth. I have yet to find a tube that doesn't work. For tough conditions my favorite is a Gitzit in the Brown or Leech color.

 

Allen

I dont think it makes a lot of difference . I got a good buy on Gizits a few years back so I use them.  Nobody carries tubes here.   The closest place I know of is 90 miles away.