I used the stupid tube rig for the first time today. I  didnt tear the bass up, caught about a dozen largemouths with the largest 3lb 8oz. I was fishing rocky banks with isolated shade , and scattered logs. I was impressed with the hookup ratio. Every fish but one that was hooked I landed. The only one I didnt land got hung up in a log and I couldnt get it out. I'll be using these a lot from now on. 

 

 Theres a big tournament this weekend and bass boats were hitting all the usual spots. I picked an area thats not known for bass. Had it to myself . 

I much prefer the Owner Phantom Hook for weedless tubes over the stupid method. More bites, better hook ups -  -

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/search-tackle.html?start=0&count=20&searchtext=Phantom+owner&_gl=1*a9zd56*_up*MQ..&gclid=CJDT3-2SjNECFZCMaQodOJECzA

Hope this helps you land a few more in your tournament

 

 

14 minutes ago, Glenn said:

Hope this helps you land a few more in your tournament

I'm not fishing it . Just commenting that there were a lot of boats practicing for it.

40 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

I much prefer the Owner Phantom Hook for weedless tubes over the stupid method. More bites, better hook ups -  -

That would work. I was using my worm rod, 4 inch tube and 5/16th oz jighead. 

On 9/19/2025 at 9:06 PM, FryDog62 said:

I much prefer the Owner Phantom Hook for weedless tubes over the stupid method. More bites, better hook ups -  -

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/search-tackle.html?start=0&count=20&searchtext=Phantom+owner&_gl=1*a9zd56*_up*MQ..&gclid=CJDT3-2SjNECFZCMaQodOJECzA

I tried them, and REALLY wanted to like them, but the dang weights kept pulling off and they fell apart. 

 

Used them quite a bit on our last Canada trip...

 

They worked pretty great until they fell apart, and unfortunately, that didn't take very long. I'll never buy them again.

I was back at it today and found out that these are not the easiest to rig perfectly. My first couple were perfect with the hook lying flat on the back similar to a frog hook. No point exposed at all, texposing is not needed. 100 percent hookup so far. Then the last two  I  rigged the point was sticking up a little and I could not correct it. I'll have to get better at that. Only caught 8 largemouths with one 15 inch keeper .

I never use it for largemouth, but the smallmouth like it. I have the opposite experience though, where my hookup ratio isn't that great. It does a good job protecting the knot and line when fishing in rocky areas though, so sometimes it's the best option. 

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I never use it for largemouth, but the smallmouth like it. I have the opposite experience though, where my hookup ratio isn't that great. It does a good job protecting the knot and line when fishing in rocky areas though, so sometimes it's the best option. 

Ive only used it the two times and have caught perhaps 20 bass with it or a little less. The only two that have come off were hung up in wood. Had a lot of swing and misses but i think those are green sunfish.

I like the stupid tube, works great in cover. It does take a little practice rigging it. I know you can rig it with any tube but secret lures have a great selection of colors.

On 9/19/2025 at 8:06 PM, FryDog62 said:

I much prefer the Owner Phantom Hook for weedless tubes over the stupid method. More bites, better hook ups -  -

I like them, too. However, they don't have the same spiral fall a jig head does, it's more of a glide. I've never had a problem with loosing fish with either rigging.

I figured out how to rig the stupid tube perfectly every time, eliminating the guess work. Instead of running the point in the tube first then guessing where it comes out, run the bend of the hook in first,  push it all the way in to the nose and it  will be in position to push through .   Just poke it through and finish the rig. It needs lube. I used sun block, its the only thing I had on hand.

Check out www.secretlures.com they have some good videos on rigging the stupid tube.

8 minutes ago, ike8120 said:

Check out www.secretlures.com they have some good videos on rigging the stupid tube.

I watched the video and the end result , the hook was not laying flat. There was a gap between the hook point and the tube. I've been fishing the rig in wood and its imperative that it lies flat . For me , anyhow,  it works better to run the bend in the tube all the way to the nose, then push it out.

Hmm I'll have to try that. Not a lot of lakes near me have clean bottom to fish a traditional tube so I usually shy away from it. 

Stupid tubes dont work well in newer trees with a lot small limbs. That space between the hook eye and nose gets caught on every little limb. Old wood where all the tiny limbs are gone   its fine .