i ussualy use a 4 inch pumpkinseed or a 3 inch pumkinseed ;D

It all depends time of year and what structure , and where im fishing. Early spring,Gitzit, Pumpkin seed/w tentalces dipped in JJ's. I like alot of red in early spring. If im on the river in open water with a hard bottom i like 1/8 - 1/4 round ball jig head. Summer Gitzit, GreenPumpkin or Leech colored same size jighead under the same condtions. Lakes with wood cover or pads, I like a bigger tube, mostly because im targeting Largemouth. Yum or Netcraft or Venom, Like all natural colors, mostly greenpumpkin. T-Rig with the lightest slip sinker i can get away with depending on wind and depth. If i could get away with it, i would rather use a jighead.

Tubes are one of my go to baits. The only downfall to a tube is how bass usually with suck them down pretty far when there rigged with a jighead, which makes for a bad gut hook.

Boom Boom 4" tubes, internally weighted texas rigged when fishing the back side to big bolders as then drag over the top better. Also fish them with an internal 60 degree bend jig hook exposed.

Prefer Boom Boom tubes as they are fat (less chance of getting snagged between rocks) and they are soft so when texas rigged a better hook set.

For ice out smallies here in Maine tubes are my favorite lure then jigs. I like the Bass pro shops mega fliping tube texas riged. All I do is cast let is set on bottom and barely drag it an inch at a time. They can't resist, my favorite colors are Black red flake, black gold flake and green with the black flakes.

If you are dragging tubes in slime, try a jig with the eye on the front, like a Slider head.

I say year round.

Right now, go deep. Fish shelves and drop offs. jig head or t-rigged. for spring, go shallow, JH or T rig. for summer, it will depend on the structure. for fall, it will also depend on the structure. Fish shallow during fall. This is when bass are feeding to gain fat for winter.. BEST TIME FOR SMALLMOUTH!  ;D ;D