River Techniques
The Tube
The tube is a simple plastic bait you can use in many ways to catch smallmouth in lakes and rivers. Tubes are versatile enough to mimic distinct types of bait. This depends on how they are used. Bait types imitated by tubes include:
1) Crayfish
2) Suckers or other bottom feeding minnows and fish.
3) Minnows
4) Insects
Fishing the Tube
The tube can be fished in a lot of diverse ways. Current plays a major factor on how you fish the tube. Here are a few retrieves that can be used.
1) Drift
2) Jig up and down
3) Straight in
4) Stop and go
5) Slowest retrieve that you can do dragging it
6) Fast and slow, mix up your speeds
Where to Cast
You can cast a tube anywhere. Any spot can be good for a tube. There is one major problem with this you will get a ton of snags. If you stay with it and get good with the bait, you will be able to get some of these snags out.
1) Current Breaks (bring it upstream with a steady retrieve on the bottom)
2) Below a riffle with a lip or drop
3) Deep pools (Cast in let it sit before moving it)
4) Bridge Pillars
5) Major Structure
6) Cover Logs, Large boulders, Overhanging trees, etc.
7) Flats off the main channel
8) Riffles above pools (Cast above riffles bring it back with a stop and go drag)
9) Pockets of deeper water on massive flats
10) Shoreline Eddies
11) Mid River rock humps
These spots are Hot spots for about every Lure but with the Tube you can use it as a Minnow or a Crayfish Depending on your retrieve so you are not limited and you can also catch Muskie, Walleye, Sauger, Trout, and even a Pike when using the Tube.
When to fish
I fish a tube all year long and catch smallmouth. Spring and winter are the times when the tube shines for me. In the spring no matter, the water conditions or weather. In the winter it is the same just be sure to use the slowest retrieves possible.
1) Spring (Main)
2) Summer
3) Fall
4) Winter (Main)
Factors for Tubes
1) Low Water Temperature
2) Cold Front
3) Small Prey
4) Clear Water
5) Heavy Fishing Pressure
Weights, Rigs, and Hooks
Weight is the main thing in determining how a bait looks and falls in the water. I use a weighted tube hook inserted in a hollow bait. At times I also use a Texas rigged with a super line weighted hook. Here are the hook weights I use to try and mimic the prey. Tubes can be used anywhere. They can be rigged weedless, but I do this only in extremely thick cover. Weedless rigs decrease your chance of hookups. A lot of times no weight is needed, especially if fish are surface feeding. I like hooks that bend easily (Light Wire).
1) Hook no weight 3/0 wide gap hook
2) 1/16 oz inserted 3/0 hook
5) 3/16 oz inserted 3/0 hook
6) 1/4 oz inserted 3/0 hook
I offer the 1/8-ounce inserted tube jig and weighted hook in bulk packs HERE
Color and Tube Type
Color is also important when fishing rivers and streams. I stay with colors that match naturally occurring bait. Here are the colors that consistently catch fish. In the river I use crayfish colors greens, blacks, browns. I also like to use assorted color flakes like purple, red, gold, and black. Natural is the way to go for all seasons of course there are days when bright colors work, but I play the percentage game, and most days fish do not want to chase bait far from home.
1) 412 Bait 412ube 3.5 SOTY (Standard Formula)
2) 412 Bait 412ube 3.5 Illusion (Standard Formula)
3) Scared Fishless Rude Tube 2.5 Green Pumpkin Black
Primary Rules for Color Selection
1) Forage
2) Color of water
3) Natural colors for vertical baits
4) Bright colors for faster horizontal (Faster Baits) baits
5) Try distinct color patterns when bite get slow
6) In darker water muddy I use darker colors in the river
Scent
I use scent on all my soft plastics. When you are using soft plastics, you are finesse fishing, and your bait is moving slowly and sitting on bottom. It is hard enough to catch smallmouth that are not active, so any little advantage is good. Spring, fall and winter, this could be the difference not getting skunked. Soak your baits in the scent when you plan to use them (Few days before).
Type
1) Crawfish
Line
I use Fluorocarbon for a few reasons while wading in rivers in streams. Use 6lb. test in streams and clear cold water. Use 8lb most other times. I change my line about once a month.
Reasons for Fluorocarbon line
1) Crystal clear water
2) It Sinks
3) Strong line little stretch
4) Abrasion resistant
There are some negatives to using it.
1) Memory
2) Shorter casts
Here are the lines that I use in the rivers here in PA.
Reels
I am a Shimano Stradic person I have been using them since I was fourteen years old. These reels are solid and durable, and I still have those reels from when I was fourteen. I use three sizes, all of them are great used for specific places that I fish.
1) 1000 Smaller streams
2) 2500 Mid to large rivers
3) 4000 On a boat (too heavy to wade with)
Rods
I use Bull Bay Rods, Shimano, and G Loomis rods for smallmouth fishing. For wading in rivers, you will need a 7 foot plus length in Medium Light or Medium. I use these rods because they can throw 1/8 oz lures that will be your main weight you will be throwing.
The tube is an excellent bait for Smallmouth Bass in moving water. Its advantages include the potential to catch numerous fish once mastered. However, it requires time to learn and can be frustrating due to frequent snags. It is essential to use this bait consistently, as discontinuing its use can result in a need to relearn its effectiveness. I have experienced a period where I exclusively used a tube, and it proved to be highly rewarding. This bait is effective year-round, in water temperatures ranging from 85 degrees to 35 degrees. When I encounter difficulty in catching smallmouth bass, I switch to a tube. Mastering this bait will yield satisfying results.
Thanks,
Pete
Comments