Spring 2025
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baitcaster setup when fishing a Stupid Tube in thicker weeds.
For my baitcaster setup, I use a Denali Lithium Pro LP703WJ teamed with a Denali Nova Elite baitcaster reel. This reel is spooled with 15-pound Sunline Asegai braid paired with a 10- to 12-pound Sunline FC Leader.
If the bass are dropping my tube before I can get a hookset, I will switch out my FC leader for a 10-pound Sunline Super Natural Monofilament leader choice.
When it comes to fishing on the weed flats and shallower, I prefer to fish a 7-foot Denali Lithium Pro spinning rod LP703SH paired with a Denali Fission Pro 200 spinning reel that is spooled with 100-pound Sunline Asegai braid paired with a 10-pound Sunline FC leader. Once again, if the bass are finicky and dropping my bait before I can set the hook, I will switch to a 10-pound Sunline Super Natural monofilament leader choice.
MATCH THE BAIT
When it comes to tube colors, I carry a few choices to match forage in my waters. I carry stock tube colors like 3-inch Black/Blue, Mustard, and Brown/Orange, which are my standards. I will also stock some 2.5-inch tubes when the bite is off. I keep this tactic in my back pocket and pull it out when the bite gets extra tough, and it has also been
my fallback bait when other anglers are fishing tubes in the area.
I hope these tube tactics help you set the stage for your Springtime tube fishing. Be versatile and pick the proper tube setup to match the conditions with which you are faced. If the bass are active and on the move, rig your tube with a 60-degree eye jig head. This tube setup will help you cover more water faster and help get you dialed in on the bite quicker when the bass are active and on the move.
When you get more dialed in and know where the bass are holding, you can switch to a tube jig head with a 90-degree eye, undersize your weight and let the tube do the work, circling over the bass on a slack line.
Tubes are not just for spring, when the bass comes into the shallows to spawn. I catch bass all season long on them, so do not take your tube box out of your boat after the calendar moves into summer.
Tubes are also one of my go-to finesse options when the bite gets extra tough. I have even won a few tournaments when fishing a tube in the middle of the season when the bite got extra tough due to tournament pressure. Use this as your secret the next time you face a bite that seems like the bass have lockjaw. There is no better option to get bass over the side of your boat all season long. •
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