Looking for Tube and Worm tips...

[Hooper]

Hi Guys-

I am hoping that some of you highliners out there would be kind enough to give me a few pointers on using the tube and worm set up. I know how effective they can be when used correctly, but I must be doing something wrong because although I take a few fish, I don't seem to hook up consistently as others around me are doing.

I use a inexpensive, flexible, fiberglass Penn Mariner rod with a Diawa Sealine 50H spooled up with 36lb lead core line. On that I have been running a 50lb mono leader of about 8 - 10 feet tied directly to the tube. The tubes I have been using are 24" with about 2 ounces built into the head and red or orange in color. On the rear end, they have a tandem hook setup, one for the worm and hopefully one for the fish. Of course, this is tipped with a decent sized worm. Some of the rigs I have used have a spinner blade attachement on the front which I have been told can make a huge difference in catching and not catching.

Recently, somone told me that they use about 50 feet of 50lb flurocarbon leader and it works well for him. Does anyone else use a setup like this??? I can't argue with success, I sure will try this in '04, but I am curious as to what you guys do to take fish using tube and worm. What would be the best way to connect 50 feet of leader to the lead core? Maybe a small wind-on swivel, or a knot with a low profile?

Also, I have seen many guys using the "terminator" type rod riggers that lie the rod horizontal to the water and get the lines out and away from the boat. Have you guys found that they improve things for you???

I would be interested to hear what tricks are used to improve your catch.

Many thanks, Hooper

[Jamie M]

Hooper -

First of all, I like the JAWS reference - I was Quint for Halloween this year. The best movie of all time.

Anyway, I'm with you - I've used this rig with moderate success, but not producing anywhere near the numbers I hear others talking about. When I was trying to learn, I went to the On The Water website, and went through the old issues. Any issue that had an article about the T&W, I ordered it. I got 3 or 4 issues, and they had some useful infoamation.

I do most of my trolling in 12 feet or less of water, so your needs may be different. Often, I troll 1 rig with on a lead-core outfit, and one on regular braided line. I haven't noticed one outperforming the other. I use about 8 feet of 50-pound fluorocarbon as a leader.

"America's Cup? I'm not talking about day-sailing or pleasure-boating. I'm talking about working for a living. I'm talking about sharkin'."

[Clammer]

What depth are you fishing ?????????????????

[Hooper]

Hi Clammer-

Anywhere between 15 feet to around 30, but usually no more than that, 20 - 25 is about average.

Jaws is the greatest movie of all time! I agree...

-Hoop

[fishsmith]

I have seen many guys using the "terminator" type rod riggers that lie the rod horizontal to the water and get the lines out and away from the boat. Have you guys found that they improve things for you???

These things are great, I don't think they're worth $100 pair, but thats what I see them for. They turn a 7ft beam into a 19ft spread (6ft rods).

Troll as slow as you can go and remember to put the worm on the hook upside down. I can't think of the right term, but you put the hook into the worm about an inch down from the pinchers and send the hook out the pinchers.

Don't forget to set the reels clicker.

[Clammer]

No weoght =& reeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaallllllllll slow

[Van]

Yup like clammer said SLOW,,,,,SLOW.....

I have pretty good success with almost exactly the same rig, maybe you don't have enough colors out.

Do you fish it ON THE BOTTOM ???

I feel it hit then crank up a bit.


BTW...
""You ever seen a shark's eyes, black, lifeless eyes, like a DOLL'S EYES"".....Creepiest line in that movie..

[MTC]

1) Slow 2kts or less thru the water...use a bucket to slow you down.

2) Worm...

3) Rocks 6 15 feet depth

I use Tika batcaster reels with a level wind on my charters. I like the tubes I buy in Maine with a rudder on them. I use a weighted rudder if more than 12 feet deep. Braided lines get deeper than Mono. 60# with an uglystick boat road...medium action.


Landed over 100 Stripers like this, this season in CT. Bring my game up to the south shore in 2004 and plan to go from 30% tubing to 80%.

I have the tubes and rudders on my website. I plan on putting an ad here as soon as the Adminstrators get me the info.

[capesams]

like clamma said ,,slow ahead , an if your boat boat can't crawl make sharp s turns over the bottom your working...that will give the tube a chance to slow down an 9 times out of 10 thats when the fish will hit, same thing with wire, they like to hit the jig when it's just barely moving when your making a swing to go back over the spot......any boat rod will work and any thing like a 3/0 or 4/o penn will do just fine for lead line.....no fancy set up needed.

[hooked]

Sell the boat and get a kayak.

I did well paddling through the shallows and around ledges while trolling a tube-n-worm.

Going slow and having the tube low in the water column definitely worked.

I didn't go much deeper than 15' and just used braid with a 5 - 6' leader of 50# flouro.

The more I could make the tube spin, the better my results would be. To prevent line twist, I used a Luhr Jensen rudder between the braid and leader and used top quality swivels.

I had a couple colors and sizes, but a weighted red tube was the top producer.

[Hooper]

What do you guys mean by rudders on the tubes? Like I said, I have used silver spinner blades in front, is that similar?

-Hooper

[MTC]

[MTC]

[Rip Runner]

Hooper,

I would consider ever listening to the guy who uses 50 feet of 50 pound florocarbon ever again for anything....I almost fell out of my seat when I read that. It's a total wast of money! If you're going to use mono, or floro, all you need is about 4 feet, you can use a little more, but it won't matter much after that point.

Alot of guys have given you some solid advice....go slow and make sure the tube's right off the bottom. The kind, length, weight, and style of the tube will make a big difference as well. It will depend on where you are fishng. Those are the things you will have to learn yourself by trial and error.

"Cage is in the water, you're in the water, sharks in the water, our shark"

[Hooper]

MTC-

Crazy looking setup you have there. But you do well with it hu? I will ask about it at the local bait shop and see what they have. I really appreciate the information on that.

Rip Runner-

The guy who uses the 50' leader is a commercial fisherman who does very well with bass during the commercial season. I know I may draw lot of fire for that, but he is a heck of a bass fisherman and someone who causes me to rip my hair out at times! "Dammit! Is he hooked up again!" So when he speaks, I listen... !

That's part of the great thing of this board is the variety of techniques and tactics that we use can vary so widely. It's like with wireline jigging, some love to use a mono or fluro leader, while other swear by a direct tie. Guess that's part of what makes fishing so much fun.

-Hooper

"Fairwell and ado to you fair Spanish ladies, Fairwell and ado to you ladies of Spain..."

[RIROCKHOUND]

Hoop,
We started trolling tubes maybe 10 years ago w/ leadcore.. ent to wire (stainless, monel, the new inconel) and are slowly drifting back to leadline.. easier and more fun.. still troll 'chutes with wire though.. Everyone above made good points, but remeber to KISS (Keep it simple stupid!) I troll weighted tubes in deep water (35-50ft) and unweighted ot light weight in shallow waters... no spinners, no keels, no 50' leader.. just about 8ft of 40lb mono and a tube connect the leader to the tube with a HIGH quality swivel or you'll be sorry.. I dont troll as much as we used to, prefer eels at night in shallow water, but at times in the summer its the only way to get big bass.. Go Slow, Go Low and if you aint hanging and losing a tube occasionally, go slower and lower....
'hound

[missing link]

what about 60# PP weight, swivel, mono leader in 20' to 30 ' H2O??
I'm thinking
LINK Sr

[MTC]

Wow... this post started a long time ago... I use a 3 way swivel now with a 1-3oz bucktail on 8" of Floro and 36-46" to the tube...

The bucktail gets it down like a Carolina rig. 50lb powerpro... one thing that has not changed... still go slow as possible... under 2kts

[missing link]

I'm kind of leaning towards this set up I want to get rid of the wire set up and lead core.
I fish buzzards bay not deep also Plymouth shore towards the east entrance CC canal
LINK SR

[echoisland]

Originally Posted by MTC

Wow... this post started a long time ago... I use a 3 way swivel now with a 1-3oz bucktail on 8" of Floro and 36-46" to the tube...

The bucktail gets it down like a Carolina rig. 50lb powerpro... one thing that has not changed... still go slow as possible... under 2kts

are you using any other weight other than bucktail and tube?

[MrHunters]

i have no idea





but it works

[thefishingfreak]

the idea with 50-60 foot leaders is so you can vertical jig with the same rod if you get on top of a school. switch over to a jig and your in buisness quick. for trolling tube and worm 6-10 feet of mono will work.
i fished them mostly in under 15' of water with the tube right off the bottom.
i call 'em schoolie tubes.

[ThomCat]

LOW & SLOW
Catch'em up,
ThomCat

[MTC]

No weight... 1oz of bucktail per 10 feet of depth...

[taJon]

"schoolie tubes", how true. but you catch lots of em'. braid is important and go slowwwwww. you can not go slow enough.
I try to stay shallower than 18' and use good, big, juicy worms.

[taJon]

oh ya, no weight on my tubes. right near the surface. I haven't seen a difference between the two. just me though.

[teaser]

If you think you're going slow enough ... slow down some more.


"I think we're gonna need a bigger boat"

[fishermanjim]

i think it depends on where the fish are,,, deep, shalow, in the rocks, just put the bait where the fish are bass can't pass up a tube and juicy worm. tell me i'm wrong

[Al in Westport]

Hi All,

A couple of things I haven't seem mentioned is the use of artificial worms and scent on yout tubes. Any thoughts on these?

Think Spring! Al

[missing link]

A piece of cotton in tube spray with WD-40 this has been an old stand by for years not enough to hurt enviroment but enough to attract fish.
Ask the old timers ,oh yea I'm old, but not as old as the old timer who told me
Link Sr.