Tube Fishing ???

Reel Lunker 09/07/2007 - 09:06 Friends of MDfishing.org Monocacy Roll Your Own Hey quick question. I tried fishing with tubes for the first on the monocacy the other morning, after I realized the top water bite was not there. It was nice, because shortly after I landed my first fish on the tube (nice smallie). Unfortunately, it was gut hooked. I was throwing a 4" tube on a pre-poured jighead with rattle. The smallmouth inhaled the bait, and end up hooking below the gills. I was able to get the hook out, but am not sure if the fish made it. I tried to keep water moving through the gills, and not have out of the water for to long. After that fish, I got several more bites, however, I kept trying to set the hook early in the bite to avoid gut-hooking another and lost them.

Is it typical that they inhale these tube jigs? Do you guys have any techniques to avoid this in the future? Or any techniques on unhooking a gut hooked fish? I am a little hesitant on fishing again with the tube until I can figure something out. Although, I have read that the tubes are a great bait for fall fishing.

Tubes

HookUp 09/11/2007 - 07:18 Tubes are great baits, but when I first started fishing them realized they are fish killers.

First, in the heat of summer, I stop fishing them and switch to a jig and pig to fish the bottom because the fish inhale tubes during this period.

Next, pay attention to the bite when fishing tubes, especially as the water warms. As soon as you feel the thunk, set the hook. If you're having problems with this, switch to a braid and a more sensitive rod.

Lastly, carry a debarb tool (Google it) and clip the hook.

Nothing beats dumb luck

Hook Removal

muskalungee 09/10/2007 - 13:44 I've had the same experience with Tubes, and I concur that it happens more when I keep the bait still for any length of time, or lose tension.

As for hook removal, I've used this technique before and it works well:
(source: http://www.in-fisherman.com/magazine/articles/if2806_HookRemoval/index.html

Muskalungeeeeeeee! -Mike

I don't think tube baits are

TightLine 09/09/2007 - 15:52 I don't think tube baits are any worse than other baits for gut hooking fish. Sometimes when it's really windy, or as was mentioned earlier, the fish picks the bait up and moves towards you, the hit can be hard to detect. I've had fish inhale poppers every once in a while and get the darn thing stuck in their throats. I wouldn't sweat it, just keep focused, and hopefully it won't happen to often.

-TL

Not too common in my experience

BRC2 09/07/2007 - 10:17 I fish tubes quite a bit for river smallies. Normally when I feel the bite I will reel up any slack and make sure I feel the weight of the fish on the line, then set the hook. From bite to hookset its like 2-3 seconds. 95% of the time the hook is where its supposed to be. Sometimes you may be letting them have it too long, or they are real hungry and immediately take it deep, but usually deep hooking them w/ a tube is a rare ocurrance in my opinion.

Side Note - A lot of times in the river they will bite a tube and swim toward you...that can be a problem because you don't feel the weight of the fish and he can have it too long. If you feel a bite you have to reel up slack to see where your line/bait is. You will know if he's swimming at you because your taught line will have moved a few feet from where you felt the bite. Hope that helps...

Ben

Thanks

Reel Lunker 09/08/2007 - 07:54 Thanks for the tip.