"This is a pic of my standard tube rig for pitching grass, a Yum Vibra King 4.25" tube in green pumpkin color. I use the 3/4oz Excalibur tungsten weight pegged with a toothpick. I put a swivel 14-16 inches above the weight on 25-lb test Silver Thread AN-40 line".

I happen to be one of those diehard jig fishermen, often being one who would rather die hard pitching a jig after that one big bite rather than even think of changing baits. But, there comes a time when even diehards like myself start to wonder when the hours get long between bites. I finally cracked a couple years ago and began experimenting with other baits when the jig bite turned off. What could possible be better than a jig in thick, heavy grass for big bass? I found the answer to that question in the thick grass beds of Lake Guntersville when I started dropping a big tube in the same areas where my jig bite had turned off. The tube put fish in the boat when the jig and the standard worm presentations failed. Pitching tubes quickly made the top list of my guiding and tournament methods.

ADVANTAGES - The tube has some distinct advantages when pitching thick milfoil and hydrilla beds. Tubes fall faster through the cover and they are easier to work through the cover so you fish more water efficiently. Tubes work equally as well in and around other heavy cover such as pads and wood or brush cover. The narrower profile of the tube as opposed to the jig at times seems to be more appealing to the bass when the bass get persnickety toward the jig, or when bass pass up other plastics such as worms and lizards. Bass also just don’t see that many tubes, and there are times when that aspect alone pays off.

TECHNIQUES - Tubes can be worked in may ways. They can be pitched, flipped, swam on jig heads for suspended fish, worked on the bottom like a crayfish, and the list goes on and on. I love to pitch tubes, and I prefer to use a big tube most of the time for pitching. I like the 4.25" tube best. My favorite way to rig them for pitching grass is to put a strong, 4/0 wide gap offset hook in the tube and "texpose" the point. "Texposing means leaving the point exposed above the main body of the tube and placed either in the ribs of a Yum Vibra King tube or just laying flat against the top of a bait. Tubes without ribs can be Texposed by putting the point as close to the body as possible or by putting it must slightly back into the skin of the tube to keep the point from hanging on the cover. I generally use a 3/4oz tungsten Excalibur TG weight, and peg it with a tooth pick right at the hook eye. I like to put a strong, quality swivel about 14" above the tube to keep the line twist out of the main line. I’ve never had any negative effect from using the swivel, and without a swivel, tubes and worms with pegged weights will twist the main line quickly, making line changing much more frequent. Twisted line makes detecting strikes difficult, and is not good in terms of line strength. If you pitch with braid, a swivel is not necessary as line twist with braid is not an issue. I prefer mono to braid when pitching tubes however, as the stretch in mono when pitching short can often times be a good thing. In heavy grass cover or wood cover I prefer #25-lb test Silver Thread (Green AN-40) line. Heavy line is a must.

I love to pitch tubes into grass type cover. Bass love to be shallow, and they love to be shallow in the grass since grass or pads give them and their food supply such a good place to live. Tubes are perfect for very thick mats of grass, and bass can’t resist them when they fall into their shallow home. On the hottest summer days I can find shallow bass willing to smash a tube in thick cover. I’ll pitch the tube and let it fall quickly through the grass. I keep just enough tension on the line to feel the tube going down, while trying not to slow the fall as it slips through the cover. I’ll let it sit on the bottom for 2 to 4 seconds, then shake it a few times before picking it up and pitching it again. Like the jig, the strikes generally occur on the initial fall or shortly after the bait hits the bottom. There are times you need to shake a tube in heavy cover for several seconds to "call" the bass to the bait, but it’s up to the bass and it takes some varying of techniques while out on the water to determine what they want. For the most part, pitching a tube is a cover water type tactic for me however, and I don’t waste a lot of time letting it sit or working it in one specific area. I’m looking for the active bite and the tube lets me cover water fast in order to find the fish that want to cooperate.

It’s amazing how close to the boat you can catch fish pitching a tube. I’ve caught a lot of big bass right under the boat in thick grass. One reminder, it’s important to remember when pitching tubes or jigs close to the boat, do NOT set the hook too hard. Setting too hard in heavy cover, especially on a big fish can result in lost fish. Just a firm pull is all that is needed if your hook is sharp and rigged properly.

WHICH TUBE? - For the most part, most tubes are generally the same. There is one exception however, the Vibra King tube by Yum has a couple of very functional differences making it my tube of choice. In my opinion, it’s the perfect tube, especially for pitching and flipping. The ribbed body is makes it perfect for putting the hook through the main body, while leaving the point exposed in the ribs. This makes hookups faster and more efficient and the point still remains protected from cover. The solid head means the tube does not tear up easily so the hook stays in place and you can catch more fish on the same tube without all the waste. There is no better performing tube on the market than a Yum Vibra King tube.

Another thing I really like about Yum Vibra King tubes is the scent. Yum tubes are pre-scented. I’ve never been sold on scent as a rule, but it sure doesn’t hurt. Pre-scenting gives that added peace of mind without the mess of spray bottles or pour ons, and I’ll take any advantage I can get. The clear difference in the scent found in Yum products however is that Yum is also using what they call LPT, or "live prey technology". This has me a little excited about the Yum added attractants. The LPT focus is on the enzymes that stimulate fish behavior rather than just a cover up odor. This is a step in the right direction as I have long believed that bass don’t react to smell on an emotional basis like humans do, they just don’t have that much brain. I’ve never believed bass get pleasure from smell or taste because they are just to primitive. There is something else other than odor that stimulates strike instinct in a bass, and Yum with LPT is the best answer I’ve seen so far. Does LPT work? There is no question in my mind that it makes a difference. Does that mean I catch more fish on it? Yep!

When you get the chance, rig up a tube and drop it in those places other baits rarely venture. After that first big fish slams the bait, you’ll be the one "hooked" on tube fishing.