Lee Bailey Jr / Baby Buzzbait

Lee is a retired Bassmaster Elite Series Pro.

How to Fish Tube Baits for Bass

Tubes The Ultimate Lure

Tubes The Ultimate Lure is an absolute classic lure for bass fishing. This bait works, and has worked for decades.

When conditions are tough, a tube is one of the best go-to baits. Anytime the tube or the water moves, the bait’s tail is moving, creating action. Garry said that a tube mimics a crawdad or a bait fish, and there are plenty of colors to help you match the forage on your home lake.

A timeless technique for targeting both smallmouth and largemouth bass, the Tube has been used by anglers since the 1970s to tempt fish into taking a ride over their boat’s rails. There are a variety of ways to rig a tube, from weightless, to Texas or Tokyo Rigged, and several different methods in between.

How to fish Tubes The Ultimate Lure:

You can fish almost any bait too fast but with plastics it’s unlikely you can fish one too slow. Experiment with retrieve speeds until you get bit, but it’s wise to start slow. Consider ”flipping” heavy cover for bass. The pendulum swing, quiet entry and erratic fall can be deadly for bass hugging cover closely. The standard swim, twitch rest or slow bottom crawl are also viable possibilities. Another plus is the unfamiliar look of the family of soft plastic tubes. Bass see the common plastic worm, lizards, craw imitators but many had never been introduced to the cylindrical body equipped with trailing tentacles. For the smaller tubes, a slow arcing return with the occasional twitch often is all it takes. For the laziest of crappie, bluegill and bass a drop into their “house” with a slow vertical presentation will many times draw a hit from the most inactive fish. Strikes vary from the subtle (is that a bite) to rod ripping hits. Concentrate and keep contact with the bait, at the first feeling of anything different, sock em’.

Tip:

The mistake people make with a tube is trying to fish too fast. A tube has a lot more built-in action than people give it credit for. In fact, I often get bit when I’m dead sticking a tube. So, when you’re not fishing for a visible fish, I think slowing down is the key and why a tube is so much more versatile than it gets credit for with bass anglers.


If you’re not using this versatile big fish catching bait, you are missing out. Tubes The Ultimate Lure can be used in a variety of situations and are effective almost all year. They are exceptionally effective during the pre-spawn when bass are looking for an easy meal. Tie one on and give it a try this year, you will be glad you did.
“Catch The Dream!”

Fishing’s fun! * Fishing’s explosive! * Fishing’s exciting