The tube worm is a lure and bait combination that is most often used by kayak anglers who have found it is very effective when it comes to attracting and catching striped bass. The tube is made of surgical tubing that is cut into lengths ranging from twelve to thirty-six inches, and it is then connected to a wire that runs cleanly through the tube and then connected to the hook on the backside of the tube.
The hook will then be tipped with a piece of a worm or a whole worm, and it is then trolled through the water at very slow and steady speeds to attract the fish to the bait. The tube has a rolling like motion through the water that some anglers claim mimics the movements of an eel through the water.
Tube and Worm Trolling Technique
If the idea is to cover a lot of water and fish for big striped bass, then fishing with a tube and worm from a kayak may prove to be an effective method; especially if you find yourself in five to twenty feet of water.
When using a tube and worm, you will want to try to vary your trolling speed but keep the speeds at lower settings. When determining which kayak is the best to troll with the tube and worm method, it is really up to the angler’s preferences. Just make sure that a strong hold is maintained on the rod at all times in case a big fish starts tugging at the line.
When we say keep the speed to a minimum, the speeds should not exceed 2.5 mph. The tube and worm are meant to mimic an actual seaworm, and they are not known to travel at high speeds through the water. You want to keep the tube and worm resembling the live seaworm to attract more fish. If you find that the boat you are on cannot maintain these lower speeds, then you may want to look into finding safe ways to weigh down the boat and vary the speed.
Other Helpful Tips and Tricks
While you can use a plastic scented seaworm when trolling on tubes, you may find greater success if you instead choose to use a real seaworm. The real, live bait will cost you more initially, but you will also find that the benefits of using this bait opposed to the plastic seaworms will make the extra cost worth it.
Next, make sure that you are using a rod that has a good backbone and a soft tip. You will be faced with the opportunity of being able to catch many different sized fish, including some pushing heavier weights. For this reason, you will want to have a rod that is strong and powerful and can withstand the pressure a bigger fish will put on the line. A soft tip will also help eliminate popped hooks.
The tube and worm technique will also prove to be more effective when you are able to troll with the tide, waves, breeze, and current. If you do not try to move with the natural movement of the water, then you may not catch any fish at all because the movements of the tube and worm will no longer mimic a real seaworm and instead, the rig will be bouncing all over the place and too fast of a pace.
Pay attention to the depth in which you are trolling as well. As mentioned previously, it is best to stay within water that is between five and twenty feet in depth, but you can alter and adjust this depending on where you are finding the fish.
There are different colors you can choose for the tube, but red may be the most commonly used color because the larger sandworms the fish go for are typically red in color. It is also advisable to add a scented sandworm to the hook of the tube to attract the fish with the scent. Even if it is just a small piece of worm, it will be far more effective than not using scent at all.
In fact, it may be better to only use small pieces of the worm because then you will have the opportunity to hook any smaller fish that may be passing before the big ones come around. You can score the smaller fish while waiting for the bigger catch.
Advantages of Tube and Worm Fishing
While the tube and worm method may seem a bit odd to some, it is actually considered one of the most effective methods available for catching striped bass. They have a very simple design and are an effective and useful choice even for beginning anglers who are just learning their technique.
The tube and worm technique is also good if you are fishing for bass during the summer months when they are far less aggressive and are instead in more of a resting mode. Trolling with a tube and worm may be the only way you can find to entice bass during the months of July and August. It also does not require any extra energy to troll with the tube and worm.
Trolling with the tube and worm is a great way to guarantee that you will be able to catch some fish. It is also the ideal method for those anglers that want to fish for hours at a time. The method does not require any physical exertion, so it can be done all day without you even breaking a sweat.
It is possible to make your own tubes if you wish, but they are also available to purchase. Deciding which tubes to use and even which colors are really up to your own personal preferences. The key to success when using the tube and worm to troll for fish is to have the confidence and patience you need to know that if you follow these helpful tips and tricks and take your time with a slow troll, your success will be far greater than before.
