For those deep jobs with a lead head inserted into your tube, you’ll enhance the bait with a few well-placed snips. First, cut a ¼- to ½-inch slit in the tube’s body along the inside edge of the hook shank. This allows the hook to move clear of the tube’s body, thereby eliminating any possible hookset impediments.
Also, when pitching to spooky fish on beds or any other skittish scenario, trim about ¼ to ½ inch off the bottom edge of your tube’s skirt. This decreases the profile and makes the bait less imposing. Moreover, bass bite the tube from the back end, so with the tentacles cut off, you have more area for them to hook up with less plastic getting in the way.
Be aware that the tentacles on tube skirts aren’t always fully separated, so trimming the tips ensures that each one wiggles freely. Lastly, when dragging or hopping tubes over hard bottom, you’ll want to inspect your hook regularly. Knocking against rocks or shells can roll over a hook point, so check on every retrieve and repair as needed.
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