Vance McCullough

It’s that time of year again! The grass is thick and green. Each day is few ticks shorter than the one before. It’s finally footba–, er, flippin’ season!

Flipping has been the deal for months in many areas – in some it never goes out of style – but even in northern latitudes the vegetation is as lush as it will get this year. Hollow cavities have formed beneath thick mats. Bait and bass flock to the cooler environs while also taking advantage of the concealment such places offer.

To get a bait beneath the canopies this time of year, you need to punch straight through with a heavy weight and a streamlined soft plastic lure that will slink its way into the cavernous confines below.

One such lure I found at the ICAST show in Orlando this summer is the Tube-X by Vertical Lures.

As the name suggests, it has a hollow section – the whole back half of the bait is open. This allows for quick hook penetration. It also provides a space to insert rattles, or a cotton ball loaded with your favorite scent attractant, although Vertical Lures are made of “super scented plastics” according to the package. One fun trick is to stick a piece of Alka Seltzer in there and watch the profusion of bubbles draw curious bass.

Pro tip: in the type of tangled cover where I’m putting my baits this time of year, I would save a section of a used worm and insert it into the cavity in order to fill out the entire length of the lure. Otherwise, the hollow part will collapse too easily, exposing the hook point nearly every time I try to pull the lure out of the mat. This will cause constant hang ups rather than hook ups and will destroy the lure in short order.

The Tube-X features wings or fluted appendages rather than the typical shredded tails of normal tubes. As such, the lure glides nicely which is a common reason anglers choose to toss a tube in the first place, but it offers a different profile that your bass likely haven’t seen yet.

The versatile Tube-X can also be used around hard cover, such as wood, and docks which are great summertime targets offering shade and baitfish to hungry bass. Conventional Texas rigs work well in such situations.

The lure has a solid head which makes it a great candidate for dropshoting and Carolina-rigging. How about a truly unique Ned rig?

I’m told the Tube-X was sent out by the thousands in monthly secret tacklebox subscription services. If any of you have used them, share your experiences on the AnglersChannel.com Facebook or Instagram page.

Or keep the secret to yourself. For now.