The Finesse Tube Rig James Lindner Trusts for BIG Smallmouth Bass

New August 22, 2026

When it comes to catching big smallmouth bass, James Lindner has relied on one classic finesse presentation for years — the tube jig.

With all the modern finesse presentations available today — drop shots, Ned rigs, hair jigs, small swimbaits and more — the tube remains one of James’ must-have smallmouth presentations wherever he fishes across North America.

In this video, James breaks down exactly how he approaches finesse tube fishing for smallmouth bass, including selecting the right jig weight, fishing rocky bottoms, rigging an internally weighted tube jig and choosing the proper rod, reel, braid and fluorocarbon leader.

One of James’ keys is using enough weight to maintain bottom contact without going so heavy that the tube continually wedges into rocks. An internally weighted tube also creates a streamlined profile that works especially well around rocky bottoms and zebra mussels.

James also explains why he favors a 7-foot 3-inch medium-power, extra-fast spinning rod, a larger 3000-size Daiwa Ballistic spinning reel and 10-pound Sufix 832 braid for his power-finesse tube system. The larger reel spool helps with long casts and efficient line pickup — particularly when fishing big water.

Another overlooked advantage is high-visibility braid. In wind and big-water conditions, you won’t always feel a smallmouth eat the tube. Sometimes the only indication is the line jumping or moving, making bright braid an important strike-detection tool.

Whether you’re fishing Minnesota lakes, rivers, the Great Lakes or western reservoirs, tube fishing remains one of the most consistent ways to put big brown bass in the boat.

VMC Finesse Tube Jig Head → https://alnk.to/5Q9XuSq
St. Croix Rods → https://alnk.to/gp5qlQO
Daiwa Reels →https://alnk.to/3nllLuV
Sufix → https://alnk.to/6xOZqcf

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* Sufix Fishing Line → https://alnk.to/7qo6yNP
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* Lund Boats→https://www.lundboats.com
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