February 17, 2018
By Ned Kehde
After Guido Hibdon of Stover, Missouri, was introduced to the virtues of the Gitzit, which is a tube bait, by Bobby Garland at the U.S. Open on Lake Mead, Nevada, in 1983, a tube became one of the premiere baits in the repertoire of scores of Midwest finesse anglers in Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas.
Since its heydays in the 1980s and 1990s, however, the popularity and status of the tube has waned. But recently a tube renaissance has erupted, and it is exemplified by Savage Gear's 3D Goby Tube. This unique tube has caught the eyes of several Midwest finesse anglers.
The 3D Goby Tube was created by using what the folks at Savage Gear call "advanced 3D scanning technology,"which is a system that has the ability to replicate many of the distinctive features of a goby and a sculpin onto the 3D Goby Tube.
The dorsal area of a real goby and scuplin are endowed with two dorsal fins. The 3D Goby is adorned with the first dorsal fin.
Advertisement
Each side of its torso is graced with a pectoral fin, and they are a remarkable imitation of the pectoral fins of a real goby and sculpin. And Savage Gear's field testers and other anglers report that the two pectoral fins accentuate the ability of the 3D Goby Tube to perform an alluring glide as it is being retrieved. And in the eyes of Midwest finesse anglers, gliding is an extremely important feature in their swim-glide-and-shake retrieve. (For more insight about Midwest finesse retrieves, please see endnote No. 2.)
Its head, nostrils, nape, gill membranes, eyes, and snout exhibit a credible reproduction of the predorsal areas of a real goby and sculpin.
The texture and features of the skin on its predorsal, breast, and dorsal areas somewhat resemble the skin of a real goby and sculpin.
Advertisement
Instead of possessing a belly, a second dorsal fin, an anal fin, and a caudal or tail fin, the 3D Goby Tube is festooned with an array of tentacles, which is its traditional tube component.
Like a traditional tube, the 3D Goby Tube's torso is hollow, which allows anglers to insert a jig into it. This cavity can also be filled with scent, rattles, and foam inserts to increase its buoyancy.
Besides affixing it to a jig inside its hollow body and employing it in the way that Guido Hibdon taught us, the folks at Savage Gear say that it works well when it is affixed to a drop-shot rig, a split-shot rig, and a Carolina rig.
It is available in the following colors: Brown Pumpkin Copper Purple Flake, Crawfish, Emerald, Goby, Green Pumpkin, Light Pumpkin Black Purple Silver Flake, Light Pumpkin Candy, Mike's Magic, Pumpkin Green Purple Belly, Smoke Purple Black Flake, Watermelon Copper Purple Black Flake, and Watermelon Red.
It is impregnated with salt and a garlic scent.
It is available in two sizes: 3 1/2 inches and four inches. In the perspectives and experiences of most Midwest finesse anglers, they are too long. But for years on end, customization of soft-plastic baits has played a significant role in the tactics of Midwest finesse anglers. Thus, when they opt to use the 3D Goby Tube, they will use the 3 1/2-inch one and customize it by shortening it. And at the same time, they will be hoping that Savage Gear will manufacture a 2 3/4-inch one in the near future.
A package of six costs $4.99.
Endnotes
(1) Here are two links to Savage Gear's website:
https://www.savagegear-usa.com/company/about .
http://blog.savagegear-usa.com/2017/04/new-savage-gear-goby-tube-a-game-changer-in-the-tube-market/#mo .
(2) Here is the link to the Midwest finesse column about the six retrieves that Midwest finesse anglers employ: http://www.in-fisherman.com/midwest-finesse/six-midwest-finesse-retrieves/ .
