Goby or Go Home: Savage Gear's New 3D Goby Tube
When Savage Gear announced a new 3D soft bait, cast in the image of a goby, I was immediately intrigued. While gobies are non-existent in my local lakes and rivers, sculpin--a non-related but very similar looking species--are abundant. I can't count the number of times I've fished smallmouth bass and had one cough up its last sculpin meal in my boat. For that reason, I was eager to get my hands on them and get out on the water.
See our introduction to this Savage Goby fishing lure here.
Savage Gear Goby 3D Lure
Out of the package, I was struck by the intricate details of the tube with its highly flexible pectoral and dorsal fins, all of which add action along with the traditional tube skirt. Like many of my favorite plastics these tube jigs are highly salted and scented to help mask human scent and make fish hold on to them longer. However, what struck me most was just how soft the plastic was. I paired a 3 ½" 3D goby tube in brown pumpkin copper/purple flake color with a 1/8th oz. Strike King Tour Grade tube jig-head, and headed off to one of my favorite local smallie lakes.
You can purchase the Savage Goby fishing lure from us here.
Once the long evening shadows made their way across the lake, I launched my kayak and started working rocky points with the goby. Shortly after I landed the first of many smallies in the 14-16" range. Combined with a relatively lightweight tube jig, the gliding action of the goby elicited numerous strikes on the fall. However, it really shined when twitched along the bottom as a normal sculpin would move. I would often pick up fish when I paused the jig momentarily from scurrying along the bottom. With its strong salt content and soft texture, fish had no issue picking up this lure and swimming away with it, providing ample opportunity for a hookset. The next morning this lure once again proved itself and earned a permanent place in my tackle box when I caught three smallmouth measuring, respectfully, 17", 19", and 18" in back to back to back casts.
Despite its high salt content and softness I found these baits more durable than expected. In many cases the tube would slide up the line when fighting fish, eliminating the opportunity for a fish's mouth to tear up the lure. I managed around 10 fish or so per tube before I had to put a fresh one on. Of course I didn't just catch smallmouth on this lure. Largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, and pike minnow readily consumed the goby.
Available in a variety of great colors, these tubes come in 3.5" and 4" lengths. The Savage Gear 3D Goby Tube is available right now at your local North 40 Outfitters. Stop by, grab a goby, and go fish!