Rough River Hybrid

My little brother and I went up to Rough this weekend. We stopped at the store next to the Pine Tree to get gas, while we were in there we asked some guys if anyone had been catching Hybrid. One confident fella answered "I am". Then told my brother that "they were slow right now, he had only caught 6 in the last week, but that was about as good as anyone could do right now. Troll on the bottom" was the advise he gave my brother. So, we went on to the lake and began fishing in a completely different fashion from the advise received by the confident dude in the gas station. Basically, we fished a different pattern because of our past experience. We brother caught 28 hybrid bass that day, after catching 12 crappie in the morning.

Now to my question: Does everyone struggle to catch Hybrid in Rough River? I've only been there a hand full of times and we catch Hybrid and crappie like they are starving to death! But almost every trip we make we get advise and word from people around the dock that the bite is slow, or you have to go deep to find 'em. Could they be making an attempt to get Hybrid fishermen off the lake to make room for the tourney go'ers? I'd love to hear your thoughts. I don't consider myself to be a great fishermen, I only get to go about once per month. So don't take this as a brag session by any means.

I don't know how to start to respond to this but here goes.

I'll start by stating I have never fished for hybrids at Rough before, but have spent many days on both Monroe and Barren Lakes. In my opinion, hybrids tend to turn on and off like a light bulb. I have been catching them one after the other for a period of time just to have them turn off and hardly catch another one all day. I know the fish did not leave because I can still see the same group of fish suspended in the same depth of water (and usually amid a cloud of shad) with the sonar.

I won't question the fellows word that you talked to at the filling station, but it could be that you happened to be on the lake at the right time. Please don't take this to mean that I think I know a lot about hybrids because I am just a beginner on these fish and I have a lot to learn.

In all honesty I'm trying to answer your question in hopes you can shed some light. I would love to hear about how you can dependably catch these fish. Look forward to hearing about your techniques. Respectfully, Mike

Hybrids tend to feed as a school and will feed until they are full, then stop. They don't eat again until their stomaches are completely empty. That is why they often seem to turn on, then turn off just as quickly.

Have not fished Rough before. I know that on other Hybrid lakes, there seems to be one or two real common methods for catching Hybrids (and these are different at each lake). If these methods are not working, people are not catching. I have also seen that it takes a few years for people to catch on to how to fish for them at a particular lake. Many people do not target them, so they only catch them when that certain method works. Could also be that you hit it just right those days you were there.

Andrew

This weekend you had lots of wind, that will put the fish on the windy banks, and feeding. I was fishing nolin this past weekend and got in to the white bass, caught lots of them,
but I was fishing a tournament and fishing for largemouths.

I have fished rough river and normally I fish shallow for them, on windy days..with a roster tail 1/4 oz white..

Caught about 8 real nice Hybrid on Rough this past Sunday!!!!
Only problem me and my brother was in a bass T.
Should have took some spray paint and removed those stripes...
Did not have as much luck with their brothers the Largemouths...


Keep on fishing...

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