Targeting Hybrids

[tpunjack]

Can somebody give me some pointers on catching hybrids. I was wondering about methods to use, baits and depths. I've caught them while crappie fishing but never fished just for them.

[apb]

Generally an open water fish. They'll sometime hit the shallows if shad are there and the water is cool. Live bait behind planer boards and ballons works year round. Adjust the depth of the bait depending on the depth of the fish/bait you are marking on the depth finder. Trolling jigs, cranks, and spoons can also be real productive. I do better with artificals during the summer months. They are in larger schools at this time and it is more a matter of locating the schools. If they are shallow (spring/fall) you can take them throwing jigs or cranks. Also take topwater baits at this time. Summer/fall on some lakes you'll find the in the jumps early morning or evening. Stay a good distance back from the jump and throw topwater plugs or work a jig/spoon subsurface. Find the shad and the Hybrids will be close behind.

Andrew

[LH]

If your on Barren keep an eye out for birds(seagulls). If they are actively feeding in an area or if you just see them on the open water pay close attention to your graph because you will probably spot a school of shad, and hybrids won't be far off. Watch for them to break the surface every now and than. Don't hesitate to change up baits. I have threw crankbaits, spoons, top water, with no luck, and throw a hair jig and catch a nice limit in minutes, and the next time it may be just the opposite. They can be very picky at times. If you know the fish are there, don't hesitate to change lures to find out what they want. Good luck.

[MLTSPCS]

We target humps around derby time and use all the usual baits but have also found chicken liver to work bottom fished on the hump or suspended slightly above the bottom. Once in a while you'll catch a whiskerfish, but nothing wrong with that. We usually go to T-ville with a few boats (about 8 or 9 of us)and catch more then enough to feed us all that night at our fish-fry.