Rough River Hybrids Question

[TomWill]

Went fishing at Rough yesterday, had a good day, boated about 30 fish. We caught alot of hybrids right next to shore, which I thought was unusual. Most of the hybrids that I have caught have been in open water. Is it common to find hybrids so close to shore? We were using shad raps, nothing else seemed to work. Love the way those hybrids fight.

[dpage70]

Whereever the shad are is where the hybrids will be. If they are feeding agressively they will run a long distance to eat what they see/hear so they may have been in deeper water and just ran to the bank when they heard your crankbait.

[DaveR]

Yes, on Rough River in the fall when it started getting cold I've always caught the hybrids on the bank when using shadraps (color didn't matter). I had trouble catching bass on those days for some reason. 6-8 lb line and a 18-20 inch hybrid makes for alot of fun. I think hybrids eat shad mostly but also eat crayfish.

[CTFSHWHISKER]

in the fall it is not uncommon for about 3weeks to catch them in the backs of coves in less than 2 feet of water.throw a 3" chart twister on a 1\8 oz head and they will wear it out.

[TomWill]

Thanks for the replies. I have pounded the shores of Rough on many occasions but never caught hybrids that close to shore. It was a fun day.

[Moose1am]

Do you remember what the weather was like that day and the days leading up to that day? Was it warming up. Cooling down? Windy? Which way was the wind blowing that day or the days leading up to that day?

Often a cold front in the fall can help trigger a good fishing day. The falling water temperature and increased clouds can bring the fish up or let them go into shallow water.

Was the river channel close to that bank?

And as many above already said, where were the Gizzard or threadfin shad located that day at that time?

Big predator fish that roam the open waters in summer will look for food in shallower water in the fall as that's where the shad head to. Shad migrate into the back 2/3 rds of big bays in the fall on flatland, hill-land and highland reservoirs. And the bass, striper's, catfish and crappie all follow their favorite food source, the shad.

Shorter days, the sun lower in the sky and falling water temperatures all trigger this movement of the shad into the back end of bays in the fall of the year.

Thanks for the replies. I have pounded the shores of Rough on many occasions but never caught hybrids that close to shore. It was a fun day.

[apb]

Spring and fall Hybrids will often come up shallow on mud flats to eat Gizzards. Topwater stuff will also catch them. Nothing quite like a 12# Hybrid slamming a plug on top! They'll be over open water during summer when the Gizzards are over open water. Find a good school of shad and the Hybrids will not be far behind.

Andrew