Hybrids.....Barren or Rough?

[RICHYD4U]

Guys-
Looks like I might actually get out to do some fishing this summer! Looks like my father-in-law and I might head out on Monday to do some hybrid fishing. I was wondering, Barren or Rough? I've heard good things about both a little while back, but not sure about currently. I'm leaning towards Barren, as I don't have the best track record with Rough hybrids. Any info would help, thanks guys! (PM me if you want, thanks)

-Rich

[mhall]

Richy, word on the street is Rough has been on fire. The lake is having an excellent year on the Hybrids. Ky Afield even did a show a few weeks ago and they were whacking'em bigtime, with size too. I'd do some research make some calls and go to Rough.

[bigrod]

Without a doubt it would be Barren. The show on rough they were catching babies. Trolling is your best bet right now with a limit not hard to come by just follow the boats. Fish are about 15-18feet deep. Average fish is 6-8 pounds. Many larger are being cought now also. The bite at the dam is over we cought tons this year in the 5-9 pound class from may thru june

[mhall]

Wasn't dissing Barren by any means. If I had to rate the two Barren would always come first. However this year alot of mixed reports from Barren and a whole lot of positive reports from Rough. Lakes go in cycles and it seems that Rough is having an exceptional year for the Hybrids. Not all them fish were babies they were catching on that show, hardly. Barren is the real deal for hybrids without a doubt though, just been hearing about alot of jumps lasting quite awhile lately coming from Rough. I'd rather catch a bunch of 15 to 20 inchers in the jumps anyday over a handful of honkers trolling. Just my two cents.

[bigrod]

hey Hall you are right about cycles. Barren was extremly slow this spring on Hybrids. Didn't start to heat up till late May this year which is off. Now is the time for trolling and when you have four downers at the same time it is a ball of fun. Oh and by the way the jumps are happening somewhat on Barren lately but they are big ones! Also got in the spots and largemouth jumps for about two hours a couple weeks ago. It's all good but I would choose Barren right NOW

[mhall]

hey Hall you are right about cycles. Barren was extremly slow this spring on Hybrids. Didn't start to heat up till late May this year which is off. Now is the time for trolling and when you have four downers at the same time it is a ball of fun. Oh and by the way the jumps are happening somewhat on Barren lately but they are big ones! Also got in the spots and largemouth jumps for about two hours a couple weeks ago. It's all good but I would choose Barren right NOW

I hear ya. Man there isn't anything in the world like jump fishing, I like it better than anything.

[Tim_T]

Haven't been to Barren this year, but two weeks ago at Rough Hybrids where in the jumps all over Rough, particularly up near the dam.

[HURRICANEBOB]

Richy, word on the street is Rough has been on fire. The lake is having an excellent year on the Hybrids. Ky Afield even did a show a few weeks ago and they were whacking'em bigtime, with size too. I'd do some research make some calls and go to Rough.

Hey guys, I ain't been to Rough since my last beer cooler got run over on the ramp. Really P!@@#!#!@ me off when I do that. Not familiar with Rough. Better in the am as the sunrises, or as it drops at night? Any General areas to look.......real general, rough area.....okay.......top, middle or bottom of the lake?

Barren to troll? Outside the campgrounds no wake buoys, at the walls up from the dam, between the islands? Lost, any help would help.

[raincheck]

I had a ball catching them at Barren in Nov.To bad i was fishing a tournament.LOL I was throwing a trap and burning it and musta caught 25 or so from 5 too 10lb range,a blast and will be back too see if i can do it this fall but won't be fishing a tournament.lolTerry Adolph PS if i still have a boat lol

[RICHYD4U]

Thanks for the input guys. Sounds like both lakes are producing. Nothing is funner than catching them in the jumps, I have to agree! Rough is real close to my father-in-laws house, so I think we'll give it a go this time. I hope I don't regret that decision, but it sounds like it's been hot. I'll let you all know how we do.

-Rich

[RICHYD4U]

One other quick question...are they catching them trolling out there at Rough, or just when they come up in the jumps? Also, what is everyone's favorite thing to throw in the jumps? I personally have had luck with crocodile spoons and castmasters. You can cast them a mile! Just curious. Thanks.

-Rich

[Spider04]

I went out last Sunday morning at Rough to catch hybrids in the jumps using spoons as I was advised to use on this board. A couple of weeks before I had my first experience catching fish like that so I was pumped up. For whatever reason, there were no jumps last Sunday that I could find, and I covered a lot of water around the dam, the state ramp, and up to Axtel. It was fairly foggy and didn't get bright for awhile, so I was confused as to what happened. Talked to my brother in law whose parents live there and he said that the most recent reports he heard were that the jumps weren't that active like they had been several weeks before.
Regarding trolling for hybrids - what are the basic fundamentals of doing this correctly? What speed range, do you use your trolling motor or big motor, does it take special equipment, etc. I have not witness anyone doing this on Rough, which I live much closer to than Barren.