Priest Hybrids, share a little info

[Headhunter]

I know there are many that enjoy catching these. I have been blessed in that info was shared with me, so I will pass along what I consider to be the "basics". I only fish topwater for them so all my info is based on that.

2 great places to catch them are the parking lots by the dam and Old Hickory Cove. Old Hickory Cove being the better of the 2 in my opinion. Both places are a couple of the first places they show up and also the first they leave. Even after they leave though, I will check back in Old Hickory Cove because they will on occasion show back up there.

They are catchable on top water through the end of May. I figured much of it out on my own but the main thing is you need to cover lots of water and when you find them try to stay on them. They can be anywhere from the Hobson pike bridge to the dam and they can "disappear" for a day or 2 but it for sure does not mean it is over, I can usually find and catch them by the bunches on top till the last week of May.

Basically, IMO, you need 3 baits, in the order of the most productive.
1. cork and fluke
2. jumpin minnow
3. 5" redfin
4. 1/4 oz or 1/2oz rattle trap in chrome/blue for when a cold front moves through, I will use this when I go out and can't get them to hit on top.
5. I have been hearing the alabama rig is off the chart good, but I haven't tried it.

Hope this helps someone out.

[white95v6]

good info we normally don't fish that far down lake. but it looks like we might need to travel some more.

[commdd]

headhunter, generous information, big thanks

[GO-OKFISHIN]

Don't believe it. There are no Hybrids on that end of the lake.

[MNfisher]

Well, now it will be even harder to find a parking spot in those areas! Ha!


Mike

[Headhunter]

I basically fish from a boat, but still wade sometimes, and it has been hard, if not impossible to find a parking spot in both places for many years when the hybrids show up, so I do not really where it changes anything. Both are good communtiy holes, but not even close to many other places for catching hybrids, for both quantity and size.

[Fishbus]

Thanks for sharing Headhunter, I like learning something and it's nice to see someone share some info with the group.

Nice break from guys who let you know they're fishing from their secret hole with their special best friend. Good for them.

You're talking about the parking lots above the dam, I assume, since I know they are running in the Stones River as well.

Billy

I basically fish from a boat, but still wade sometimes, and it has been hard, if not impossible to find a parking spot in both places for many years when the hybrids show up, so I do not really where it changes anything. Both are good communtiy holes, but not even close to many other places for catching hybrids, for both quantity and size.

[XxthejuicexX]

Since you are coughing up locations I will take a few GPS coordinates to some of your bass honey holes :)

[Headhunter]

drop offs and humps. Really not that hard to find.

[XxthejuicexX]

drop offs and humps. Really not that hard to find.


No certain cove, Stretch of lake or anything huh.... Damn. I have some of those spots I fish, just looking for more and better locations.

[Headhunter]

Just put in time. I have spent hundreds of hours of doing nothing but riding and watching a depthfinder. Most of my time was spent watching a x-16 paper graph and I still spend a good bit of time looking at my Humminbird. I still find schools of bass and can catch them, but the bigger bass have for sure gotten harder for me to find on Priest, that is ok, I enjoy catching them. I still have a few places to go and catch bunches of bass and nice ones also, here are 2 pics from a trip my brother and I made a few weeks ago. Together we caught over 60 bass and had several 3 to 4-1/2 lb fish. Biggest may have been close to 5 lbs.


http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p37/headhunter130/bass%202_zpsacicntr7.jpg (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/headhunter130/media/bass%202_zpsacicntr7.jpg.html)
http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p37/headhunter130/bass%201_zps2tm0ik9d.jpg (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/headhunter130/media/bass%201_zps2tm0ik9d.jpg.html)