Wading for JPP Hybrids

[jad2t]

Had some fun recently wading in coves for Hybrids in JPP with the occasional small bass thrown in. I never got there on one of the nights when it was really on fire, of course, but I still got a couple decent nights. I missed the majority of the good part because I was out of town for work.

Flukes were getting it done. Sometimes weighted, sometimes weightless. Just had to figure out what they wanted. I threw a walk to dog topwater a lot too because I wanted to see one of them smash it but it wasn't working. Man oh man do these fish have an attitude. I love the fight they put up. I never got into any real monsters but all the ones I caught were in the 3-4 pound range. The 18 incher may have gone a bit over 4 because she was quite chunky. I did have one get away that felt like quite a large fish. I'll never know because evidently I didn't get a good hookset. :mad:

I brought some home the other night to see if the wife and I liked them as table fare. We baked them in olive oil, sundried tomatoes, chopped basil and garlic, a little salt and pepper. After they were cooked, dropped some chunks of butter on them to let it melt. They taste fantastic!! So... I brought home two more last night for future meals. :D

Also, last night I caught two of my largest ones back to back in the same spot. When I re-entered the water I noticed a boat of immigrants (won't say which region) right on top of where they saw me catch them. Their boat was literally right on top of where I caught those two and they were casting all around, even casting their lures close to where I was standing. Some people just have no respect. I bet they had a livewell full of short and/or overcreel fish too.

[creekcrappie]

That sounds like a blast. And those cooked hybrids sure do look good. I had the same thing happen at Fate Sanders one day. I caught 2 crappie in a row and they were right on top of me when I went back.

[Heiny57]

Good job.

[jad2t]

I had the same thing happen at Fate Sanders one day. I caught 2 crappie in a row and they were right on top of me when I went back.

It's a shame but that's how they are.

[Reel Tune]

Nice Jimmy, I thought they were just getting started, but I went out yesterday and nothing. I had one blow up beside me throwing shad all over the place and then nothing else. I forgot my electronics, so I was blind and just going by what I had found in previous years.

[Alphahawk]

Nice catches Jimmy.



Regards

[jad2t]

Nice Jimmy, I thought they were just getting started, but I went out yesterday and nothing. I had one blow up beside me throwing shad all over the place and then nothing else. I forgot my electronics, so I was blind and just going by what I had found in previous years.

I could be wrong. This the first year I've ever caught those fish so I don't know much about them. I'm learning. My assumption is that we had another week or so at most but maybe it will last a bit longer into the month since we had a cold winter that doesn't seem to want to quite go away judging by the overnight temps we're about to have.

I'd like to land one from a yak so maybe we can hit some coves soon and look for them.

[Reel Tune]

Last year I was catching them regularly until almost May. Like you with the abnormally cold temperatures we had this year I was thinking they would be running a little later than usual. Granted I've only been doing this for 2-3 years (the Hybrid White Bass) run, so like you I don't have a lot of experience, but willing to put in the time to learn.

[fisher01]

Nice Hybrids! They are a lot of fun to catch.

[Travis C.]

Nice catch Jimmy. They sure can be addicting. Wait til you get one on the fly rod that is a lot of fun.

I struck out on my first swing at them this year but hopefully will get another shot at them soon. If I had shiners, then I would have caught some fish Saturday night. Still kicking my butt for at least not going to get some creek chubs.

[jad2t]

I wanted to bring the flyrod yesterday but I don't think 20 mph winds were best conditions for that! No need for shiners, flukes work just great! Sounds like me, you, and Jeremy need to get together in the yaks and chase them one evening before it's over.

[vincent]

Nice fish. Congrats!!

I went to JPP yesterday and surprisingly did not even catch a bluegill. I had purple haze and bison TMs.

I took my friend for fishing the first time, and he caught a 13" crappie. He's hooked and wants to go next Saturday too. :)

As I was about to leave for home, I tripped and fell on a rock. Hurts but hoping all will be good for fishing next weekend.

[GO-OKFISHIN]

I also think they are a couple of weeks behind. They have not shown up in my spots yet and I have been avoiding the crowded spot ;). I thought yesterday would be it after the sun and 20 MPH winds out of the south but I caught nothing.

[nomad60]

Nice fish but I like the last pic (dinner) the best :)

[jad2t]

I also think they are a couple of weeks behind. They have not shown up in my spots yet and I have been avoiding the crowded spot ;). I thought yesterday would be it after the sun and 20 MPH winds out of the south but I caught nothing.

I hope you're right. In that case, with the cold weather coming our way this week, it will probably be into May before the frenzy is over. The water is coming up though and the wading opportunities may be done by the time it warms up. Looks like it's time to land one from the yak!

[jad2t]

Nice fish but I like the last pic (dinner) the best :)

Dude it was so good

[Headhunter]

Nice fish, I would not eat one myself though. When I have to kill one I give them away.

Not to rob your post at all but I caught about 20 like these last year, largest was 14 lbs, these 2 were 13 each. Killed these 2 for a friend but the rest were released. The topwater bite last year was awesome.


http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p37/headhunter130/hybrids_zps5635e70a.jpg (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/headhunter130/media/hybrids_zps5635e70a.jpg.html)

[blink]

Nice fish Jimmy.
Let me know if you hit it any afternoon or evening weekday soon and i will meet you out there.

[jad2t]

Nice fish, I would not eat one myself though. When I have to kill one I give them away.



Just curious, why won't you eat one but you'll give them to a friend to eat?

[jad2t]

Nice fish Jimmy.
Let me know if you hit it any afternoon or evening weekday soon and i will meet you out there.

Will do. I don't think I'll go again during the week since it's about to get really cold and kill the fishing for a bit and I don't have enough time after work to justify taking the yak. Wading won't be an option pretty soon with the water rising to Summer pool. Back to weekends but I do plan to go after them until they stop feeding like this.

[Headhunter]

I do not like white bass, stripers or hybrids to eat. They are terrible IMO. Doesn't mean if one "eats" the lure and I feel sure it won't live after being released and I know people who love to eat them, that I can't give them away. I usually even clean them first. To me if you get rid of all the red meat, soak the fillets in water with baking soda and salt, change the water a few times, they are edible, but nothing to get exictied over.

yellow belly stripe are great to eat though. those little fillets are tasty.

[spottedbass]

Headhunter, I'm just curious, do you like trout? Also do you fry the yellow bass?

[Headhunter]

Nope, I don't care for trout. I catch a bunch of hatchery trout, but I let them go or give them away.

I fry the yellows. Great to eat.

[jad2t]

I guess we all have our preference. I don't really care for catfish that much. Bluegill either because it's not worth the effort to get a few nibbles. Anything else can and in most cases will head to the freezer except during Spring I release bass. I really like cooking. The way I cook fish and the way most people cook them (some cheap breading and fry them in oil) are very different and there's a lot to be said about how that can make the fish taste. I'm a pretty good cook, my wife can testify, and I make some delicious fish entrees!

[spottedbass]

Jimmy, I agree with you. I don't care for crappie or catfish because they taste like whatever you bread them in. Most people fry them. I perfer all my fished grilled. Stripers and hybrids (and even sometimes white bass) make great fish to grill because of the thick filets. Trout and salmon are wonderful grilled. So are spanish mackeral and tuna. I like a fish that actually taste like fish and not breading.

To each his own. We all lilke diferent things and that is what makes the world go around...:).

[creekcrappie]

I love crappie, catfish, bluegill, yellow bass, trout, and white bass. I don't like hybrids or bass. Too much fishy flavor in the hybrids and bass.

[TNBronzeback]

[QUOTE=spottedbass;49563] I perfer all my fished grilled.
Im with ya on that one! i would cook everything i eat on the grill if i had all different grilling plates and such. i think everything tastes better with that nice charry, grilled flavor and yeah, the big thick filets from the hybrids are perfect for the grill.
Hmmmmm, i think i have my dinner plans for tomorrow night now! thaw out some linesides!

[Travis C.]

I wanted to bring the flyrod yesterday but I don't think 20 mph winds were best conditions for that! No need for shiners, flukes work just great! Sounds like me, you, and Jeremy need to get together in the yaks and chase them one evening before it's over.

Flukes do work really well when the fish are on the feed but it's nice to have a few shiners on standby for when they get all finicky. There are days when you mark tons of fish with bait but can't buy one on a fluke.

A chartreuse/white size 2 clouser will get absolutely creamed.