hybrids

[Headhunter]

Caught 9 yesterday afternoon. smallest was 10 lbs. killed one for a friend, it was just shy of 13 lbs. all topwater and was a decent day fishing. caught them on island toward lower end of priest.

http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p37/headhunter130/hybrid_zpsaf12d5ba.jpg (http://s124.photobucket.com/user/headhunter130/media/hybrid_zpsaf12d5ba.jpg.html)


the harder it rained the better the bite, when it completely quit raining, just a couple times for a few minutes, I did not get a hit. all on cork and fluke. they would blow up and push a jumpin minnow and redfin, but would only "eat" the cork and fluke.

[commdd]

great report, way to get on them!

[ttitan27]

Very nice

[agelesssone]

Thanks for the report!

[Reel Tune]

That thing is releasing radio active energy, don't think I would eat that one.

[Headhunter]

I like the blue leds in my livewell. it for sure helps after dark.

[white95v6]

awesome. I need to take a few days off work and try to find some of these.

[thehick176]

We fished the Seven Points area last Sunday morning and caught 7. All on jumping minnows. We had similar problems hooking up. They would smash it 3 or 4 times before finally getting it. It took extreme patience to keep from jerking it away from them.

[chaseasl]

That would be a blast, I've never caught one

[Headhunter]

Yesterday was slower, caught 4 or 5, biggest was 5 lbs. cool air did not help is what I think. all on cork and fluke.

[TNBronzeback]

Whats a jumping minnow? Is that like a spook "walk the dog" action?

[MNfisher]

Whats a jumping minnow? Is that like a spook "walk the dog" action?

You got it!

[txnative]

If the hybrids are constantly "missing" your spook or jumping minnow, try switching to a 5-7 inch wake bait (Redfin, SmackJack, etc). Retrieve the lure steadily and just fast enough to cause the lure to cause a visible wake. Another option is to have one person work a hookless spook or jumping minnow and have a second person armed with a jighead/fluke combo ready to cast to fish that bust the topwater. Try to hit any busting fish "on the head," and remember to play nice and take turns ;)


Chris Bryant

[TNBronzeback]

You got it!

Sweet! i was in Houston last week for work, and as a norm, once the work is done i hit up any stores that sell fishing gear. Academy had Bomber topwater baits on clearance for $1.50. they were the saltwater series. 4" and 4.5" jumping minnow and man the finish is incredible! Might be trying them out saturday night!

[thehick176]

We would only get bit working the bait fast. Slow retrieves wouldn't even get looked at.

[Headhunter]

I only threw redfin and jumpin minnow the other day to see if they would "eat" them. If they are pushing, busting, following, etc. I go to a smaller bait or on Priest I throw a cork and fluke. Many times I have been fishing a cork and fluke catching hybrids while others, either in my boat or fishing around me, were throwing redfins, jumpin minnow, spooks, etc. and were either getting bumped, pushed, followed, knocking the bait in the air, etc. but only hooking up every few minutes and I was pretty much hooking a fish every cast. Hard to beat a cork and fluke on Priest for hybrids.

Also, I have been fishing with a friend of mine, both of us throwing jumpin minnows, same color, etc. throwing to same spot and he was catching fish and I could not get a look from a hybrid.
I finally realized he did not (and still does not) know how to "walk the dog" with a jumpin minnow or a spook and when I started reeling in slowly and not working the jumpin minnow I started catching fish.

I have seen also when you better have a jumpin minnow, NOTHING else. Many other fishermen around were throwing all sorts of walk the dog baits, mostly spooks, but the only people getting looks or catching fish were the jumpin minnow throwers. One day a guy (he was and is a rude person) was tore up, it was funny to see him pout. If you knew him and his attitude you would understand, it was hilarious.

The red and white super spook can be "the bait" on occasion also.

[txnative]

I am a huge fan of the jumpin minnow. I've used it almost exclusively for years whenever a walk-the-dog bait is needed.

As for slow moving wakebaits, I have a much, much higher hit-hookup percentage. It seems like hybrids and stripers tend to try and stun a faster moving lure, whereas the slower moving wakebaits just get plastered. It appears as though the fish are able to lock-on to the slower baits better. I personally like the SmackJack, but similar baits will work. There are a few tweaks in retrieve style that can trigger bites, but a slow steady retrieve has been my go-to technique. It may seem counterintuitive when fish seem to be willing to move after faster baits, but switching to a slow-moving wakebait can result in more fish and less "misses." I've had the same results with trout, bass, etc...enough to prove to me that it isn't a fluke occurrence.

As a bonus, the fish that I've caught on wakebaits tend to be better quality...sometimes dramatically better.


Chris Bryant

[GO-OKFISHIN]

Don't forget the MirrOlure Top Dog and She Dog.