May 3rd (night), May 6th (lunch) trips
 

May 3rd

Met txnative and another guy (sorry can't remember name or if he is on here) out at Percy. I brought a dozen chubs and txnative brought a 1lb or so of shiners. The night started fast for them but slow for me. They caught several Hybrids each then finally I got in the game and caught several. Ended the night around sunup with little if any shiners left. I have never tried Hybrid before so I brought a couple home with the biggest being only 19" or so.

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps2e841821.jpg

May 6th

Took the 5wt fly rod up to the gill hole and caught several fish....none were gills. The bass were all about the small black woolly bugger which was fine with me. Any bass on a fly rod makes for fun times. I wish I had my gopro as they jumped several times. Right before leaving a shellcracker decided to grab the fly but unfortunately didn't get a pic.

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps048be056.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps400d8c91.jpg

Hybrids are delicious. They quickly became my favorite fish to eat this Spring when I was getting into them good for a few weeks. I may even go as far as to use live bait this summer to catch them and I never use live bait. I just want to keep putting them in the freezer.

Nice catches!

I am anxious to try them.

Live bait will definitely work. You can still throw your fluke just put a down line with a shiner on it. Give it a try. You can also down line a fluke... ;)

Nice haul Travis.

Nice fish.

Here's how I cook them:

Drizzle the fillets with a bit of olive oil and put salt and pepper on them to preference
Get some sun dried tomatoes, chop them up real good and sprinkle them on the fish
Chop up some fresh basil, do the same as with the tomatoes
Throw some minced garlic on them too

Bake in the oven.

When they're fresh out of the oven, drop a few strategically placed chunks of butter on them so they melt all over the fillets and enjoy. You're welcome :D

I often found large schools of what I thought were Hybrids in the summertime on Priest in 30-40 feet of water. I'd drop jigging spoons down and had no luck. I hear in the Summer they're either caught at first light if you find them in the jumps or they're not caught unless you drop live bait 40' below. I like eating them so much I might actually do that this Summer. I don't know the first thing about live bait fishing though, I never do it.

Beauts
 

Those are some fine fish.

I just put some olive oil in a pan, get hot, cover filets in blackening seasoning, cool a few minutes on each side....delish.


Mike

Keep livin' the Dream!

That does sound good. I have to try that on my own meal. The kids will only eat fish fried and the wife is about the same but will venture out to try a new one here or there.

Summertime is fun fishing for them. I rarely do bait fishing either but am doing it more now with definite results and better quality fish.

Nice, Travis and good to see you getting back into it :)

Today 5/7 at lunch.
 

I thought I had finally done it today. Made a cast out then about 3/4 the way back in there was a thump followed drag screaming. After a few years fishing this place there was word of big bass but none ever seen by me. As the braid kept getting pulled off and boils of water got bigger so did my smile....:)...today was going to be the day.

Then I seen his smile...

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps0a8a5add.jpg

:D

What am I missing???

Hard to tell if your being literal or not, but i think he had visions of double digit bass, but was shocked to see that Turtle pop his head up and smile at him when he finally got it close!
LOL, been there!

I snagged that ugly snapper on a trout magnet. Talk about disappointing. The only thing more disheartening are those hard pulling big smallies in the river that have pucker mouths.

Glad to see you out fishing again...and nice catch also.


Regards