There is nothing quite like the thrill of the feel of a tugging fish on the other end of a
fishing line! Especially when your fishing rod and reel, and your fishing line all match the
power of your targeted fish of the day.
A few decades back, I discovered the line stripping excitement of the hard-fighting
freshwater Hybrid Striper. The Hybrid striper is a cross between the White Bass and the
Striped Bass. Hybrids are a hatchery raised fish that are infertile and therefore are
incapable of successfully spawning. The spawn instinct is still present, and some
hybrids will still run upriver with white bass during the spawn. Many an angler has been
humbled by this surprisingly powerful fish. You will definitely need the landing net even
when fishing tackle is matched accordingly to the action that can be expected from the
Hybrid Striper. This is not a “hurry up and reel it in” kind of fish. They are usually caught
in deeper water in lakes where they are stocked. Typically, they will be found in 20–50-
foot depths. When fishing from the lake, small fishing boats 14’-16’ can be effective but
certainly use caution on windy days. Fishing boats 16’- 22’ feet or so, are much more
stable. Therefore, they are a much safer option in most conditions. Regardless of the
boat that you use, it’s highly advisable that you have fishing rod holders available to
keep from losing expensive fishing rods. I once had to dive over the side of the boat to
grab my favorite St. Croix fishing rod equipped with a Shimano fishing reel, before it
was lost to the depths. You will now find my 16’ Bass Tracker Fishing Boat has been
equipped with Fishing Rod Holders ever since that unplanned swim occurred. If you
don’t currently have Fishing Rod Holders, I would suggest you tie a cord to your fishing
rod because hybrids will take them for a ride over the side of your Fishing Boat
guaranteed! It’s seriously not unusual…. to just have to hang on tight as these fish will
rip line off of your Fishing Reel. Sometimes 4-7 times on searing….heart pounding runs.
If you need a quality Fishing Rod expect to spend anywhere from $20-$100 or more. A
few quality 6-7’ Fishing Rod options include Falcon Rods, Lamiglass and a favorite of
mine are St. Croix Rods. Some quality Fishing Reel options include Penn, Pflueger,
Okuma and my go to Fishing Reel of choice are Shimano options. I normally prefer Spin
Casting Rod and Reels as they are not as likely to tangle or backlash. However I do
recommend Bait Casting Reels for fishing straight under the boat. It’s then easier to
avoid the dreaded backlash that Bait Casting Reels are notorious for especially when
attempting to cast. It definitely takes a good bit of practice to become proficient at
successfully “Casting” with a Bait casting Reel. If I know I am going to be “casting” I
prefer Spin Casting Reels ordinarily. When rigging Live bait such as Threadfin Shad, I
have Bait Casting Reels & some Spin Casting Reels outfitted with 50-80lb. test braided
main line. A Five ounce slip weight is placed on the main Line. Followed with a Barrel
Swivel. Then a 3-5’ 12-15lb. Fluorocarbon leader is attached with a size 2/0 circle hook.
This is one of several riggings that has been proven to handle the aggressive Hybrid
Striper. Some have found great success free lining Live Bait without a fishing weight or
with 2-4ish pinch weights attached. Also 2 Glass (Not Plastic) Beads are sometimes
placed above the swivel. Either method can result in excellent Table fare finding a place
in your Freezer!
A legal Hybrid Striper has to be 18 inches or more to qualify for space in your
livewell. Typically, they will weigh between 4 to 6 pounds. I have personally caught quite
a few 7–8-pound hard fighting Hybrids. My personal best was right at a solid soul
satisfying 9 lbs. that was battled to boat side from 42’ deep. Our local lake record was
brought to net in 1994 weighing 13.56 pounds at 28 inches long. The world record
hybrid striper was caught in Tennessee in 1997 Weighing 27 lbs. 5 oz. at roughly 32
inches long & just slightly more than double our local lake record in weight! Both of
these Fishermen have Sweet memories guaranteed!
If you happen to be one of those that say they don’t like to fish, it’s very likely that
you’ve spent more time fishing than catching! Fish can obviously be caught year-round
to a degree, but freshwater fish are more easily caught in springtime in the southern
states. This is the time of year when spawning activity takes place and as a result fish
are more vulnerable to falling prey to your bait or lure. Bait could be my favorite fishing
bait “Live Threadfin” Shad that are typically around 2-3” in size. The larger bullnose 4-
6”ish sized shad can be highly effective at times. Shad can be caught with a Casting net
usually along shorelines particularly in the early morning. Most freshwater fish pursue
Threadfin Shad as part of their diet. Larger fish with bigger mouths can be brought to
Fishing net with the larger Bullnose shad. As lures go, I have become a big fan of using
white or chartreuse slabs with a stinger hook. Most Hybrids are bottom oriented. Slabs
are dropped to the bottom and raised with the rod tip then allowed to fall freely back to
the bottom. Hybrids will typically strike as it falls back to the bottom.
It’s possible you may happen to be one of those who have experienced the
frustration of not really catching fish. Perhaps you should give it another shot… in the
springtime. I have personally introduced several of my friends over the years to the thrill
of the catch. Many of them promptly went out and bought aFishing boat and have been
avid fishermen ever since. Of course, many species of fish can be caught without the
use of a boat especially in the springtime. They can be caught in the headwaters of
local rivers that feed lakes. The spawn is an annual event that occurs like clockwork
every single Spring that you can eagerly look forward to with expectant anticipation!
White Bass, Crappie, Catfish, Salmon, and others do their spawning in the shallow
sandy waters of their upriver destinations. Once you have discovered these destinations
you can return to the same areas year after year and count on having success. Many
anglers choose to use Fishing Chest Waders when fishing upriver in shallow wadeable
spawning grounds. It is certainly an advantage and advisable to do so for the comfort
factor. If not wearing full Fishing Chest Waders you would be advised to consider
Muckboots for muddy and shallow water Fishing conditions. Small flat bottom fishing
boats are commonly used also as well as fishing kayaks and float tubes. Your fishing
Tackle Box should be outfitted with an assortment of Minnow imitating soft plastics &
small in-line spinners. I have been a big fan of using a fishing seine net to catch river
minnows. A size 4 or 6 Gold Aberdeen Hook and small pinch weight will put fish on your
fishing stringer when the bite is on. I prefer using 4lb.clear monofilament Fishing Line. I
recommend running the hook up through the jaw then up through the nose hole for most
effective presentation. A legal size White Bass is 10 inches or more. Therefore a light to
medium action 6-7” Fishing Rod is what works most effectively.
I love to catch fish! I don’t just randomly go fishing! I go fishing when I know the bite
is on! There are now numerous resources to search out Fishing advice available thanks
to social media. Finding a local fishing group on Facebook for example, is available at
your fingertips. There is no shortage of individuals sharing their catch, how they did it
and where they caught them. Hands down for the sheer thrill of the fight of a medium to
heavy action fish, the hybrid striper is my local favorite. Whatever fish you might choose
to pursue, just be sure that your tackle matches the weight class that you’re pursuing.
The added advantage to fishing in the springtime is it typically is much more pleasant
weather ordinarily. This helps to enhance the overall experience resulting in an
excellent memory making adventure. I encourage you to get outdoors this spring and
rediscover fishing…or get your feet wet for the first time! Without question it’s awesome
to get outdoors and enjoy nature but if you’re fishing…the thrill is in the catch!
Connect with a local resource such as a friend, a fishing guide or join a social media
fishing group. With a little help you can more easily avail yourself to the hidden
treasures to be found just below the surface of your local waterways. It is my sincere
hope that you will find yourself in the midst of a feeding frenzy yelling again and again
“Fish On”! You then might find yourself making this statement year after year….
