We were suprise too. They looked like for a moment that they wanted to school early morning but they didn't. I think October is when they really get fire up and school.

We had to bring out the bad boys rigs on them hybrids Saturday after they broked all the litle ones. They were bad naughty hybrids.





And they kept on bitting

I second the Rubber net idea. Most time no issues

Bruce,

It was a blast Saturday.. Thanks for letting me take you..lol..

for all you folks who don't know me I am a 2cool transplant here since I can't recover my password there.. yup that me the fat dark guy !!!! lol

hope to see some of you on the water in the future..

If the weather holds out, will be there Friday.

Bowman you can't pm me but i can pm you. I'll give you a hollar before friday. Good to hear from ya!!

Who wanna be my Tonto. Need a Tonto to tow my boat that's got a truck with some horse power He!!he!! Get it horse power. It's that animal behind those two guys. Winter bites up in Arkansas. Still a couple of month away but sure like to find that one die hard guy that willing to go any where.

Any way if y'all be going out there with umbrella rigs this weekend,make dang sure that umbrella is getting all the way down to a school. And most important it helps a lot to find a school first then troll. Going all Titanium next trip.

May hit you up for Arkansas. Have dodge dually. Maybe November or week after Christmas. First of December not good for me.

Bruce,are you using the downriggers to get your umbrella rigs down 15' or just slow trolling them?
I have the umbrellas now, just need to know how to fish em.
-Mike

I use the down rigger if I have someone help me steer the boat. otherwise I just slip on a few egg sinker on to the main line then tie to the umbrella and slow troll. You can add more weight or take off weight,let out more lines or shorten the lines till you feel its close to the bottom and start getting bites. I would adjust in small increments till it feels right. Down riggers eliminate guessing how deep your bait is riding and is a versatile piece of equipment. You can place your bait back into the exact depth over and over again very quick. If you want to catch both white bass and hybrids at the same time on the outer arms I would attach smaller baits like small shads imitation,crappie jigs with chartreuse curly tails or what ever you want. It does not matter. Those flashing blades will drive them whites nuts and they'll attack anything on that rig. On the center arm a slightly larger bait with strong hooks for hybrids. Another trick is to tie a short piece of 30lb mono and extend the center bait. The hybrids will always hit the bait that is lagging behind other wise they'll tear up all the smaller bait in no time.Any of your favorite plastic swim bait would do for hybrids.They are particularly fond of chartreuse but I caught them on just about every colors. It's them blades that trigger the bites and it really does not matter much what you put on them rigs. and last always check your hooks. Hybrids will hit and bend all the little hooks and if not aware of it and fixed you will keep getting bouncing rods but no hook ups. Fish looks up and not down so try not to go too low below the school. Like I say adjust in small increments that way you don't go too low below the school. Also I would not go anything smaller than 20lb line when trolling for hybrids. Don't stop the boat to reel in the fish. Keep the boat moving. The minute you stop and give them fish a little slack they will shake the hook off. And don't forget to bring persistent. Them fish are out there in numbers. 15fow or less near or on structures. Good luck!!

jbobo you come with me one trip to Arkansas and you might not want to go back and fish in Texas any more. We only go when the morning temp in Arkansas is below 32 degrees. When it's snowing even better.

You can also caroline rig that umbrellas and troll it. Just add the proper weighted lead to it.

Don't rule out deadsticking or lightly jigging an umbrella rig over a school either!!!

Works for me. Except my Cummins has too much power and not enough traction on snow and icy roads. lol
I love cold winter fishing. 25 degrees with 12 degree wind chills is fine by me. I have the right clothing for it.

Another cool tips to share. I thought about that too but just hadn't tried it. Thanks cool guy!!