It’s about time to kick off the Fall Edition of the Lake Palestine Big Hybrid Contest!

HeadsRtails first started this a while back and then Lonestar Proud ran it last fall. Both those guys are busy with other things, so I am going to attempt to keep up with the results. I know I will not do as good as a job as those guys but if nothing else we will have some fun and hopefully catch some fish.


I plan on running it just as Lonestar Proud did it last fall. First of all we’ll split the fall contest up into two segments. The first segment will be September 1st thru October 31st. The second segment will be November 1st thru December 31st. We will also have two categories in each segment. The first being the largest fish, based on length, and the second category will be the cumulative total length of an individual’s 3 largest fish. The reasoning behind this is that it may give more people an opportunity for bragging rights!

Here are the rules;
1. No entry fee.
2. Be a member of the TFF.
3. Hybrids must be caught from Lake Palestine on a rod & reel, using artificial or live bait.
4. Submit as many legal fish as you wish, but each fish submitted must have a picture of the fish being measured, and a close up picture of the tail on the measuring device. No pictures, no entry.
5. Provide date, time, and type of bait used.
6. The tie breaker for the largest fish category will be the length of the second largest fish submitted by the contestants involved in the tie, continuing down until the tie is broken.
7. The tie breaker for the 3 fish cumulative total category will be the 4th fish submitted by the contestants involved in the tie, continuing down until the tie is broken.
8. Note that multiple entries may be to your benefit!

I will compile the information and keep y’all updated as we progress through each segment.
Have fun out there guys and gals, and above all, be safe and be courteous while out there chasing the hybrids!

(yes I did shamlessly steal all this from LP)

This looks good, really looking forward to this. I know we have had fun with this in the past and would expect the same this Fall. Things may start out slow as for September can be a coin flip in fishing sometimes.

ETF, I have the upmost confidence in you and know we have the right man for the job! Good luck to all and be safe.

Sounds like fun. Go by length and not weight? Cant wait till cooler weather. Count me in!!

Striper Nut, we always use length with these contests because we all use different scales so using length only keeps things even and works really well. Its always ben fun in the past. We got a great bunch of guys out there fishing.

Just got on the TFF, looking forward to getting out there with my dad, martyk8 and catching the big ones ! This is going to be fun.

What a good opportunity for some sponsors. It would be good advertisement to look on the leader board and see that the big fish were caught with let's say a big kahuna spoon, or a flies by night, or fiesta slab or such, since we are required to say what we caught them on. I'll say right now that the Big Kahuna spoon has been marvelous on Palestine lately.

Good luck everyone!
ETF - Have fun keeping up with it this fall. I hope to get the opportunity to get up there and fish one day this fall.....not betting on it, but hoping so none the less.

Contest kicks off in a couple of days, just keeping it on everyones mind. Hope to see some good Hybrids posted.

We have a long weekend looking at us, lets kick this thing off with a bang. I hope to see some nice pigs being posted!

Good seeing you today Martyk8 & Marty K Jr. I figure that I've
got the 2nd segment locked up. Y'all won't be able to launch
your boats & I'll be towed around by 27" hybrids in my kayak!
East wind shut them down this AM.

Well I'm kind of embarassed to post this fish but after getting blanked on hybrids the last three trips, beggars can't be choosers. Caught it at 8:00 this morning drifting a 5" gizzard shad under schooling sandies.

I've been mostly fishing CC this year but it is getting really hard to launch there - so this is of interest to me. I may well join you guys. What ramps on Palestine are still usable?

The only ramp I know of is the single public boat ramp at the dam but its days are numbered unless we get rain. Would avoid the double ramp. Good sized dropoff at the end of the slab on it.

Congrats on getting the board going ATM, I haven't done well the last few trips either, things should turn around soon.

I used the single ramp yesterday morning and it worked well. But I saw where someone removed the warning sign in front of the double ramp. Everyone be careful.

Its a start! I got blanked last weekend and only got 5 sandies this morning. Water temps are dropping, so things will be picking up. Surface temps 80 to 81 today.

What bait tanks are some of you guys using and which one is the top of the line.

Congrats on the first Hybrid on the board Martin, cant believe we have an Aggie showing us the way, lol. Just kidding! Your fish may only be 20" but he is a fattie, gotta love Lake Palestine healthy Hybrids. I have a feeling you will be the man to watch in our fun little contest, of course the regulars can never be left out especially Mike and Marty, those guys can flat out catch some fish.


Big Fish: ATM97 20" hybrid 9/10/11 8am on live bait

Been out three times since Saturday morning, the sandbass have been easy with lots of magnums. Hybrids on the other hand have been a little tough for me but I did manage one the morning.

22.375 rattletrap 8:30 am

22.375

Nice fish guys. Looks like they been eating some shad cause they aren't skinny!

Hybrids have been hard to find lately, hopefully this cooler weather will liven things up. So far we only have two fish on the board.

Big Fish:
HeadsRtails 22.375 9/28/11 8:30am on a rattletrap
ATM97 20.000 9/10/11 8:00am on live bait

Went out this AM. Caught (2) +/- 22". Forgot the camera.
Saw a bald eagle & plenty of southward bound butterflys.

Shame we don't do this for sandbass, anyway caught 2 Hybrids today. One is out there still swimming around with a Fly's by night fly and Johnson spoon in its mouth, got it to the boat and my line broke where the fly was tied. Maybe it was the 30 or so sandbass before I hooked the Hybrid had something to do with that, anyway my bad and will say no more on it. Here's the one I did get in the boat.

20.500 11:30 AM Bomber Slab

20.500

Same recipe this morning as yesterday morning, same results almost. Only thing differant was when the sandbass came up schooling they stayed up alot longer each time.

20.250 7:45 AM Bomber Slab

20.250

Where's Mo?

Where do you get the kahuna spoons. Thanks

www.moestackleshop.com for the kahuna spoons

If you dont have any sassy shad, the SD color 4" sassy on 3/4 oz jig head have been working well for big sandies and black bass also.

Tournament partner and I hit the Hybrids hard last year for the first time and had a blast at Palestine! We will have to try and remember to take some pictures with measurements.

and HeadRtails that is one heck of a picture in your signature!!!!

You know you just can't go wrong with them LSU Tigers! You guys catch some Hybrids, take a sec. and get a pic and post it! We need some on here, they have been tough for me so far, plenty of sandbass and blackbass but Hybrids are just about MIA. Hopeing things pick-up, im sure they will.

Big Fish:
HeadsRtails 22.375 9/28/11 8:30am Rattletrap
HeadsRtails 20.50 10/10/11 11:30am Slab
HeadsRtails 20.25 10/11/11 7:45am Slab
ATM97 20.000 9/10/11 8:00am Live Bait

Three Fish Total:
HeadsRtails 63.125

Here ya Go, This should be a new leader for the total length. Caught 10-22-11 at 10:00, lake Palestine on a crankbait, 7.0lbs 25 3/4". I caught it and let my 9yr old son reel him in and I netted it for him.

I only wish I knew the rules for the three largest? Don't have measurements on these.
Maybe I can pick up a couple more.

Hey, now finally someone post a nice Hybrid, I bet your boy enjoyed reeling that in. Nice one! Just keep doing like you did with the photos of the big one for your others you catch and you three fish total will be the longest three Hybrids you submit. You can always bump another Hybrid out later if you catch one longer later on and so forth

Great job, Great to see Father and Son, even if son ahead of Father! Were did you put boat in at?

Villages,its starting to get questionable. Their working to make it better, but there is not any deep water for them to work with.

launched at the villages yesterday and had no problems, they were working yesterday, had a trackhoe and some digging mats, great job fish ugly it was definatley a beautiful fish and a good release, very sportsman like of u. i mostly fish for largemouth and its good to see all species have a chance to be returned to the water..

Thanks, For letting me use your measuring board.
I spend most of my time fishing for largemouth, but have been branching out on the hybrids and sandies for the boys.

I tried to do the same with the crappie but they went cooperating. We'll try em again soon. See yall around.

Got out for a couple hours this afternoon. Caught one Hybrid while playing with some sandbass.

22.00 Rattletrap 4:15 PM

22.00

Caught about 8 this afternoon. 22 1/2” (3:15PM) 21” (3:30 PM), 22 ½”(6:10 PM) - when their tails
were pinched & noses lined up. Silver & black crankbait. Somewhere south of the big bridge.
Sorry, wasn’t able to take the picture, hold the front of the fish, and pinch the tail all at
the same time. Only got two hands.

I guess we are doing this in two parts (Sept. & Oct.) and (Nov. & Dec.) If so here is one from this morning.

20.875 Slab 10:00 AM

20.875

Where is everyone launching? Is anyone still launching at Deep End? I last launched there a few weeks ago, and it was getting interesting... Had heard that the Villages was the only usable ramp left, but wanted to see what ya'll were doing. Thanks!

Single ramp at the Deep End is still useable. When the concrete is wet some folks have had trouble pulling the boat out. Limited slip or 4 wheel drive helps. Keep your motor tilted up high backing in and pulling out. (Stay away from double side ramp)

can you still launch at the dam ramp or is it to low?

never mind just saw the last post...

Thinking about taking my dad fishing Saturday Morning. Any tips?

We normally launch at dam and head towards horse ranch are and troll those flats on left just before horse ranch. Not sure if its to early for this or not.

Any tips on lures or locations would be great. Dont get to take my Dad fishing much so I would love to get him on a few hybrids if possible.

Thanks

Villages - launch next to the bldg.
Go slow going out of the channel.
About 1 boat width wide. Tilt your
motor up. Trachoe dug it out 2 weeks
ago. Ramp was extended. There is a
concrete hump on the middle of it.

Try this link:

http://www.moestackleshop.com/estore/category/3070

Got several new spoons come'N in a few weeks!

Gilbo & I started chasing sandys under the birds.
Then Eric Potcotter told us to focus on the Bigger
Birds ... bigger fish. Got a new pattern: Under the
Bald Eagles. Pretty cool.

Sorry guys I am just now getting around to updating the standings of the contest.
Looks as if Fish Ugly hauled in the biggest pig (with the help of his favorite fisherman) and Ledbetter pushed HeadsRtails aside for the best stringer.

Big Fish:
Fish Ugly 25.75 10/22/11 10:00am Crankbait
Ledbetter 22.50 10/30/11 3:15pm Crankbait
HeadsRtails 22.375 9/28/11 8:30am Rattletrap
HeadsRtails 22.00 10/30/11 4:15pm Rattletrap
Ledbetter 21.00 10/30/11 3:30pm Crankbait
Ledbetter 21.50 10/30/11 6:10pm Crankbait
HeadsRtails 20.50 10/10/11 11:30am Slab
HeadsRtails 20.25 10/11/11 7:45am Slab
ATM97 20.000 9/10/11 8:00am Live Bait

Three Fish Total:
Ledbetter 66
HeadsRtails 63.125

11/12/11 @ 9:30. Caught on an H3 humdinger slab.