I am a new fisherman and would like some help figuring this out. I have put countless hours on the boat with very little fish in the boat. Have a hummingbird 587 ci hd di. I have been able to find the fish. I dont know what kind of fish tho. Not sure how to tell. I see the bait balls, bigger fish following, at the same depth and below. I have tried sassy shad, and spoons to no avail. I had my rod bend once yesterday for the fish to get off.
I have been fishing in 20 - 35 or so feet of water.
How do i fish the sassy shad? chartruse color is what i have been using with the shad head weight hook.
Tried the big spoons from moe's, I did get one bit on that.
We were just drifting and i would pull it up sometimes and let it float back. We usually fish in the afternoon till close to dark. Any help would be great. Thanks

Oh forgot to add. My son had some live worms and threw out on a small red hook and caught 2 small hybrids, probably l pound or less so i am guessing we may have been around the bigger ones also... this isnt the first time this has happened. More like the 20th fishing trip.

I sent you a PM. But the absolute best thing you can do is hire a guide. Matt Cartwright or Joe Read can show you more about the lake in a day than you could learn in a year on your own. They've been at it a long time.

+1 on what Mix said, that is money well invested on the knowledge you will gain.

reddog, it can be so frustrating some times this time of year getting the fish to bite. I know how you feel. We were sitting right on top of sandbass the other day and they just wouldent eat!

Reading the sonar and understanding it is going to be your single most important tool. Getting that down will put more fish in your boat vs. anything else you can do. Tawakoni is full of other kinds of fish, especially blue catfish that mirror the same type patterns as white/bass and hybrids. How frustrating is it to fish hours on end for what you think is sandies and hybrids when all along they are blue catfish. It's happened to me.

I agree with Mix, having someone point out the subtle differences can definitely help. Also, THIS may help too.

Good Luck out there!

Worms catch hybrids? I need to try this,... not!

+1 on Matt Cartwright if you want to learn the techniques...
want to fish for hybrids,... don't use worms.

Learn the proper techniques if you want to use lures.
For live baits, I'd try shad or minnows for hybrids.

Thanks guys. I have fished with Matt once and I guess thats what is so dang frustrating. He makes it look easy.. Great guy and we had a blast.
I am just new to this and any and all pointers help and I do appreciate it. I have tried doing it on my own for a few months now and I am getting frustrated, Thot the fish finder would help, It does I just dont know what i am looking at. Not so sure on how to use the baits i have, maybe i am doing it all wrong.

And my son just put a worm on for the heck of it... He caught 2 small hybrid and 6 catfish all small. 1 pound or less.
in different locations. We fished 4-5 spots

I bet if you offered to pay for gas one of the regulars out there would take you and show you the ropes. You should also check YouTube for some videos. Tons on there

Mon we caught 2 hybrids, 1 sand bass and 1 lure on shrimp!
Also 20 blues.

If its not a hybrid I will stand corrected.

that's an ole' yeller...or yellow bass. Could be a hybrid yellow, tho.

Well thanks for clearing it up. I am new to this so dont bust my chops too bad.

yellow bass...

Here's what you do. Use your side scan and when you see these fish mark them as a waypoint, then drive your boat to the waypoint you marked and drop a floating marker on the side of your boat. Once you've done that drive away from the spot and cast your sassy shad or spoons at your marker. Let it drop to the bottom and raise you rod up and let the lure fall back to the bottom. This is an easy way to catch these hybrids suspended off the bottom.

Watch dennis christian's video on the mepps technique..