I'm new to fishing hybrids and wanted to get some gear to give it a try. Can anyone recommend what jig heads work best? How heavy of a jig head should I be buying? Any advice on what plastics to use for dead sticking hybrids/strippers? I'm looking to give Bridgeport a shot next week. Any help would be much appreciated.

I have used everything from 1/4 oz. round to 1.5 oz. fishhead jig heads. Smaller flukes to magnums, sassy shad, & cohos, and slabs. It all depends on the day and the fish. Normally, lately, I would say 1/2 oz. with a smaller fluke. With that said I had a guy with me today who fishes with several experts at Tawakoni, and we struck out at BP in the afternoon.

Thanks for the info bobo. Sounds like a newbie like myself might have a tough time at Bridgeport. Any suggestions on where to try on BP when we go next week? It'll be our first time there.

It all depends on what size bait they want ... Water temp plays a big roll also .. And fish depth ... I use a few differnt sizes from www.moestackleshop.com .. On Hubbard I'll have 2 rigs out .. One with a 3/4 oz head short shank hook with a 2.5 inch plastic .. The other will be a 1 oz short shank with a 4 inch plastic .. It also depends on if you are drifting with socks or spot locked with a trolling motor .. You want your lure pretty vertical and not "swinging" way out .. If it is really windy I'll go to a 1.5 or 2 oz jig head ... Locate the fish on your graph .. If you are in 45 ft water , most of th times the fish will be suspended .. Turn up the sensitivity in your graph .. Drop your lure behind the boat and watch your lure fall ... Then crank up to the fish .. Remember .. Fish in deep water suspended usually won't hit the lure below them ... So I put the lure right in the middle of the fish and very very very slowly raise .. Remember how many cranks off bottom you did to get to the fish ... Most bait casters are about 2 ft per crank ..

Thanks JV! That helps a lot! I appreciate your help. Do you guide on Bridgeport or just Hubbard? I'm sure it would be worth it to go out with you to learn.

We fished the main lake, humps and flats close to drop-offs. The fish were there. Just couldn't get any bites. Maybe someone else has a better idea since I haven't been very often lately.

Definetly order the deadheads from Moes Tackle. When it comes to dead sticking jig heads there isn't just nothing that compares. His flukes are tough also and last a long time. Hollow body flukes are easier to rig for a beginner but Moes last longer when the fishing gets good.
Slow is the key during the winter. If you can find the birds working on Bridgeport then sneak in and dead stick them. You will learn fast. If the fishing is slower use your electronics and fish the fluke right in there face or slightly above.
As the water warms stroll swim baits from Moes or Wildeyes. Just pull them slowly over fish you see on you electronics.
Call Kieth Bunch on Bridgeport and pay him to take you fishing. He can learn ya about deadstickin

I can't recommend enough Keith Bunch Lake Guide 940 577 0363. He lives on the lake and has everything you need to successfully deadstick Bport. I have been fishing the Porte the last few weeks. Smaller jig heads seem to work better, but when there biting 3/4 oz work well also. Drift is key, fish don't seem to be biting on spot lock. And actually a pretty good drift with line stretched a bit has been working better, they seem to want it moving. Tandem jig heads to increase bite. IMO the birds are full of [censored] on Bport. But fish em a bit anyways just to make sure. Good luck call Keith you won't regret it.

Here's something I do on deadsticking - I put a small piece of colored tape on the rod 12 inches from the line guide on the reel. That way I know I'm stripping off almost exactly a foot of line with each pull.

If I see the fish are suspended a certain distance below the boat, I lower the jig this way to drop it smack onto them.

That's a great idea. Thanks for sharing that tip!

Now that you are totally confused, get some water time i.e. learning curve established. Interpolate, go get your line pushed up a few hundred times miss a few thousand taps and brag about your experiences. There is nothing like " dead sticking" there are a lot of us dead stick junkies here in W'ford, TX.