As I get older I learn that I don't know very much...so...
I thought I'd ask for more wisdom from this Forum.

What are Hybrid's Seasonal Movements/Patterns ?
In relation to humps, points, major movements towards the
dam, relationshps to the main river channel, creek channels,
shad spawns in the bays, lighted boat houses, etc....

Thanks for your imput.

The Ledbetter Legend.

The only pattern I have experienced is that the big hybrids follow the hull of sandbasscamps black skeeter year round.....Hope that helps

I'm not sure if there is an actual pattern, but I do know that striper/hybrids will move as much as 16 miles in one day. Now that's not to say that they will move in one direction for 16 miles, but it's possible. However, if you fish structure, humps, stumps, drop offs, etc, chances are you'll get into them. I do not rely on my graph to locate fish, but rather to see what the bottom looks like. I have fished areas where no fish are showing up on the graph, but after a few minutes, I start getting hits. this goes back to the large area that these fish cover. Of coarse, this is not always the case and sometimes I'll draw a blank, but when the bite is slow and fish are hard to locate, I always fall back to this method.

jv4cajun;

About the graph, I caught 5 Hybrids, 1 Big Cat, and 4 Sandies in a location that the graph showed absolutely NOTHING but bottom contour...

I watch guys fly out to a spot, make a lot of noise over the area while trying to find fish on the graph and then they run off to a new area... Most of the time I just shake my head and wonder over to their spot and take a look at the structure on the Side Imaging of my 797, if it looks good I'll mark it to try later after the fish they scared away have time to return...

Michial,

I've done the same thing a few times, myself. I have several areas that I fish and I will cut the big motor well before I get to these spots and drop the trolling motor and work my way to it. If I find a new area, I won't drop right away, I'll mark it, go fish another area and come back a little while later. It's always fun to find a new spot and catch fish!

I've got a spot that I found out of desperation like that. I was having a bad day and not catching anything.

So I got playing with the GPS maps on my 797, and found a small hump about .5 miles from where I was at. It didn't have much potential, it was only a 5' hump.

That little hump has outperformed all my other spots combined to date.....

It has been proven that most species including hybrids move the absolute least during the summer and winter periods. Therefore they move the most during the spring and fall seasons. In most cases when you find good areas that hold fish during the summer and winter they will likely be in close proximity to that spot during that entire season.
This explains why some points and humps always hold fish all summer or winter long. Spring and fall seasons the fish will move into new areas for various reasons. They will spend sometimes the entire day traveling. This also explains why they can be caught in 30ft of water in late Feb. and the next day be in 8ft of water. During the summer and winter the water is more stable and the fish are more likely to stay in the same depths as the day before.
Generally speaking if you find fish in the summer and winter you can count on that pattern staying on for a while.

Learn thy shad seasonal movement patterns, where you find shad or dominant bait fish, you will find what you are seeking.

A little tip during summer, turn up sensitivity on your graph some, this will show you the thermocline in the water. This can show you where the best oxygen is located in the water. We have been blessed with rain and cooler temps thru june, normally in July, the oxygen content on bottom has poor Oxygen content. The Hypolimnion layer, the bottom during summer has the pooriest oxygen content.

Finding the zones were shad are hanging and this is where the fish are gonna show up eventually to feed. If the thermocline sets up at 32 feet, take your map and find all structure that intersects at that depth, humps, tree tops, pond dams, and points, they won't be far from that zone.

Shad need good oxygen, and the thermocline is the easiest way to find good oxygen. The surface has good oxygen, but surface temps drive the fish down. Another reason why suface activity is good in the early morning and late evening, its cooling or cooled down.

matt

I've never seen a thermocline extend to 32', but then again I always concentrate on the area where it begins. Which lake was this on?

"If" a thermocline sets up at 32 ft. Key word was if.

I'll make it simple, Lets talk Fork, A place I love to be.

In mid summer, you have 3 distinct water temperature changes in three zones. 0-12ft, 12-22ft, 22-45ft, the temp "may" drop 10 degrees at each zone. Year end year out, 22ft is where the thermocline will setup give or take a few ft, but 22 is normally the magic number. By the way, turn over is normally in Oct.

MY advice is to fish all structure and contours that intersect at 22ft, give or take a few feet. The shad will be at 22 feet, and the preditors won't be far off.

Matt

I wish that were true! Its just when you go with me.

Ledbetter, I think from the lack of responses you got that there are no lead pipe truths about hybrids. The shad thing is the closest. Shad are everywhere you stop on Palestine so why aren't they everywhere? Thats like saying find the hay and you'll find the needle. So if you find shad your not always going to catch fish. If I could catch 20-30 a day I would quit my day job, but that just don't happen for me and a lot of people. Thats what makes them unique and fun to hunt. The ones that are successful go a lot and you only hear of the good trips, not the bad ones.

As far as not graphing spots , WOW!

sandbass,

I'm sure that there are answers to what leadbetter asked, it's just that they aren't known or being posted here.

The thermocline answer is probably a portion of the answer though, I have heard that the thermocline affects lots of fish, and their choice of habitat.

My guess about Hybrids is that the water temp, thermocline, and a few more variables apply, just what those variables are I have no clue YET.

Is there a thermocline of some kind year round?

I guess there are exceptions to every rule and this summer has been really mild. I got some yesterday in 12ft of water in the middle of the day in the same places I've caught them in years past when its an ozone action day and 98. No thermocline. The more I learn the less I know!

Maybe some of us can get a tracking device and monitor 2 or 3 big foots for 1 year. I would volunteer.

I think the answer would be yes there is a thermocline year around. I think the question should be how distinguished is it year around?

I know what you mean by there being exceptions to the rules, My last batch were caught in 20' of water, and the batch prior to that were in 32' and barely a week between them.

I hope what little I've learned pays off tomorrow, but if not I'm sure Ill have some fun as long as rain doesnt move in.

sanbasscamp,

There is no thermocline normally from the fall till about may-june. With typical summers, the thermocline sets up in may/june and will be present until the fall. Occassionally, such as this year, a mild June may cause the thermocline to set up in early summer, but thats a rareity.

Matt