I wonder what your most successful lures for hybrid stripers were, and how you use them..technique. I just got Humdingers in from an order, also have Rooster Tails, and other assorted spinners. What colors do you use the most? Thanks for any replies in advance.

I would recommend getting some 3/4 triangular jig heads and some 4 or 5 inch white or pearl sassy shads. Probably the easiest way to start is to cast around the edges of surfacing sandies, count to about 7 or 8, and slow retrieve the sassy shad back to the boat. Same concept for slabbing, get an 1.5oz big slab and try and keep the sandies off it so the fewer in numbers, mixed in hybrids get a chance to bite it. The only fish you will usually catch on that rig are 14"+ sand bass or hybrids. I have found it takes a lot of time on the lake to reverse engineer the patterns, on where you catch some hybrids mixed in with sandies and on what lure, and try and go back and do that another day.

Bass Assissins, Sassy Shad and Wildeyes in the fall and winter. Mainly chartreusse or white. In the summer months, a 2 ounce TNT180 chartreusse holographic with a red head Fish it deep or under schooling sand bass.

Well, I'm no expert on hybrids yet, but I've had the most hybrids on these three lures: 2oz+ slabs, jumbo sized roadrunner (1oz+), 5" sassy shad. You see the trend ...

Well I don't have a boat, so this will be mostly at the spillway. They don't usually have schooling fish you can see from the surface, at least I haven't. One reason is I am not there as daylight hits. (very rare for me to get up that early) I have had virtually zero look with spoons. I must be doing something wrong with them. I do have Bass Assassins, and Pan Assassins in my tackle assortments... I am not sure what Wildeyes is, is that by Storm and looks like a bluegill? Yes, I believe pearl/white/gray would be good colors. I also have some chartreuse and white colors of stuff. I have a few spoons, but like I said never ever had any luck with them. I do not have a spoon/slab spoon as big as what you have said. I do not see TNT or anything like it at the local store. What about Bomber slab spoons, are they any good?

TNT slabs are available here: www.trollingnolanstackle.com

They are excellent slabs and quality made.

Thanks for the link. I will take a look at them.

kelkay,

Here is another site to check out for some quality lures: www.rdlwebs.com/humdingers/

Slabs, Humdingers, & swimbaits have all caught hybrids for me at one time or another.

below dam fishing, aw thats where i learned to fish. big dam at lake millwood in Arkansas. try weighted bobbers in the 3oz range . big bobbers and tie small good quality crappie jigs and hang on. with dam fishing you have to figure if fish are on top or down deep. if they are down then use what these other guys are saying. crank baits dont work good below a dam for 1 reason. you will be fight that lure to the shore everytime with or w/o a fish. best technique has always been look,listen, and ask. see what the other guys around you are catching the fish on and mimic.

What spillway? I'm thinking with all them trebled hooked spoons and pretty baits, you'll be donating them. If your on the lake, in a boat, those are great lures. I would go with a single hooked bait (Sassy shad) or some sort of ballon rig, rigged with live bait on it bream or shad. I personally don't know how to rig it but I bet it would work. Maybe?

Thanks Boston Bob. I just got my Humdingers in yesterday. I plan to take them out asap. The wind is up too much today though.

john you are right...I have used crankbaits like crazy out there and have done no good at all. I have done good on live minnows, shad, jigs. Crappie jigs can even get you a channel cat I found out the other day! I have caught a hybrid on a zoom fluke jr under a float in the past too.

Lake O' The Pines. It is either real good, or real bad. Hardly any in betweens...lately it has been a bit better on the bites..but the fish are mostly SMALL.

I do not know what a balloon rig is, never heard of it. I bought some Sassy Shad today though.