to clarify, the catching is easier with live bait, the fishing is easier with arts imo.

to further clarify, I'm speaking from my limited experience and from what I've read pretty much everywhere.

I agree with kubroe!

If it is legal, go for it. Personally, I only use artificials and see nothing wrong with live bait. To each his own. I have been embarrassed several times fishing next to a live bait fisherman. In the long run artificials will produce just as many fish and is more enjoyable in my opinion. Also, there is no need to get on the water before dawn to catch the little critters. I speak from personal experience that hybrids will hit shiners almost as well as shad. May have to try it sometime soon.
Also, it is difficult to practice catch and release with live bait. They tend to get it in the gut.

I get paid to "catch"....Live bait is a big part of that.

If you don't think it is "sporting" you have not caught enough BIG Hybrids to know better....

When fishing with shad you have to catch fish twice. First the bait which is often harder to catch than the predatory species. Then you must go locate hungry fish and put your offering in their face in the way they want it. Fishing with live shad is more difficult than with lures IMO. As far as keeping hybrids.......they are a "place and take fisheries". I started a thread weeks ago on this exact topic. And the general conclusion was take what you can eat and throw back the little one's so they can get bigger and put up a fight for someone else another day! Just my humble .02$!

Since Hybrids don't successfully reproduce***.I have no problem eating them.As others have stated everyone with a fishing licenses in Texas paid for them.

I think in the heat you should be very aware of the fishes condition after releasing it.If it is of legal size and floating keep it .

Slabs are much more convenient.Bait is hard to get and keep alive.Let alone the cost of a good bait tank and skill to throw a cast net.

*** Let me add that white bass are so prolific I am definitely eating them!

Circle hooks, VERY low mortality...Let go 14 about 3 hours ago, all made it just fine.

Keith
That is an amazing fish in that photo!

this time of the year on hubbard you can't beat shad to catch more hybrids .I can go through 50 shad in an evening trip and run out of bait.guys with slabs pretty much watch the action.

Hybrids are a game or "sport" fish, and using live bait is a legal means of catching them. So yes, it is a "sporting" way to fish. The way you describe live bait fishing makes me feel like you have never even done it. Sometimes catching the bait and keeping it alive can require just as much or more skill than catching the fish. I prefer to fish with lures when the fish are agressive, but its been my experience that on a tough day live bait will out fish lures every time.

Also, I'll take "catching" over just "fishing" any day of the week.

These fish SAVED the fishing in many Texas lakes. They are put and take on purpose. We all pay taxes for Texas Parks to raise them and stock the lakes.

However you want to catch them is just fine, as long as it is a legal method.

Dang-it Keith!!!! Don't be showing them pictures from out west!!! LOL!!

Keith does it again, Nice Hybrid.

Circle hooks work great as Keith said, (fished right).

When we fished with Keith, we let allot of good Hybrids go and they where "no worse the wear". They pretty much looked at Keith with that "I was warned about you " look and they where turned back.

I have not had very good luck with artificial's with Hybrids or Stripers, so I will probably get someone with experience to show me. With shad your usually to busy taken off fish to throw a lure Especially with a good guide or lake knowledge.

Bait fishing is more relaxing for me personally.

I prefer catching! If that means live bait then live bait it is. Glad youve figured it out.