this sounds like fun.. sadly moved to Austin last year. Might have to drive up, meet the friends, and do some fishing. My friend caught this one, he went with 4lb test, expecting only sandies. [img:left]http://imgur.com/a9bgKXl[/img]

The water is still muddy at Hickory. Seems like the spot to be is underneath the Old Alton Bridge. Everyone was in that tiny spot.

That's where everyone has been since the fish showed up, but there are plenty of other areas that are holding fish. Went for about an hour today, caught several sandies and a huge crappie, none of them under the bridges. I was looking for hybrids but looks like they have moved on from where they were thick this past weekend, didn't see anyone with one on a stringer. I saw a few on their way to where I hope to find them Wednesday. Water was still pretty stained, even for hickory creek.

Caught several 10 and 11" sandies on chartreuse panfish assassin with pink head dragging on bottom real slow

I am hoping they move where we were fishing last time.

Fished for about an hour this morning before 8 am. Caught 4 small sand bass. Didn't see any hybrids on stringers. Stripping a white/chartreuse closer under an indicator. It was a little chilly.

Hey Fly or die did you up your line wt to 8 ? Carey told me that my 5 wt would snap on a hybrid

Oh and thanks for the report

I'm throwing a 5 wt and probably will until I snap it! LOL I've never caught a hybrid on the fly. I'll let you know how the first one goes when I get the chance.

Keith, Carey told me that as well about my 4 weight. If I do hook a big enough fish to snap, I definitely won't be disappointed! I'm sure it'll be fun up until that point! Mine is TFO, so I'd love to test out their lifetime warranty. The sandbass are just too much fun on the 4 wt.

Thanks Fly or Die and JABman08. I guess i will do the same --LOL-- Thanks a bunch

JABman08, I broke the tip off of my 3 wt TFO after a tussle with a big rainbow on Spillway creek @ LMF. I took the pieces over to the TFO shop off of Royal (I believe it was Royal) and they put a new tip on it AND replaced the cork handle! All for just a small fee.... I think $10 or $15 bucks. They also gave me a TFO hat.

My buddy was out there on Sunday and some guy yelled at him telling him the sand bass keeper size is 15 inches.. Now I know its 10 inches. its not different there right?

It's ten inches for white bass and 18 inches for a hybrid. No minimum for yellow bass.

Reggie

Not saying Carey doesn't know his stuff by any means, bc he definitely does. But although I've never caught a hybrid on the fly, I've caught many, many large redfish, carp, buffalo, and stripers on 4,5, and 6 wt lines and never had any problems. A nice reel with a good drag system will protect any rod/flyline. If the fish is big enough, just get it on the reel. It'll snap your tippet long before anything else. My 4 wt is my go-to rod for most any fish and only grab a heavier setup when I want to chunk bigger/heavier flies. Now if he was referring to a hybrid wrapping you up on trash/brush in the creeks... I can see that. Of course, at that point, sometimes it doesn't matter how heavy your setup is.

The first photo is with a 2wt and the second is with a child's 4wt. Both TFO's.

I use an 8 lb. leader that I make myself.

I've caught more big fish than these two and was not targeting big fish at the time of the hookup. Both ponds were open with minimal structure. I see why Carey recommends heavier equipment for hybrids in this creek. Both those fish took 20-30 minutes to land. They each pulled out a lot of line. Nobody else could fish while someone is doing battle with fish this size on light tackle.