How To Catch Lake Tawakoni Hybrid Striper

You can’t get a picture of a Hybrid Striped Bass until you know how to catch them!  Hybrid striped bass is a cross between a white bass and a striped bass. These unique hatchery fish have the aggressive attributes of their parents and will strike a bait with reckless abandon. Matching the baitfish that the hybrids are feeding on is the key, so it’s important to have the best baits handy when chasing hybrid striped bass.

Live Bait

Live gizzard shad and threadfin shad are a top producing bait for hybrid striped bass since they are the prevalent forage fish in most hybrid waters. Gizzard shad are a sensitive bait to use, make sure to have a large bait tank with a good aerator to provide plenty of oxygen for the bait. When you are ready to use the shad, hook them through the lips with a single hook to allow them to swim freely. Whether you suspend the shad under a float to attract cruising fish or fish them on the bottom where hybrids hide between feeding blitzes, be sure to keep fresh bait on at all times as hybrids do not care much for dead bait.

Crankbaits

Since shad are a favorite food item of hybrids, it makes sense to use a bait that looks and acts like the real thing. Crankbaits, such as the Shad Rap, work well at covering water looking for actively feeding fish. Cast the lure to a likely looking spot, and use a steady retrieve with a fast pace. Hybrids do not like to see a meal escape and tend to react favorably to a fast-moving bait that looks like a shad running for cover!  

Best Water for Crankbait Hybrid Striper

Choose a deep-diving crankbait in the summer when hybrids are deeper in the water column, along structure like a creek bed. In the springtime, hybrids can be found in less than 10 feet of water chasing shad that are relating to the warmer water. Using a shallow-running crankbait is a good bet as you want the lure to stay just above the hybrids’ sightline.

Top Water Plugs

Since hybrids chase shad and other baitfish to the surface, it pays to have some topwater plugs like poppers or chuggers on hand. Look for water birds diving on the surface of the water as a sign of feeding hybrids below. Cast the topwater lure past the activity, as a lure that lands right on the fish may spook them. Use short, sharp twitches of the rod to generate commotion that will attract the feeding hybrids to your bait. If the fish are just slapping at the bait but not getting hooked, speed up the retrieve, as this will trigger the fish to totally commit on the strike.

Top 3 Fishing Guide Lures for Lake Tawakoni Hybrid Striped Bass

1. 4-inch Sassy Shad with a 3/4oz jig head
2. 1.5oz Slab Spoon Lure
3. Flutter Spoons

Fishing Lake Tawakoni is GREAT!  Book with the Best Lake Tawakoni Fishing Guide, Cliff Thornton today! For more information please follow Lake Tawakoni Fishing Guide.