fly rod hybrids

[drew03cmc]

For those who are aware, in the spring in the spillway below Lake Jacomo's dam, into Blue Springs Lake there are some 5+# Hybrids waiting for me with the fly rod. Also, in a few lakes at James A Reed Wildlife Area there are good size hybrids. How do I go about catching them? I need to know what flies, presentation tips, and I will post pics this spring. Let me know please guys!

I caught a half dozen 1# hybrids about five years ago and am itching to catch more, just on the flyrod!

[Bill Butts]

Drew,

Thanks for your post.

It appears you have a very good resource opportunity to catch some nice Hybrids on the waters you described.

There are also great opportunities to catch Hybrids and Stripers on LaCygne Reservoir south of KC, just east of Highway 69, throughout the winter due to a warmwater discharge that attracts bait fish and game fish.

You certainly have a good idea of how great these awesome fish are, so it is no wonder that you are entusiastic about catching more of them on your fly rod.

First of all, you will find that a fast taper 7 weight rod is the most useful for Hybrid fishing, but not the only rod you might need.

The most useful line I have found for Hybrid (and white bass)fishing is a #3 sink-tip of 12 to 15' with a short 3.5 to 4'leader. I use this combo for about 75% of my fishing for these species. However, I also find a WF Clouser (Rio brand) floating line or an Aqua-lux Intermediate (also Rio) sink-tip to be very advisable to carry for very low, shallow water conditions, also with about 4' of leader.

For flies, you will find that Clouser Minnow patterns in Gray/White, Chartreuse/White, and a natural pattern like brown or olive over cream will cover the basics, though many different minnow imitation patterns will work. You will need to carry these in lengths from 2" up to 5". If you tie or buy them made with synthetic hair (as opposed to natural bucktail hair)you can minimize the quantity you carry if you carry the longer versions and a small pair of scissors to trim them down in length if necessary.

Presentation is pretty basic. I usually make my casts straight across or slightly upstream and across, let the line and fly sink at varying rates then begin a strip retrieve. I vary the retrieve from very slow short strips to very fast long strips to find what the fish accept best at the time. In faster water, I don't hesitate to try not stripping but only twitching the rod tip as the fly swims.

I hope you find this helpful.

You might also benefit from reading an old post I made in this topic entitled "Suggested Tackle--No Sissy Stuff".

Also, it also might be helpful to read some of the other early posts in the Striper topics.

Finally, please share your experiences (good or bad) with the OA Forum folks when you give your area a try for Hybrids. Don't hesitate to request further information via this forum or by PM or email.

Tight lines,

Bill

[drew03cmc]

Wow, very helpful! Thanks Butts. I will make sure to post if I need anything else, as well as to let everyone know.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Hey guys.

I think you guys saw my posts about hybrids. I'm ready to quit trout fishing and start chasing these bruisers more. I use a 9 weight with a floating line. Clousers, clousers and clousers. Don't forget blue/white.

I let the fly hang in the current sometimes for 5-10 minutes believe it or not and have had the rod nearly jerked out of my hand.

Hey Bill do these fish bite in the winter in the tailwaters? I know there are spillways in IL that have them but where in MO can they be found? That Jacomo place looks inviting since I visit family in KC once in a while.

SIO3.

[Bill B.]

The Jacomo outlet is best right after hard rains in April or May, when water from Jacomo pours over the waterfalls into Blue Springs Lake. The first 30 minutes after daybreak can be a lot of fun.

The easiest place to catch hybrids on a fly rod in Missouri right now would be Thomas Hill, hands down.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Hi again Bill.

I was looking at the MDC map for Thomas Hill and was wondering if you can bank fish the warm water canal? How far is it from Columbia? Have you been there?

SIO3.

[drew03cmc]

I might go to Jacomo after a hard rain! Throw some Clousers and hold on right?

[Terry Beeson]

What Bill and SIO3 said....

Hey guys... what about red in those Clousers? Does that do well up here? I've had luck with gray over red over white/yellow in Arkansas.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Hey guys.

I think it's like any other fishing, switch up if you're not getting action on what you're using. I wouldn't discount any color.

Hang on very tight is right Drew.

I'm on a mission for hybrids this year. Hope to report often.

SIO3

[Bill B.]

Yes, you can fish at least part of the canal from the bank, unless the water's high. It shouldn't be, right now. You can fish at the very top and very bottom of the canal.

A boat or canoe gets you over to the far side of the outlet, where bigger fish tend to feed. It also gets you up into the main length of the canal where there is no bank access.

And, I forgot to add, it takes about an hour to get up there from downtown Columbia.