Kansas City, MO region

[drew03cmc]

I have access to numerous waters here with hybrids in them. A few with 5#+ hybrids in them, and would love to have some help/advice on how to catch these fish, as well as knowledge on flies. Thank you much Bill! I appreciate the help in advance.

[Bill Butts]

Hello again, Drew~

Thanks for your post and question about tackle for Hybrid Stripers.

Sounds as though you have the locations identified for opportunities to catch some of these great fish and just need a little guidance on tackle.

My first thought is what a cool deal it is to have opportunities in your immediate area, some right in the metro KC area, to find Hybrids. "Finding" them will always be the most difficult aspect I assure you. Many times, it is "here today and gone tomorrow" because they can move great distances in a very short period of time, if they want to or need to due to water level/temp and/or available forage fish.

You mentioned previously that you have an 8.5'-5 wt. rod and like the challenge of catching big fish on light tackle. Well, I must be honest with you and tell you fishing with that rod for Hybrids in the 5# or larger range is not something I would ever advise. If you were going to fish Taneycomo or the White River and catch 5# trout I would say no problem, but not Hybrid Stripers or even large White Bass.

These fish strike and fight with a much higher level of intensity and strength, and the flies and lines you should use for them truly require a heavier line weight rod to adequately and safely handle the casting and fish-fighting requirements.

If you are looking to buy a good all-around size fly tackle outfit for these fish (including White Bass, Hybrids and smaller Stripers) I would suggest you seriously consider tackle of the following specifics:

Rod: a 9'-7 weight Fast Taper Graphite with a short fighting butt extension on the reel seat. A fast taper is necessary for adequately handling the large and heavy flies, the special lines needed, and the wind.

Reel: a quality, large arbor disc drag reel capable of holding a minimum of 100 yards of 20# dacron backing.

Line: the most useful line is a Type 3, 10-15' sink tip line, the second most useful would be dependent upon the water you most often fish; for lakes or deeper/faster rivers a 250-300 grain, 25-30' sinking head would be advisable, whereas for very small or very shallow rivers and surface/near-surface lake fishing a full-floating line would be the next choice. I've found the Rio Clouser line to cast the large flies in wind amazingly well.

Leader: usually the most overlooked aspect of the tackle. With either of the sinking tip lines I use a 2-part leader of 18" of .018-.020 butt section with a "perfection loop" in the end of it looped to a tippet of 30" of 8-12# with a double-surgeons loop. This of course totals 4' and I never exceed that length or a minimum of 3' as I cut back from changing flies during the day.

Flies: there are lots of basic and complex fly patterns that work well for these fish, but for the Hybrids you are specifically seeking I would suggest #4 and 2 Clouser Minnows in Chartreuse/White, Gray/White, Blue/White and Olive/Cream or Orange.

When you look for a source to buy the tackle, I know that K&K in your area is a very well-stocked shop, but I would suggest you talk with Michael at Backcountry Outfitters here in Springfield, first. He is a Striper addict too, and understands and stocks all the right tackle for someone like yourself to get started on the right foot.

Good luck with your adventure in seeking these awesome fish and be sure to post your experiences.

Hope all this is helpful. Let me know what further questions you have.

Bill

[drew03cmc]

Wow, thanks a million!

[snagged in outlet 3]

That's good advice from BILL.

But like he stated that would be for 5lber's. If there is any chance that you hookup anything over 10lbs you are probably undergunned. For the other end of the spectrum concerning fish that will exceed 10lbs this is my setup.

Loomis 9 foot 9 weight saltwater rod with a fighting butt and a big ross reel spooled with 200 yards of backing. I have a full sink line or a bonefish taper that's full floating depending on conditions.

With either setup I use a 3 foot butt section of 20 lb leader material with a 3 foot section of 14lb vanish flouro for the tippet.

I've tamed some pretty big hybrids with this setup and it has enough feel to enjoy the 5 pounders.

This same setup has caught many redfish, bones, baby tarpon, spanish mack's, barracuda, largemouth bass and a bunch of surf fish that I didn't know what they were.

Oh yeah I also use it for night fishing on the White River drainage for trout.

This was meant to illustrate the other end of the spectrum as far as rod size.

SIO3.