Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Its official, and due to the response from the site the event will be held on October 26th a Sunday. This will allow fisherman to use both jigs and herring available from dows. Any details PM me or Getanet

Place to meet is Lee's County Marina on howard boulevard.
Time is Sunrise, we all wanna get an early start, usually everyone is BS'ing with eachother as were launching boats and you will see a mix of guys on the usual spots/points

If you cant make it early feel free to come later on. I will prefish the day before and make photocopied maps of where I find schools and their spots, the fish will still be there the next day. I will also post info and rigs and what worked later Saturday for everyone. I and others will be taking a lunch break at the Market which is on the left side heading into brady bridge from the main lake. You can drive boat up and tie up and they have good food

Please keep this thread clean for a while, so I can post up details and tactics/rigs for everyone and to also help the newbies, there will be lots of members that have never fished for them before.

We encourage guys w boats that have room to post up availability, keep it mostly thru PMs tho. Its a good way to meet fellow members and guys who fish, we always have fun at the M+G's.

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

So guys can get an idea of what to use and what they need......

There is no limit of rods per person, but I use 2 rods for live bait and one rod for jiggin. If im in my boat by myself I often fish 4 rods, one on each corner, and run 2 higher than the 2 others. basically in fall these are the best methods and a downline method that involves special gear

1. Fish finder rig http://ultimatefishingsite.net/fish-finder-rig/

Use a 1/2 - 3/4 oz egg sinker on your mainline then tie on a barrel swivel, some use a bead, I generally dont, then tie on your leader, I use 10-14lb floro then to ur hook. My preferred hook is a mosquito owner hook size 2 or 1. I like to hook my herring thru the nostrils sideways or thru the mouth out between the eyes a little forward. This is probably the best all around method year round, especially if the fish are slightly off the bottom or higher when chasing baitballs. *some guys like to use strike guards with their drags set very loose to hear a fish run off. Be careful if this is you, the stripers swallow herring fast and will gut hook easily this way, u will then have to cut ur leader and leave hook in the fish. Strike guards are fine just tend to your rods. I prefer to use baitrunners when fishing this way w a lighter egg sinker*

2. 3-way rig http://www.learninghowtofish.com/med...ayrigwhite.jpg

I use this rig in the fall/winter, and its best when u actually hold it in your hand to feel the bites, the fish cannot run too far with this rig in a holder as they will let go when they feel the weight. I use 3/4 - 1oz ball sinker with a 1-2ft dropper, and I prefer TRUTURN swivels, but reg ones work too. The leader off 3way is 10-14 floro about 3 ft long to a mosquito owner hook size 1 hooked same way as the above fishfinder rig. This is a great fall/winter rig, and often turns up smallies, eyes, etc. too

3. Downline fishfinder rig using a line counter. This is how I fish them mainly. I use a fishfinder rig like I posted but I hook my herring and place rod in holder. I let out enuff line so my egg sinker is touching surface of water. I zero out my linecounter and engage the clicker. I pull out the amount of line I need and i kno my bait is at the right depth. The depth is where Im marking fish OR where I mark the bigger fish in the school, usually below the other fish. i run 1-2 ft above those marks for loose schools or when big schools I run right at the depth to avoid schoolies. I leave the reels in free spool with the clickers on, and I use very light rods. When my fish runs the clicker is usually enuff to set the hook and lets the fish take line til I get to the rod. I crank a few turns to tighten the line and hookset and then i remove the rod from holder and fight the fish. If u grab the rod first and try to set u will lose some fish to runoffs. I use 8-9ft ugly stik downrigger rods in light action and daiwa accudepth 17s for my reels


4. Livelining. Alot of the locals fish using the Liveline method. I do also but as the water gets colder fish relate to the bottom. In summer its great, in fall u usually add a splitshot to keep them lower. Some use loose drags, some use strike guards, I use baitrunner reels in freshwater size by okuma. You can also fish a slip bobber and fish it very deep, or kinda up high, the marks you see on your sonar will advise you as to what works that day.


The extra rods I carry are jiggin rods in long lengths like 7', ML and M action. I run a silver/gold/chartruese Binsky, If I'm In water over 25' I run 3/4. As the water drops to low 50s come Nov. I switch to a jigging rap by rapala, or snaprap on the other rod along w the binsky. Various leadhead jigs and plastic swim jigs work too at times. The jigging rap can work in Oct but usually a blade bait is better, the fish are still active w water in the 60s. When water hits 50s and below the jiggin rap starts to shine

Be prepared for some deeper fishing in mid Oct. I doubt we will mark fish in less than 25ish FOW, they will be in 25-35 mainly and some may venture in 35-45 as well, especially if on bait, they can be literally in the middle of the lake. Herring school up and suspend in the summer months, as the water gets cooler they still do that but also tend to hang lower in the water column, somewhere in the middle is the usual. There will be varied depths, but the schools bottom orient under bait close to the bottom when they are relating to their food, and the fish u see a few feet off the bottom and higher are feeding and will easily grab ur bait and jigs. Its good to jig cause u can trigger inactive fish w a reaction and pass the time in between live bait runoffs, otherwise put the radio on and drink ur coffee and BS while u wait for strikes. Very important to always watch ur sonar, fish will be zipping underneath u all day long, the water will be 60s and fish very active, so if you get on them u need to stay on them, they move quite a bit, side imaging really helps w that aspect knowing which way they are going. Dont be turned off by handfuls of boats in one spot or area, the schools often move quite a bit and you arent out of the game because someone else has the "hot spot". Dont sit too long anchored up in one area, if a half hour or more passes without action, move. Sometimes a small move will get you on feeding fish, sometimes you have to move to a whole new area, if your marking good fish and you got bait and are jigging without a nibble, those fish are taking a nap, find some hungry stripers

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

I'm more than likely in.

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

I'm in with my 2 sons as of right now.can't wait to jigem.

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Me and Craig (screen name Lard Almighty) are in - we'll be teaming up on my boat.

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Wilson will be joining me on my boat....said he'd take pictures while I catch the fish.

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Jimmy, when your using these rigs are you anchored, drifting or trolling and if trolling how fast? My latest rig is four downlines with fish finder rigs, two up front and two off the back corners. The fronts with 1oz and the back with 3/4, it's important to keep the heavier weights up front and the lighter ones in the back to keep from tangling,the lighter weights will swing away keeping more distance between the lines, may have to increase the weight a little to fish deeper then my usual 10 or 12 ft. I use fairly long leaders around 5 ft, 12# mono main , a 10# floro leader, and 1 or 1/o red wide gap finesse Gamakatsu. I also run a planer out each side also with a fish finder rig. I don't have line counters so I tie a bobber stop at a given distance from the weight to help with keeping track of how deep they are and try to fish them in relation to where I mark the fish, much like you or fish them at mixed depths to hunt for feeding fish. I slow troll this setup anywhere from a 1/2 to 1 1/2 mph, weaving the boat and varying the speed to keep the baits rising and falling and of coarse use herring for bait usually hooked as close to the back of the head as possible. Jigging for stripes or anything for that matter will be new to me so all the rigs and tips are very much appreciated appreciated. There are a lot of ways to skin a cat or catch a striper, lets hear some more. Ya have to give a little to get a little.:) Would love to catch a nice walleye, my pb so far is about a ft and I would love to improve on that.

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Did I mention the fee..... JK

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Flatcreek i dont own an anchor. I have terrova's w ipilot on both boats so i use spotlock when i downline. I find fish either with side imaging or regular 2d sonar and hover over them. The terrova has gps in the head and i stay in a 10-15ft circle above my marks and fish them that way. I do the same using 3way rigs too. The little bit of movement usually helps trigger a strike actually. U could do the same backtrolling, anchored, or using a trolling motor. I use gps on the chartplotter and mark waypoints so i never guess where i marked thenfish. I also search like u do w 4 lines on corners but thats only when im close to fish. If im in full search mode i either run and gun without lines in the water or i slow troll herring. My trollin is 3 line out back using #8 gammi trebles. Nose hook a herring behind the nostril and let out 60 or so ft of line. Then an offshore snap weight w usually 2oz sometimes 3oz in deep water and i use the precision trolling table chart to set my depths using my speed. I like exactly 1mph i lock it in using cruise control on the ipilot so it compensates for wind and waves automatically. Deep line in the middle and the medium and high lines on the corners. 99% of my big eyes and stripes come this way. Even in summer the herring are deep and suspended and the gamefish arent far behind. I use 12#trilene from bulk spools and segaur 15# floro leaders usually 6ft or so off a swivel between. When slow moving downlines i may use 1oz even 1.5 and 2oz if im 30ft plus depths. All depends on what im seeing on the screens. When i fish planers and searching i vary each depth w the deepest closest to the boat. I use linecounters and stagger 5 ft on each board and then same on the boats downlines for 6 rods total. I only do 6 rods in the reservoirs where i can get returns on side imaging otherwise its too much work w the weeds clearing lines especially at lakes like LH. I use my electric to troll so i dont need the spread to keep lines from noise i need it to run that many lines. If a certain depth or system keeps getting hit imswitch them all over to that except 1 line. I always run a deep line hugging bottom thats where the lunkers usually come from.
If ur looking to target eyes u need to run spinner rigs w worms on bottom or search for bigger bottom marks and fish 3way rigs and jig the binsky and/or jiggin raps etc otherwise they just come w sum luck. In fall theres always a few guys pullin nice muskies and eyes while targeting wipers. They are all eating one thing trying to fatten up for the ice season.........herring

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Funny jimmy we do things different but in a lot way way somewhat the same and on different budgets for sure. I went from four planers and a down rigger to the four downlines and two planners so I can turn tighter and stay on the fish much like you hoover on them. I also mark the spot when I hit the fish, I just use a marker buoy instead of a way-point on the gps. (way-point on gps is way above my pay-grade) I then just keep turning on the buoy and try to keep track of where they move with sonar. It's near impossible to find the same spot in the middle of a lake without a marker of some sort. I have used way-points, but find chucking the buoy like a grenade when a fish hits is more fun for me and simpler. Wait I think I just hit on a new technique. (anybody got any grenades):D

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

BTW, the charter deposit is due :D

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Jimmy - Curiosity question - I've never tried the snap weights but do you have a preference for them over downriggers and if so, why?

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

I do have a preference and its just ease of use and space in the boat. I know alot of guys dont troll, but when u start getting the hang of it theres nothing else that produces fish. I usually start run and gunning spots/areas and then I set out trolling rods unless I find good marks I wanna downline on. I have a dozen of the same rod setups for downline/trolling and a set for planer boards, so I can switch very fast without re-tieing any lines, takes me more time to get them out of the rod rack.

Once u learn how to read ur depths and have confidence in ur delivery, theres no need for downriggers unless you are fishing 30ft plus, even then divers/tadpoles/etc can be VERY accurate. I dont see the need to use downriggers and the fuss that comes with them to fish 10-20ft down, I can do that very easy w snap weights or trip divers. The only advantage to downriggers is the lead lengths, and thats where they shine. Say Im fishing tight turns in snaggy stuff, I have to let out 60ft or so of line to get down 30ft w a snap weight at 1mph, and I may have 60ft of line behind the snap weight, so Im in essence 90ft behind my rod holder if you account for the angle of depth approx 45degrees for your line. With a downrigger, I can be straight up and down to the ball and have whatever line I want as the trailer behind the ball, or even stack the line onto the cable. This is rare for me, so I rarely use teh riggeres except in RV and MC where Im fishing at least one side deep for lakers. Another easy way and cheap is leadcore line, also very easy to run and monitor depths. If you dont have confidence get precision trolling by Mark Romanack, its the bible. They have an app too for smartphones, has it all, lures, snap weights, leadcore, 50/50 method, 20plus method, etc. I have tested most of my methods in basins around 25-30ft and its dead accurate. I started expirimenting and I picked a species and style and fished just that for the day, good or bad results. Didnt take long to build confidence, especially when u test ur theory in a sand basin and u hit bottom exactly where u think it will, the rest is up to the fish and your presentation, depth control is half the battle

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

totally agree Phil, its just a little tweak to the same idea and style. I saw most of the guys down there with downriggers fishing 15ft and higher,and just see no need for it, much easier ways in my opinion. Some of the guys that hammer them up here in LH have a ratty old tin and a dinosaur motor, they prob laugh when they see me go by and call me a fool......And yeah u dont need all the crap I got, Im just lazy and dont wanna deal with an anchor or throwing markers, I just wanna fish and relax. Hell Im ready to just build a little pond and stock it so I dont have to get in my truck and launch a boat anymore LOL

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

I'll be there ready to WHOOP some A$$ FASTEDDIE STYLE! YEA BUDDY!!!!!:D

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Amped for this. Had a blast last year using some of jimmys mentioned three way and downline methods on dales boat. Windy as hell and we still managed about 8 wipers anchored up. We saw guys using livers kinda like they were drop shotting... slaying! Jimmy, any thoughts on what they were doing exactly? There was three boats almost rafting and just pounding fish. Dale and I were right outside of them marking fish but only had a pick using herring.

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Some of the foreigners use chicken livers in the fall just like u were catfishing, they use them on fishfinder rigs. I personally hate the smell and mess of them, I'd have to be desperate to use them haha. The wipers bottom orient in the fall, they will pick up bait off the bottom, some days I hear dead herring work better, and I guess the chicken livers give off a good smell. There are guys using them now already from what I hear, so they must work. I dont own an anchor and dont really wanna sit in one spot long, so not my style, but feel free to bring some and try em out. I do well with my style and methods, no need to complicate things. Eddie and I fished my boat last year and were high hooks for the day, 90% of our fish came 1 foot off bottom, we sat on a school of herring for an hour w fish all over without a bite on herring or binskys. U never know what the weather and sky will bring you, this year cloudy and especially rainy/misty days have been killer, blue bird skies have been lousy this year

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

They're pretty nasty lol... I'm not interested in using them. I was just curious about their technique. Their rigs looked like drop shot rigs or 3-4" dropper loops like 6-12" above the sinkers.

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Hey ZIP IT THERE BUDDY!!!!!
I'll keep it all to myself!!!!!
STOKED for the Big EXTRAVAGANZA!!!!!!:D

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

I am def in with my cousin again. Time to get all my materials and poles ready. I'm so pumped!

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Ok boys I'm out for this one unfortunately....Hoping the schedule will change by some miracle between now and then but it ain't likely. Besides I'm still wiped out from all of the Salmon and Steelhead I didn't catch last weekend! HA! I definitely proved who the worst fisherman on this site is without question there! Not even a tap let alone a hook up. :eek: I suck at this fishing stuff for sure...but I still love it...is that bad??? Maybe I should seek professional help!!! :D

Have a great time (like that's even a question) best of luck to all and be safe out there you maniacs.

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Let's get this thing going here! WHO'S IN??? There's no better opportunity to learn how to catch fall Hybrids than this one. You wana learn some tip and tricks from the BEST! You can't miss this event! C'mon boys, this is a great time right here. YEA BUDDY!!!!:D

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

I don't consider myself "The Best" but more like "Pretty Damn Good" !!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Gettin to be that time Fall is here!!!
Hopefully Mother Nature is good to us that day!!!!
Last year I think almost everyone that showed up caught at least one!!!
We will see what this year brings!!!

Any of you guys who never fished the Big Pond or for Hybrids this IS a prime opportunity to experience it for yourself!!!

Hook a Beast and you won't wanna fish for anything else ever again!!!!

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

As bad as i wanna go im gonna have to bail on this one ill be chasing steelheads that whole week, catch em up fellas!

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Went up Sunday with dale on a prelim trip for the m+g. We marked tons of fish and lots of bait from 25 to35 ft in around 40 ft of water. We didn't have a lot of luck, hooked a couple. Just don't think they were interested in our slow trolled herring. We probably should of tried jigging some blades but it's hard for us old trollers to change our ways. I heard they have been having some luck jigging them at another lake so I think jigging time is here and we will be in prime time jigging for the m+g. Got me wanting to go back armed for jigging, think they need that action to intice them into hitting. Going to see on the 26th if I don't get out sooner.

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Almost GO TIME !!!!!! Hoping for another great day!!!
Hey don't forget the day before last year Jimmy and myself fished and Jimmy caught ONE BIG EYE and that was it for the day so don't get down based on the reports

It's gonna Bust Open any day!!!!!!

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

I'm lovin the positivity poppa bear! I'm amped for this. Hopefully it's better than it was this past Monday. Rough going with one 15" waldo, pickerel, and assorted pan fish. Nada on herring too... Everything was pretty much jigged up.

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Jimmy - what's the SOP for the M&G, get herring at Dows before we launch or launch and then motor over there for some (I think they still open at 6AM in Oct but I don't remember).

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Last yr a lot of us motored over after we launched...

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

All depends on when guys get there. Last year we all launched and BS'd at lees and then headed over to get bait and fish. Im think some guys wont even get bait and just go jig, not everyone is a bait fisherman, but should be haha. I get there in the dark when I fish so I may just shoot over and get mine, we'll play it by ear. We got a late start like after 7am last year but its still dark at 630. Im gonna pre-fish it sat. and mark spots on photocopied maps for everyone, last year at one point we all fished one spot and the ball busting was endless haha

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Anyone coming to this thing? One week away ya buncha HOOLIGANS! Come one, come all, let's see if someone can get a 10 lber!!! YEA BUDDY!!!:D

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

I was there yesterday, took Jimmies advice and locations. Caught em trolling and jigging, biggest about 8 on the troll. See ya Sunday. First time fishing for them.

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

I can not wait! One week left!!

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Ran a warm up session with dale yesterday on spruce. We're amped up for this wknd!

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

I have an empty boat if somebody needs a ride.

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

I'll be there and Wilson will be floating with me.

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Yes he will:eek:

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

So bummed I'm missing out this weekend. Catch em up guys! Looking forward to the reports...and antics!!!!

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Ditto.....Still trying to make it happen but not likely.

Re: Hybrid M+G 10/26 on LH
 

Change your plans and get your lil butts to Lees marina this Sunday at 630 am. No excuses unless you have kids or a kid that are involved in sports and stuff. Finally got my 25hp Mercury running yesterday. Ran her for about an hour smiling from ear to ear. It's the first time the old girl has started up since May of this year. I can't wait to get out there! Weather looks good thus far! Let's whoop some Hybrid ARSE!!!!! YEA BUDDY!!!!!!!!:D