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Hybrid Fishing
Every angler knows that the success of a fishing trip can turn on a dime. Sometimes it’s a shift in the wind, a drop in temperature, a sudden rain or nothing that you can quite put your finger on. But when expert fisherman and Lake Eufaula guide Billy Darby called me the day before our…
In the world of sports the NCAA basketball tournament dominates the month of March. This tournament, tagged “March Madness” steals virtually all of the sporting news and provides basketball zealots with a great deal to talk about. Well, that is all behind us for another year, but the month of April is upon us with…
While it is not an unknown fishery on Seminole, hybrid bass are not a particularly sought-after species there. Known for huge stripers, bass and crappie, the sprawling Florida-Georgia border lake at the confluence of the Flint River, Spring Creek and the Chattahoochee River actually has a large population of hybrids just waiting to be caught. Rob…
Clarks Hill Lake is the largest reservoir in Georgia. At 71,000 acres, it’s a center of outdoor recreation and is one of the best-known lineside fisheries in the state. And well it should be; Ed Bettross is the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division (WRD) fisheries biologist assigned to Clarks Hill, and he has been working cooperatively…
It’s that time of year again; the middle of summer in Georgia. Temperatures are soaring, the humidity is stifling and it is often downright uncomfortable to be outside. For us anglers it can be even worse. The reservoirs are packed with fun seekers on watercraft of virtually every description, and it is often difficult to…
There’s no mistaking it when a hybrid bass or striper hits a live bait. We caught several spotted bass on the live bluebacks we were fishing on downlines and freelines, and the spots seem to like to play with their food. The rod tip might bounce a few times before the indecisive spot really eats.…
For about 18 years, Pat Ratanajantra has fished Lake Allatoona. These days, his reputation on the lake is for being an excellent jigging-spoon fisherman for linesides — white bass, hybrids and stripers. And unlike most fishermen, a jigging spoon is Pat’s go-to bait year round. “Most people associate jigging spoons with wintertime and vertical jigging…
The planer board closest to the boat on the right-hand side had been quietly cutting a wake through the smooth surface of the Little River. Suddenly it lurched backward, then accelerated away in reverse. Steve grabbed the rod from a rod holder and swept back, setting the hook and putting a nice bow in the…
I cast a Lil’ Fishy out onto the end of a narrow, rocky point in Coneross Creek on Lake Hartwell and began a slow retrieve. The white, soft-plastic bait had moved maybe 10 feet when something bumped it. “I just had a hit,” I said to Hartwell fishing guide Steve Crenshaw and his friend Preston…
Lineside fishing guide Greg Beck snatched the rod from the rod holder and reared back to set the hook, but the fish was already gone. Before he could replace the rod, another planer board shuddered on the surface, then surged backwards, signaling a hit on the trailing blueback herring. Greg hurriedly set down the first…
Hybrid Recipes
I love Captain D’s crunchy fish. I’ve learned to duplicate it at home with striped bass thanks to a former Captain D’s cook who gave me the recipe. Here’s my take: 2 pounds striped bass filets 1 tsp garlic powder 1 1/2 tsp paprika 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 2 cups cold water 1 tsp…