Spruce Run.......Hybrids

[Bicey]

Fished 7am to 12pm...........landed 8 and lost 2. All fish caught on live bait and downriggers @ 10 to 15ft. All fish 21-24" and healthy. Water stained with nice green film on top. Saw a few other fish being caught around me, they seemed to be on bait also. Thermocline not settled in yet but it will be soon. Water sutface temp was 85 to start and ended up at 88°. ETA pic is not worth posting........maybe my phone was overheated? lol

[GetANet]

Sweet, LOVE THE HYBRIDS!!!!! Sounds like you had a pretty active morning doing battle in the HEAT!!!! Nice job

[Jerseydix]

Nice report, hope they continue to bite like that when I finally get up there to Camp.

[Eskimo]

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Tell me about these Hybrid Striped Bass. I do some carp and bass fishing from my kayak at Spruce Run, but I have never hooked up with one of those hybrids.

So people catch them by drifting live bait with a down rigger? Can I freeline live bait or is that too close to the surface?

What happened when this thermocline sets in? Does it improve the fishing by sequestering the fishing to a certain depth or make fishing more difficult?

Do the hybrids ever go in shallow water?

[Bicey]

I troll ....not drifting, with my electric motor. Some guys drift livebait. I would put just enough weight to keep the bait down st the desired depth. I personally like when the thermocline sets in because i know what depth the fish are going to be at. They really stack up when they only have 12 or so feet to live in. I see guys in yaks trolling with no downriggers. I'll give you more info later.

[Fishon1982]

Is there a lot of surface vegetation if for at night trolling

[jimmythegreek]

in 90% of the lake theres no surface weeds, but a rly heavy thermocline, its a reservoir type setup, mostly gravel and rocks. I fished it once last year to no avail on stripers but the thermocline was 11 feet down, never seen anything like it. A poor mans downrigger can be 3+ oz of weight on a deep sea rod and you mark the line before hand to the depth u want, or say 10 feet. that way u can eyeball the + or - u want and use a thin rubberband to set your main line too however back you want. fish hits and rubber band breaks. Or same principal using a 3 way swivel w heavy weight on bottom snap, does the same thing. A nifty way is a jet diver or disk diver, 10 ft is a common size, they keep ur bait down there

[Eskimo]

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Very interesting.

So the most important aspect of finding the stripers is being at the right depth, or would the fish move vertically to strike a bait if they are close?

Would bait below a slip float be effective if the watercraft is moving slow enough?

[Bicey]

Eskimo.....If they are really hot and bothered they will hit anything they see.......no matter depth. When they are not feeding heavily you need to put it close to them. The slip float will work you just have to find them. Most of the battle is finding them and staying on them. They school and they move around a lot. Finding bait helps, but good electronics will help you find them and stay with them.

The thermocline will shrink the strike zone, and then depth isn't the most important factor.

I have trolled schools for hours only picking up one or two.......then all of the sudden they start feeding and you can't keep your lines in the water. Sometimes you have to wait them out.

[GetANet]

Slip floats are an excellent way to present your bait. They can be set at an exact depth which is one of the most critical things when fishing for hybrids.
One of the only setbacks with them is too much wind is NG, makes fishing them rough. I have several size's and shape's to use depending on size of my bait (Usually Herring). Hybrids are a more open water fish which feed on the roaming schools of bait. They move more vertically liking points, humps,
channels and flats sometimes. They aren't usually caught in shallow water except when feeding. Largemouth like different structure and are a mostly shallow water compared to the Hybrids. So try fishing a little deeper in the area's I mentioned. Another tip is early or evening for them is best time. We have several Hybrid Anglers on the site who can give way more info but I hope this helps you some....Once you catch a big one you'll never wanna fish for anything else !!!!! That's why they call em' ROCKETS!!!

[Eskimo]

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Thanks for this great information.

The NJDWF website says they will hit worms and chicken liver fished on the bottom. Does this sound plausible?

I know Striped Bass on the Delaware will occasionally surprise a catfisherman by hitting chicken liver, but hybrid stripers?

Link: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/fish_str_bass_hybrd.htm


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[Mark B.]

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Thanks for this great information.

The NJDWF website says they will hit worms and chicken liver fished on the bottom. Does this sound plausible?

I know Striped Bass on the Delaware will occasionally surprise a catfisherman by hitting chicken liver, but hybrid stripers?

Link: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/fish_str_bass_hybrd.htm


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Yes, anglers using chicken livers, have caught them off the docks by the boat ramp.

[jimmythegreek]

pure strain stripers r suckers for bait on the bottom, clams, chicken livers, anything really. Hybrids are roaming wolf packs, they school sometimes loosely, sometimes rly tight. They may turn on and start blitzing schools of bait and be off in minutes, or seconds sometimes. If you rly wanna target them head to LH, its loaded with them, not even joking they are all over the place. SR is a tuff nut at times, and the 9.9 restriction makes searching tuff if you dont have a good/the right equipment. Another great way to troll for them is umbrella rigs, especially good in the fall when u buzz thru the large bait balls. A simple method is to use herring shaped/sized crankbaits and put as many lines out as manageable and troll different depths. I find 1.5-2 mph the best average speed. If theres a thermocline run one 10-11 ft down, another 7-8 another 4-5 and maybe a floater or plastic paddle tail on top. Watch ur sonar and see where u mark fish and bait. Once u get 1 or 2 switch to that depth and key in on that. Oftem color plays a part too w cranks, either firetigers and bright stuff or natural silvers/golds will be the ticket, they fish will tell u what they want

[Skunk City]

pure strain stripers r suckers for bait on the bottom, clams, chicken livers, anything really. Hybrids are roaming wolf packs, they school sometimes loosely, sometimes rly tight. They may turn on and start blitzing schools of bait and be off in minutes, or seconds sometimes. If you rly wanna target them head to LH, its loaded with them, not even joking they are all over the place. SR is a tuff nut at times, and the 9.9 restriction makes searching tuff if you dont have a good/the right equipment. Another great way to troll for them is umbrella rigs, especially good in the fall when u buzz thru the large bait balls. A simple method is to use herring shaped/sized crankbaits and put as many lines out as manageable and troll different depths. I find 1.5-2 mph the best average speed. If theres a thermocline run one 10-11 ft down, another 7-8 another 4-5 and maybe a floater or plastic paddle tail on top. Watch ur sonar and see where u mark fish and bait. Once u get 1 or 2 switch to that depth and key in on that. Oftem color plays a part too w cranks, either firetigers and bright stuff or natural silvers/golds will be the ticket, they fish will tell u what they want


Good info!

[Fishon1982]

Hey jim Do these hybrids hold on structure or are they roaming fish like trout

[bigfishy]

LH is def the states best location for hybrids, that being said it is just like any other type of fishing...NOTHING and i mean nothing beats time on the water...The more time you can spend on the water, the more dialed in you will be to their daily habits and locations...I have been targeting them in SR fer about ten yrs now and have had gr8 success for the last 6-7 yrs....

Once the herring spawn is over they do alot of roaming and wandering.... Most fish are fat to th point where they don't need to feed all the time....As others have mentioned, they can turn on and off like a light switch....There are times when they will stay in close proximity to bait balls and only feed when the mood strikes them...Somtimes only feeding heavily for minutes or seconds....I have also experienced fish tha stay neer drop offs and wait to ambush passing bait balls... The thermocline has been loosely in place at SR for almost a month....recently it has been setting up shallower and more solid...

Not my favorite time of yr to target them but you can still be very successful
by covering water and sticking to mornings or evenings....

I am very jealous at the size potential for them at LH..It is fairly rare to get them in th 8-10lb. range at SR but seems to be a little more common place at LH... I do know for a fact that quite a few of the 5-7 lbers. are caught and kept every yr at SR which may or may not hve an impact on the amount of largr fish there....

I know its thought and or proven to be impossible, but i believe that they are somehow reproducing in SR.....I could be totally wrong but as far as i know, they have not been stocked there in the last 3-5yrs...If anyone knows otherwise pls p.m. me...The last two yrs i have caught a decent amount in the 4-8" size, which tells me that nature has found a way...

Good luck to all and pls limit your kill, don't kill ur limit:D

[ChaosStarter]

I know its thought and or proven to be impossible, but i believe that they are somehow reproducing in SR.....I could be totally wrong but as far as i know, they have not been stocked there in the last 3-5yrs...If anyone knows otherwise pls p.m. me...The last two yrs i have caught a decent amount in the 4-8" size, which tells me that nature has found a way...



Not true. Here's the 2012 stocking summary for hybrids:
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/pdf/2013/htown_stocking_hsb12.pdf

On average, about 10-14k each year for the last 5 years.

[bigfishy]

Thank you!!! that puts that theory to rest...:)

Can you post the home page that ur link came from? thanks

[bigfishy]

Many yrs ago manasquan was the only place where i could find enormous hybrid blitzes....Like surface blitzes that were at times 100 yrds around, with alot of fish in the 3-5 lb range....Been hearing mixed reveiws in the last few yrs...as if the population is on a serious decline....Hard to believe with that stocking report....

Anybody targeting them at the squan in the last few yrs?? pls p.m. me for info swapping... willing to share info of any kind in return

[jimmythegreek]

Hey jim Do these hybrids hold on structure or are they roaming fish like trout

they do both bro. depends on the time of year and day. Usually during the day they will be on main lake points, they like to have shallow and deep water nearby on both sides. Last few weeks on LH its been 20-25 FOW and they are either chillin close to the bottom OR u will find them below and off to the sides of bait just hangin close by. Kinda lazy feeding, if they see a baitfish stray or injured they will slurp him up, otherwise they just follow. Catching one out of a school sometimes turns them on, they think others are feeding and they start to feed to sometimes on the pukings of the one caught. On LH they are big time nocturnal, they come up higher in water column to feed and also will hit topwater stuff. Mornings and evenings this time of year I search for bait and marks and if I see a few close to bottom and bait around its 99% of the time hybrids and I setup fishfinder rigs w 1/2 oz weight and 24" leader and fish on the bottom or within 2-3 ft of it with herring. Once the thermocline sets up in LH they will be shallow where they can hug the bottom outside of the thermocline zone, usually 20ft or less OR they will roam open water above the thermocline just looking for bait balls. They like to sit right in or on top of the thermocline when they are out there, cooler water and plenty of O2 in the water. This is when u can buzz them w umbrella rigs or anything flashy 1-2 ft above them and they reaction bite pretty well. Fishing bait is tricky in the thermocline, too deep and ur herring dies in 30 seconds, live lining is good cause the herring will stay up high or right in the thermocline and u just drift them waiting for the wolf pack to come by.

[Bicey]

Bigfishy.....I've been wondering about manasquan too. I was working near there for awhile in the fall. I would stop by there on my way home and one day I saw the biggest feeding frenzy of my life. Had to be a hundred feet wide with the gulls jumping in on the action. I think I'm gonna make a trip there.

I really want to try LH......anyone wanna offer a ride along? I'll reciprocate a trip SR.

[GetANet]

Wolf Pack , I like that!!!!!

[GetANet]

I fish them both SR and LH so I'm game to go with anybody !!!! LEMME KNOW!!!!! Daytime/ nighttime anytime is the right time!!!!!

[Fishon1982]

Jimmy fantastic info thank you

[Eskimo]

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This has all been some fantastic information. Thank you.

I think this thread is worthy of a place in the 'Best of NJ fishing" section once we're done adding to it.


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[Gerry Zagorski]

Good stuff... Someone please send me a PM when this post has played out and I will move it over to best of.

[Bicey]

Where do you guys launch your boats from at LH?

[jimmythegreek]

I keep my bigger boat in the water at a buddys house on the lake but I use Lees county park and so does 99% of the people on here. its off howard blvd thres an exit right off rt80. and u cant miss it its huge. after hours or early/late theres a courtesy box u leave ur $$ in and drop the envelope.

[Jerseydix]

Bigfishy.....I've been wondering about manasquan too. I was working near there for awhile in the fall. I would stop by there on my way home and one day I saw the biggest feeding frenzy of my life. Had to be a hundred feet wide with the gulls jumping in on the action. I think I'm gonna make a trip there.

I really want to try LH......anyone wanna offer a ride along? I'll reciprocate a trip SR.

I fish Squan often, haven't witnessed any blitzes like this in a few years. There used to be tons of bait balls all over the Reservoir usually with gamefish trailing them. Not lately

[bigfishy]

I fish Squan often, haven't witnessed any blitzes like this in a few years. There used to be tons of bait balls all over the Reservoir usually with gamefish trailing them. Not lately


Thanks fer the info....Pretty consistentwith what i've heard over the last few yrs....Were you targeting silver? or just green and brown??

[Bicey]

I keep my bigger boat in the water at a buddys house on the lake but I use Lees county park and so does 99% of the people on here. its off howard blvd thres an exit right off rt80. and u cant miss it its huge. after hours or early/late theres a courtesy box u leave ur $$ in and drop the envelope.

Thanks bro, I was thinking that lees would be best.

[jimmythegreek]

no prob man. on a side note if you end up fishing LH have a backup plan for the trolling/downrigger setup. Its gonna be tuff to troll w all the weeds this year. Early season is the only time u can rly do it efficiently, its not like the reservoirs or sheds, the big boats tear up the weeds goin in and out of their marinas/spots and u get TONS of surface floaters in big clumps. 90% of the guys either liveline or or fishfinder rig herring either anchored or drifted, myself included. The only way I troll is to tie off a dropper loop w a rubber band on ur main line or use a rly long leader off a swivel and rubber band that, will keep the weeds runnin down ur line off the lure and buy u wome time before u gotta check it........good luck

[Bicey]

Thanks man.......good lookin out. I have heard the weeds can be brutal there. If you ever decide to try SR let me know.