Finally my first (and second) Hybrid!

[logs22]

It took two years but I finally caught my first (and second) Hybrid at Spruce Run this past weekend. I was headed to the lake to check on my boat (I store it at SR) and to clean it up in anticipation of listing it for sale. As I always do, I stopped at one of the lots on Van Syckles Rd. To take a few casts before the long drive back to the launch. It was late, a little after midnight, and after casting a Senko for a while without a bite I decided to switch to a crank bait. It turned out to be the right call, on my second cast with the crank and I hooked into something that fought harder than I had ever experienced. I was only using 8 lb test (and had actually lost a nice bass earlier in the day due to a snapped line) so I loosened the drag a bit and decided to do my best to control the fish while it tired itself out. Eventually I got the fish close to the bank and when I saw it was my first hybrid I decided to just jump in and not risk a broken line trying to lift the fish onto dry land.

It was a beauty, about 21-22” and super fat, it weighed 6.5 lbs. I had some difficulty with a deeply embedded treble hook and was a little worried that the fish would not recover, but after literally almost 10 minutes reviving her without any sign of life, all of a sudden I am soaked by a big splash and then I watched my first Hybrid swim away looking no worse for wear. Two casts later I hooked a second hybrid, I guess when it rains it pours! This one was actually longer, 23”, but much thinner. I didn’t bother to weigh the second fish.

Pretty Ironic that after storing my boat at SR for two seasons, and just when I am about to sell it, I manage to finally hook a hybrid and its not even from my boat! At least it makes me feel better about getting rid of the thing. It’s been a good 2 years on the Spruce, I can’t complain - that lake gave me my PB largemouth and (at the time) PB smallmouth as well as my first and only Pike. It also provided more skunks then I care to remember:-)