The tendency of hybrid striped bass to suspend is a problem for most anglers because many hybrid fishermen were black bass fishermen first. Largemouth rarely suspend, and when they do, they're tough to catch. To catch suspended hybrids, these anglers typically drift over or anchor on a spot and present baits vertically. While these methods work, they're often not the most efficient way to put numbers of fish in the boat. Leadline trolling is efficient and will work wherever hybrids are found.

Tackle

 

Rods: 6 1/2- to 7 1/2-foot medium-power casting rod with a soft tip section.

Reel: large-capacity baitcasting reel.

Line: 18-pound-test leadcore main line and a 12-foot 10-pound-test mono leader.

 

Rigging

Leadcore line is lead wire surrounded by dacron line. It comes in 100-yard spools and each 10-yard segment is marked with a different color. The size and weight of lures has little affect on running depth because the weight of the lead is dominant over the buoyancy or diving tendencies of lures. At slow speeds, lures can be trolled as deep as 50 feet, but the practical limit to leadcore is between 10 and 40 feet. If fish are closer to the surface, mono works better; if they're deeper, downriggers are more efficient.

Location

Once water temperatures rise into the 50¡F range in spring, hybrid stripers typically gather around the mouths of tributaries, staging before their spawning run. Although hybrids are sterile, they retain the urge to migrate upstream to spawn. Before they head upstream, however, they're vulnerable to leadline trolling. In reservoirs without running tributaries, hybrids mill around in the mouths of bays and off points, often suspending 15 to 30 feet down over water 50 or more feet deep. After their false spawn, most hybrids return to the lower ends of reservoirs and form groups off points, over creek channels, or along bluffs. Distinct structural elements often continue to produce fish through late fall.

Presentation

Using a foot-controlled bowmount trolling motor to follow depth contours leaves both hands free to set rods, adjust lines, and fight fish. For two anglers each using a pair of rods, position the two forward rod holders perpendicular and parallel to the water. The rear rod holders should point straight back at a slight upward angle. This configuration allows different baits to be set at different depths without snagging. Once lines are set, the bow man guides the boat through known concentrations of fish. Or he makes S-turns across contours while watching for fish on sonar. Leadcore lines track well and rarely tangle, even on tight turns.