With the KDFWR’s stocking efforts, anglers are reaping the benefits. Many of these stocked waters are providing hot hybrid action right now!

HERRINGTON LAKE
KDFWR biologist Kerry Prather says, that based on recent sampling efforts, Herrington Lake has shown some improvement. Last year, Herrington Lake scored out with a “fair” rating for hybrids. The 2008 assessment, based on sampling done during the fall of 2007, has resulted in a “good” rating. Prather says that while sampling last fall, they collected 111 hybrids.

“Generally, we caught more hybrids in 2007 than in recent years, which is encouraging. We hadn’t done as well over the last few years.”

Most of the fish collected were in the 15- to 16-inch range, although Prather says there was a “good blurb” of fish up to 23 inches.

The bulk of these hybrids were 15 to 16 inches long. By this time of year, they should have grown a couple of inches. A conservative estimate would now put that group of fish up around 3 to 4 pounds.

Hybrids grow fast at Herrington Lake and can put on a couple of inches in short order.

One of the main reasons is the excellent forage base available in the form of both threadfin and gizzard shad. It’s unusual for a lake in this part of the state to contain both species of shad.

Prather says that since around 1999, Herrington Lake has been part of the hybrid-stocking program. The KDFWR stocks hybrids to the tune of about 20 fish per acre per year.

The middle portion of the lake is Prather’s favorite location for hybrid fishing, but he says they can be caught most anywhere. “The fishing is great. You can go from the dam to the headwaters and catch hybrids.”

The area around Quinn Island is a popular place for hybrid anglers. Just upstream from there, Dunn Island is another good choice.

Some anglers prefer to fish around the mouth of Cane Run.

One spot that gets a lot of attention from hybrid anglers is a location known locally as the Hogs Back, a ridge there where two river channels come together.

Actually, it’s where the old river channel makes a big loop. There are rocky points and a lot of diverse habitat, making it one of the most popular fishing locations on the lake.

Herrington Lake has a lot of boat ramps, but many of these ramps are quite steep. Anglers looking for easier access to the lake may want to try the ramp at Chimney Rock.

ROUGH RIVER LAKE
“It is a very good fishery,” says biologist Rob Rold. There are good numbers of fish and good size distribution up to the 20- to 25-inch range.

Rold says he has even heard of anglers catching fish larger than 25 inches, but he hasn’t seen any of that size himself.

Reports have filtered in of hybrid stripers in excess of 12 pounds.

Rold and crew didn’t get to sample the lake last fall because of an early drawdown. The lake was pulled down to winter pool very early so repair work could begin on the dam.

Even though there isn’t recent sampling data to go on, Rold says the fishery is still in great shape.

During the spring, most of the hybrids are in the headwaters areas. Once the lake begins to warm, the fish start going back toward the main lake. Most of the best fishing will be around the main lake points.