After the shad start adding some size, anglers will start having success fishing “the jumps.” This will usually be around middle to late June.

Fishing the jumps can sometimes be tricky because the fish are often really scattered. They can be found from the dam down to where Panther Creek comes in.

When fishing the jumps, most people will throw topwater baits. Baits that make some noise will typically outperform others similar lures.

Rold says that a lot of local anglers will also tie on a crappie jig or popping jig behind the topwater lure.

He says that the fish in the jumps tend to school up in like-sized groups. Almost all of the fish in a particular jump will be around the same size, so if they’re not what an angler’s looking for, it’s time to move to another location.

Other popular baits for catching hybrids include night crawlers, chicken livers, or cut bait. Other folks prefer to troll with medium- to deep-running crankbaits.

Trolling works well around the islands near the mouth of Cave Creek. Other good areas for hybrids include the Indian Valley area, Panther Creek area, and the mouth of Tules Creek.

FISHTRAP LAKE
Catching hybrids is no big task at Fishtrap Lake. An ample fishery and good size distribution makes this a highly sought-after species at this eastern reservoir. Anglers typically do very well all year long.

“The hybrid striped bass fishery is continuing to be very good,” says fisheries biologist Kevin Frey.

“Indeed, it has received good marks from the KDFWR for several years, and sampling continues to yield positive results.”

Frey says the most recent sampling showed good numbers of fish through 25 inches. The biologist says anglers also occasionally catch fish in the 26- to 28-inch range.

The health of the hybrids is good as well. Hybrids of 23 inches and longer usually weigh between 7 and 10 pounds. There have been verified catches from Fishtrap of hybrids that weighed up to 15 pounds.

The fish are congregated during the months while the lake is at winter pool. This period is usually from around the first of December until around the end of March. That’s a great time to find higher numbers of fish in a smaller area of the lake.

By now, however, the hybrids have spread out more and are more difficult to locate. The best fishing comes from open water and limits most success to anglers with boats.

As the weather continues to warm, look for hybrids in the jumps out on the main lake. Getting in a position to cast to them is sometimes frustrating, but when it happens, the action can be hot and heavy.

Frey says the fish in the jumps will “hit about anything.” Try casting surface plugs or minnow-imitating lures.

Other anglers prefer to fish for hybrids that suspend under schools of shad. This can be accomplished by trolling shad-imitating baits.

Vertical jigging or using live or cut bait can also be very effective on suspended fish.

During the summer, some of these fish will migrate up the Levisa Fork River. This is one of the few locations on the lake where shore-bound anglers can find some success on hybrids.

The boat ramps at the Fishtrap Marina and Grapevine Recreation Area require a small daily user fee. Seasonal passes are also available. The boat ramp at the Lick Creek Recreation Area is free.