Hybrid Striped Bass

While not as widely known as some other Texas hotspots, Oyster Creek and the lower Brazos River offer a decent opportunity to tangle with hybrid striped bass. These fish are stocked in certain Texas reservoirs, and some inevitably migrate downstream into the Brazos. The key to finding them is locating areas with current and baitfish. Focus your efforts around the Highway 6 bridge and any other structure that creates eddies or funnels water. Spring and fall are your best bets, coinciding with shad migrations. A local tactic is to use live shad or swimbaits that mimic their profile. Another tip: early morning and late evening are often the most productive times. Be aware that these fish can be line-shy, so use fluorocarbon leaders. Hybrids in this area tend to run smaller than those in the reservoirs, typically between 2 and 5 pounds, but they're still a blast to catch.