Hello all, I’ve fished creeks and small rivers for smallmouth for the majority of my life, and as of recent, I’ve gotten the urge to fish the local locks and dam on the Kanawha River in West Virginia. I would like to target some hybrid stripers and some other fish that could be swimming around, as I’ve never caught really anything other than smallmouth. So my question is what rod and reel setup would be best, and what lures/baits would you all recommend throwing? Thanks!

in my circle of buds.  the leadhead with a swimbait bait/fluke is the undisputed hybrid catcher.  those guys get in the water with waders and get into turbulent water being whipped (by wind) up into waves.  they cast into the wind, targeting the dirty water. 

 

they kill the hybrids.  having said that, they feel distance is king.  they use fast action 7' spinning rods.   the wind backlash is for real.  

 

but, I bet your smallie rig is perfectly fine.   my friends are not gear heads.  they just fish.  heck, I just taught a few of them to cast bait casters.  grown humans too!

I went yesterday here in Missouri on the James to dam . We have really low water and waded out . Got some spots on a Fluke and a Zoom brush craw T rigged. I always use  7 ft spinning rod and a 2500 size reel and 8 to 10 test. Works all year. I use a Baitcast setup when they start hitting on top . Also the Wacky Worm is a killer 

Big fan of fluke, glide bait, Jerkbait, lipless crankbait, buzzbait, frog, jig and swimbait at spillways.