Hybrid Stripers a Hot Catch-and-Release Bass

They have the markings of striped bass and the small mouths of white bass. And they have the spunk of both species.

Anglers wanting to discover this for themselves might want to rig up a light rod and cast a jig into Corona Lake, believed to be the Southland’s only hybrid striped bass fishery.

The hybrid stripers, or wipers, as they are called, were planted in the small reservoir two weeks ago and recently began to boil on the surface and attack small jigs. When they’re in such a mood, it is not difficult to hook one after the other.

Problem is, being hybrids, the fish can’t reproduce. Thus only catch-and-release is allowed.