Information About Hybrid Bass
Hybrid bass, also referred to as striped bass, or "wipers," made their first appearance in the United States in the late 1980s, according to Mississippi State University. Hybrids combine two species that do not normally mix naturally, the striped bass and the white bass. Since the hybrid is more adaptable to water temperature and lower oxygen levels in water, they provide options to stock a lake where other fish may not thrive.
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Appearance
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The hybrid bass looks like a combination of the white and striped bass from which it was formed. The wiper's back is typically dark blue or black. The sides are generally silver and it has a white underside. Broken lines along its side form a "W" pattern. The hybrid, like it's striped parent, sports two patches of teeth on its tongue. The white bass generally only has one such patch. The hybrid averages 5 to 10 lbs., while it can reach up to 20 lbs.
Production
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Production of hybrid bass takes place primarily at hatcheries in the South, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas, Florida, Louisiana and South Carolina typically produce the largest number of hybrid bass. Other states purchase the hybrids for lake-stocking purposes. The hybrids are useful for thinning a high population of shad.
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Continuation of the Species
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Hybrid bass find it very difficult to reproduce naturally. To avoid the extinction of the species, they require a little help. Workers at the hatcheries fertilize eggs from female white bass with sperm from the male striped bass. Any hybrids that are born naturally tend to be weak or malformed. This difficulty in reproduction provides lake management with precise control over the hybrid population.
How to Catch
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Hybrid bass can be found in various locations, depending on the terrain of the lake in which they live. They might be found in flat areas, or on craggy, rocky terrain near a dam. The best times to catch a hybrid are just before sunup and just after sundown. They tend to react best to artificial lures that resemble gizzard shad, their primary food source. Live baits, such as night crawlers have also met with success.
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