Wiper fishing
Morone chrysops x Morone saxatilis. Hybrid cross between a female striped bass and a male white bass, blending traits of both parents.
Wiper fishing uses a large inline spinner or cut shad or shad-imitating cut bait on 6 to 12 lb line, at dawn and at dusk. The wiper is an artificial hybrid with no native range, and USGS records every population as maintained by stocking programs.
Published by Fishypedia · Sources last checked September 19, 2026
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
- Active times
- Dawn and Dusk
- Line
- 6–12 lb
- Hook sizes
- –
- Stocked in
- 3 states
- Peak in NV
- May
Identification
- Hybrid cross between a female striped bass and a male white bass, blending traits of both parents.
- Six to eight dark, broken horizontal stripes over a silver-white body with a dark charcoal to black back.
- Two dorsal fins, the front one with eight to ten sharp spines; slightly heavier-bodied than a pure striped bass.
- Grows fast: about seven pounds by age three, and past 20 pounds by age ten where forage is good.
Sources: wildlife.utah.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , cpw.state.co.us, accessed September 19, 2026 , en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 19, 2026
Top lures
Sized larger than a trout spinner; effective for wipers and largemouth bass alike.
Cast into visible surface-feeding schools chasing baitfish.
Sources: wildlife.utah.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , cpw.state.co.us, accessed September 19, 2026 , en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 19, 2026 , iowadnr.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Top baits
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, accessed September 19, 2026 , ndow.org, accessed September 19, 2026 , iowadnr.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Line & tackle
- Line
- 6–12 lb
- Rod power
- Medium to medium-heavy action spinning or baitcasting rod for a hard-fighting, open-water hybrid
Stocked behavior
The wiper is an artificial hybrid with no native range, and USGS records every population as maintained by stocking programs. Utah stocks it as a working predator, to hold down prey fish that would otherwise overpopulate Minersville, Newcastle and Scofield reservoirs, with a trophy fishery as the upside. Growth is fast, about seven pounds by age three.
Common mistakes
- Using undersized tackle; wipers exhibit greater strength and vitality than either parent species (hybrid vigor).
- Ignoring surface activity; wiper are a schooling fish that can be found busting prey fish on the surface during the summer.
Best time to fish Wiper
Most commonly stocked in May in Nevada, based on 17 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in July in Utah, based on 251 stocking events on record.
Where it's stocked
26 locations shown. Tap a pin for details. · Open this area in Google Maps
Nevada
New Mexico
Utah
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 26.94 lbs | Kevin Treanor | Pueblo Reservoir | 2004 |
| Kentucky | 20.50 lbs | Mark Wilson Louisville, KY | Barren River | 1991 |
| Michigan | 10.75 lbs | – | Kalamazoo River, Allegan County | 1996 |
| Utah | 20 lbs. 12.16 oz. | Mark Brazzeal | Otter Creek Reservoir | 2026 |
| Virginia | 15 lbs. 13 oz. | Don Jessie | Claytor Lake | 2016 |
| Wisconsin | 13 lbs. 14.2 oz. | – | Lake Columbia | 2002 |
Common questions
What lures work for Wiper?
Large inline spinner, a spinner in silver and chartreuse: Sized larger than a trout spinner; effective for wipers and largemouth bass alike. Swimbait, a soft plastic in silver/pearl and chartreuse. Casting spoon, a spoon in silver and chrome: Cast into visible surface-feeding schools chasing baitfish.
What bait works for Wiper?
Cut shad or shad-imitating cut bait. Cut baitfish under a bobber.
How big do Wiper get?
The Colorado record is 26.94 lbs from Pueblo Reservoir in 2004. The Kentucky record is 20.50 lbs from Barren River in 1991. The Utah record is 20 lbs. 12.16 oz. from Otter Creek Reservoir in 2026. 3 more state records are on this page.