Wipers—a hybrid fish between a male white bass and female striped bass—are quickly gaining a reputation as one of the hardest hitting, strongest-fighting warm-water game fish in the country. And it is now, from the end of April into mid-May and early June, that many wipers head to the creek inlets and points of our Heartland Lakes and reservoirs in order to feed on baitfish and shock anglers with their speed and power.

Wipers were first introduced into many parts of the country—Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska in particular—in the late 1970s. But it wasn’t until recent years that they’ve become the target of many flyfishers who’ve discovered the fish’s willingness to attack popular saltwater fly patterns like the clouser minnow.
The idea with their introduction was to mix a relatively small bass–the white bass–with a relatively big one: the saltwater striper. The result is a fish that combines the power of one with the fast-growth of the other to provide a  great sport and one that helps control the population of shad in many Mid-America reservoirs.
While not easy to catch, wipers get big (the world record is currently 27 pounds, 5 ounces), and they provide as much power per pound as any freshwater fish.