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Went to Willard and caught my first Striper/Wiper.
What is the difference between a Striper and a Wiper? What are the ones in Willard officially called?
Also, just after I released that fish I cast again and my lure was SLAMMED HARD by another fish. It took about 10 minutes to get him in (on 6lb test). And to my suprise it was the ugliest fish I had ever seen...a huge carp! I have never caught a carp before by using a lure. Do they usually hit lures? (Kastmaster).
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[cool]Yes, carp even hit lures. A wiper is a hybrid of the striped bass and a white bass. In other words, it's half white bass and half striped bass, and cannot reproduce, so the DWR puts them in Willard besides the fact that they are an awesome fighting fish and great eating, they can control the #'s of fish this way. Congrats on your catch, and good luck on the next trip out there. I think I'm going to float the north marina soon as the wipers are coming in there now as well as the 'eyes and crappies.
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Often a carp will accidentally get in the way and get snagged in the belly, fin, tail, etc. as well. Did you hook him in the mouth?
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Yep, in the mouth. It was easy to tell that he actually "took" the lure...it was no snag. I have snagged them before in the belly, etc. That is why I was so surprised when I saw the lure in his mouth.
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Yeah, I've caught carp on jigs up at Pineview in the spring while fishing for smallmouth. I've also caught them fishing with grubs down at Lake Powell. It seems like the carp I've caught, in the mouth anyways, have come in the spring. This is usually when they are spawning so its possible they are just more aggressive then. I've hooked a ton in the back, tail, etc. which makes a 5lb fish feel like a 10lber. Still fun though!
Wipers were stocked in Willard because they are a great open water predator, are hybrid/sterile crosses that grow very fast, and because they are relatively easy and inexpensive to raise. The state raises them in Wahweap Hatchery located about 10 miles from Lake Powell. The first wipers were stocked in Willard in 1994, about 4 years after the gizzard shad. As many as 420,000 fry have been stocked on an annual basis since 1994, and it has provided an overwhelming quality fishery that is beginning to get regional exposure.
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I have caught a dozen carp, in the mouth, out of Willard Bay casting a rapala. In fact the first fish I ever caught at the Bay was a ten pound carp. caught it casting in the north marina waiting for my dad to park the truck and trailer.
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