Hybrid Action a Breed Apart : The ‘Wiper,’ a Cross Between Striped Bass and White Bass, Adds Special Edge to the Night Fishing on Reopened Corona Lake

When the sun disappeared over the hill, leaving a crescent moon to light the sky, the temperature finally dropped and little Corona Lake came alive.

Schools of tiny shad were jumping out of the water, as if there were a chance for survival on the outside. Larger fish were crashing the surface and taking them in gulps.

Earlier in the day, under a blazing desert sun, lake manager Brad Grieder had said it would be like this, but it was hard to believe. Corona Lake was covered by a thin skin of algae and seemed to be little more than a stagnant pond.

“It happens every day at this time--they run the bluegill and shad around the lake just like a striper would a trout,” Grieder said, casting a small white jig and hooking up almost instantly after each cast, rocking and reeling as the fish he calls “wipers” went absolutely wild after his lure.

“And the funny thing is, nobody knows about it. They’re all fishing for catfish.”

Indeed, it had become apparent on this warm desert evening that this 85-acre irrigation reservoir, located alongside Interstate 15 south of the 91 Freeway in Riverside County, is no ordinary fishery.

After all, who ever heard of going out to catch a wiper?

In truth, there is no such fish. A wiper is merely a cross between a striped bass and white bass, and is more accurately referred to as a hybrid striped bass.

But no matter what they are called, the fish have the qualities of each parent. They look like a striped bass, but have a much smaller mouth. They are strong, like stripers, and quick, like white bass. They are unable to reproduce, though, and fishermen, therefore, are allowed to keep only one.

Corona Lake, which opened June 18 for the first time since 1988--it was closed primarily because of water-level problems associated with drought--is believed to be the only Southland reservoir stocked with hybrid stripers to create a specific fishery.

Santa Ana River Lakes and Anaheim Lake used to have hybrid stripers, but both reservoirs have been drained. Hybrid stripers were put into Corona Lake as sort of an experiment, according to Steve Miller, vice president and general manager of Outdoor Safaris International, which operates concessions at several Southland reservoirs.

Because they are so voracious, chasing down anything they can fit into their little mouths, hybrid stripers are considered a potential threat to other species of fish.

But in Corona Lake, the experiment seems to be working.

The so-called wipers tend to stay in the north end, where there is more open water. The south end is a maze of submerged trees and brush, which provide cover for smaller bait fish and several species of game fish.

Largemouth bass thrive in the structure and, although they aren’t particularly large--the biggest to date is an eight-pounder--they are abundant.

Dale Motsinger, 41, a representative of tackle manufacturer Daiwa’s bass-fishing team, pre-fished Corona Lake several days before the June opener and said 25- to 30-fish days were common, with most fish running two to six pounds.

“The thing about Corona is, you have all this deep structure and you can flip (lures) all day, or you can cast a plastic worm on the structure, or you can reel spinner baits through the trees,” Motsinger said.

He added that he also had field days with four- to six-pound wipers, which “pound for pound beat a largemouth” as far as the fight is concerned.

Bluegills and crappies also thrive in Corona Lake, and light-tackle anglers are fairly assured of catching their fill on a given day.

But throughout the summer, the most popular of all the species in Corona Lake--wipers included--wears a thick gray skin and sports what look like whiskers. Catfish are stocked by the hundreds twice weekly, providing Southland fishermen with almost unparalleled catfish action.

And given that they become most active in the evenings, and that the desert sun has made fishing during the day unbearable if not unproductive, catfish provide an ideal means of recreation for the dozens of fishermen who come to Corona after a hard day at work.

On a recent night, when the wipers were beginning their frenzy at the north end of the lake, most of the boats were at the south end, the fishermen having maneuvered through the maze of trees to find their favorite catfish holes.

Mike Bradshaw, 40, of Riverside, had spent the afternoon fishing from a tiny skiff, filling his stringer with six or seven catfish, the largest going about six pounds.

His largest this summer was nearly 10 pounds.

Not far from Bradshaw were Eden Garcia, 65, and Bob Bunch, 63, both of Riverside. They had arrived for the night bite, as they do two or three times each week--they eat catfish for dinner on the other nights--staying on the lake until it closes at 11.

Garcia had caught a 12-pounder the night before and said he has caught several similar fish in previous trips.

“I lost some big ones too,” he said. “You lose more fish than you catch here because of all these trees. . . . That’s why I use 30-pound test (line).”

Grieder said that although most of the catfish stocked are two- to three-pounders, an occasional giant is thrown in, including a 40-pounder planted earlier this summer.

The largest caught since the reopening of the lake, however, was a 20-pounder that, surprisingly, was caught in the middle of the day in the middle of the lake.

“There’s bigger ones,” Grieder said. “You just can’t get them out (because of so much hidden structure).”

Miller calls Corona Lake his new crown jewel, high praise considering that Outdoor Safaris also has Irvine Lake, which is known for its superb catfish and trout fishing. But then, Miller has plans for Corona, which has limited shore access but is ideal for small boats. Only rowboats and boats with battery-powered trolling motors are allowed, which keeps the lake quiet and calm.

The company bought 550 acres of land surrounding the lake and in January will begin landscaping and the installation of picnic tables and barbecues, Miller said. RV hookups and a campground are planned for the more distant future.

But what has Miller and Grieder really excited are the fishing prospects for this fall. Brown trout in the three- to five-pound class and larger rainbow trout will be heavily stocked before the trout opener Nov. 11.

“The people at the hatchery came out here and told us this would be a tremendous fishery,” Grieder said.

“The lake is only 21 feet deep, so there’s only so many places the fish can go (to hide).”

If they are as easy to catch as the wipers, it should be quite a fall.

CORONA LAKE

Hours are 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., then 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. Lake is closed Monday and Tuesday.

Cost is $11 per person, $9 for seniors and children 12 and under. No fishing license is required.

Rental boats are available, $20 for a full day, $12 for half a day.