photo-Rick Como photo-Rick

Shenango River Lake’s Temperate Basses

inches long. My largest Shenango River Lake hybrid to date is 34 by Darl Black inches, weighing 20 pounds,” said Como. According to Timothy Wilson, Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission’s (PFBC’s) Area 1 Fisheries Manager, Shenango Living in northwestern Pennsylvania, I have observed Shenango River Lake was originally stocked with purebred River Lake, Mercer County, undergo significant shifts in “great between 1976 and 1985, but returns were low. Stocking of hybrids fishing” for several species. began in 1986. First was a Northern Pike explosion when the lake was “Hybrids have been successful, because they can tolerate initially impounded in the mid-1960s, followed by a fantastic the warmer temperatures of Shenango River Lake better than population of in the 1970s and early 1980s, purebred Striped Bass. As aggressive predators, they utilize just then outstanding Walleye and crappie fishing, including a state about any forage base. They survive best and grow fastest when record crappie in the late 1980s. schooling pelagic forage like Gizzard Shad and Alewives are Today, two members of the temperate basses are making present, but they can utilize Bluegills, Yellow Perch or crappies as headlines at Shenango River Lake. well,” said Wilson. “Shenango River Lake’s hybrid Striped Bass and White Bass Shenango River Lake White Bass are self-sustaining, meaning provide incredible action when other species go on summer they successfully reproduce in the system on their own. None are hiatus,” said local angler, Rick Como, who moved to Sharpsville, stocked. However, as a hatchery cross between a White Bass and Mercer County, upon retirement, so he would be within minutes purebred Striped Bass, hybrid Stiped Bass cannot reproduce and of Shenango River Lake. must be stocked. Como has been chasing hybrid Striped Bass for over 25 Hybrid Striped Bass are not raised in Pennsylvania Fish & Boat years—first on Lake Arthur, Butler County, then on Shenango Commission hatcheries. Instead, fingerlings are obtained from River Lake. Shenango River Lake has a huge population of White other states. The fishery plan calls for a stocking density of five Bass in addition to larger hybrids, along with good populations of fingerlings per acre, annually. However, occasionally that target Northern Pike and other gamefish. Many Shenango River Lake density is not met because a sufficient number of fingerling hybrid hybrids are 26- to 27-inches long, and some fish are about 30 Striped Bass are not available.

10 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • July/August 2017 www.gonefishingpa.com Fish identification It is very important to be able to identify the difference between White Bass and hybrid Striped Bass, because these bass have different minimum length and creel limits. Hybrid Striped Bass have a 20-inch minimum length limit and a 2 fish per day creel limit while White Bass have no minimum length limit and are combined with other panfish species photo-Darl Black photo-Darl in a 50 fish per day creel limit. White Bass have 5 to 9 rows Como fishes with two rods, often holding one and keeping the of thin, parallel stripes along the sides—often with small other in a rod holder. sections that are interrupted, intermittent or veering. Hybrid Striped Bass have 7 to 8 rows of thick, dark parallel stripes “Our trap net catches of hybrid Striped Bass have fluctuated that are often interrupted or broken. By sticking your finger over the years, but our last two surveys (2010 and 2014) have in the fish’s mouth, you can feel for the rough tooth patch on been better than average,” said Wilson. “We have seen very good the tongue. White Bass have one tooth patch. Striped Bass numbers overall with wide size distribution, so it appears that the and hybrid Striped Bass have two tooth patches. survival of stocked fingerlings has been good most years.” Based on scale analysis, in Shenango River Lake, it takes 4 years for a hybrid to reach the legal size limit of 20 inches. Hybrid Striped Bass as old as 11-years-old have been captured. “I would classify the Shenango River Lake hybrid fishery as good to very good,” said Wilson. According to Como, who fishes Shenango River Lake several days every week, hybrid Striped Bass and large White Bass begin offshore schooling in June. “Both species travel together as they White Bass roam about the reservoir following shad,” said Como. “Locating (size range—11- to 17-inches) the fish is priority one. They seem to gravitate to structures chrysops near the river channel by mid-summer. Being able to identify Gizzard Shad schools and larger fish below them on your sonar is absolutely crucial.” Como recommends hitting the lake at first light to encounter summertime surface feeding. If you can get within casting distance of surface activity, topwater baits will draw explosive strikes. Striped Bass (size range—18- to 78-inches) Later in the morning, Como will cast or troll shad-like Morone saxatilis crankbaits, which dive to at least 10 feet. He concentrates on main lake points where he identifies suspended shad schools roughly 10 feet below the surface. Como likes a 7-foot, medium power rod with a reel featuring a strong drag. “Both Striped Bass and really big White Bass are drag burners,” said Como. “You’ve got to keep the drag setting on the light side, or a Striped Bass will snap your line before you know what happened.” His rig is simple—a size #1 circle hook with enough weight Hybrid Striped Bass attached to the line to keep the shad down. Usually two or three (size range—12- to 28-inches) large splitshots are enough. If the shad swims to the surface, add Morone chrysops x Morone saxatilis more weight. The splitshots are crimped on the line about 16 inches above the bait. On his fishfinder, Como notes the depth of large gamefish marks beneath shad schools and strips off line until the bait reaches just above the fish. Next, he engages his trolling motor and slowly trolls around the ledge, roadbed or channel edge where fish are concentrated. “White Bass are generally more aggressive. If you are catching large White Bass, stay in that area. Striped Bass are likely there too,” said Como. “And don’t be surprised to catch a huge Channel Catfish or two. Catfish trail the Striped Bass to feed on injured White Bass has one Striped Bass and hybrid Striped shad, which drift deeper.” tooth patch. Bass have two tooth patches.

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