Yesterday I headed out to Watkins Mill State Park to do a little evening fishing. When I arrived, the water was calm and I could see fish working on the surface. I figured it was probably schools of bluegill working together and decided to see if I could pick up a couple just for kicks. After a few casts with nothing to show, I decided to leave my fly in the water while I moved to closer to the bank to work areas that had cover. As usual, I was fishing a John Deere under a strike indicator. Yes, technically I was trolling, I suppose, but that's not any sort of trolling setup I have ever used or even heard of. So you can only imagine the shock on my face when it worked and I got a bite.
The story gets better too. The fish on the end of the line was a hard little fighter! I just assumed it was a bluegill but it didn't act like a bluegill. The fish didn't do the quick circles that bluegill are known for. Instead, there were head shakes and deep dives. When I got the fish to the boat, I was absolutely astonished. It was a small hybrid striped bass or wiper! I continued the same unconventional technique and picked up 3 more!
Now I heard about two years ago that hybrids had been stocked to control the growing shad population at Watkins Mill. What I hadn't heard about was anyone catching of these little critters. I asked lots of folks and most didn't know that they were in there, let alone had anyone landed one. So catching a hybrid out there was something I really wanted to do but was pretty surprised that it happened. I can't wait to see the size that these guys grow to in the next few years because this could get to be a lot of fun!
accordingto what I’ve read the started stocking in 2014 so thereshould be some keeper sized hybrids in there’s by now
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