Hybrid Stripers Thriving

 
Bill Wentroth, north-central region Fisheries supervisor, reports these aggressive predator fish, a cross between striped bass and white bass sometimes referred to as "Franken-fish," are produced at the Byron State Fish Hatchery in a process that involves the cooperation of Fisheries staff at various sites across the state.
The hybrids are functionally sterile, so all 1.25 million hybrid fingerlings stocked in 22 state reservoirs in 2016 were created at the Byron fish hatchery.

Wentroth said the striped bass hybrid populations have done particularly well in Altus-Lugert, Skiatook, Waurika, Carl Blackwell and Sooner lakes. The state record was caught at Altus-Lugert in 1997 and weighed 23 pounds, 4 ounces. It is a successful program that creates exciting outdoor experiences for Oklahoma's anglers every year, he said.