FINALLY!!! I was finally able to get down to the great Southwest of Nebraska and do some Wiper fishing with my best buddy Jeremy. This is some of my favorite fishing of the year and once again we had some awesome action. Even with temps in the afternoon greater than 105 and winds blowing over 20, the action does not stop for those who can master the feather and fish these bottom fish with finesse.
An average Wiper for the day
The weapon of choice for the day was an 1/8th oz chartreuse marabou jig with whatever color of head we wanted to run. We sat on the top of the point and cast out to the deeper water off the point, working our jigs back up the point, always allowing our jig to find the bottom after a hop and offering the jig on a constantly tight line. Now that is not the easiest to do in a 15-20 mph wind but if you can face right into it, you can eliminate at least some of the bow in your line and stay on top of most of the light strikes.
We were able to get into the fish right away when we got on the water. Jeremy was the first to hook up with a nice wiper around 5lbs. It was a really healthy looking fish with a lot of girth to it and a lot of fire too! We had worked these bottom fish on the point for about an hour with fish after fish falling for our offering when near the dam the water just exploded. We hustled over to where these fish were boiling bait and it was on like Donkey Kong. White bass after white bass were flying into the boat and I even caught one white bass with my hanging over the side of the boat, above the water, while I was releasing a different fish.
Another GREAT fighter around 6lbs
While working these fish a huge school of wipers got a school of bait pinned up against the rock and it was crazy!! Bait jumping up on the rocks and wipers following right behind them flying around recklessly. Jeremy and I both cast into the malay and both hooked up with fish. OH NO!! FYI, when we fish for whites and wipers with small jigs we use light line, 6lb Stren Hi-Vis or less, so when you get a double in the boat, things usually get a little hairy. Well somehow we were both able to land our fish and back over to the point we went.
A real nice 8lb Wiper
Shortly after arriving back to the point I was able to hook up with a really nice wiper that went somewhere around 8lbs or so and Jeremy was able to hook into a hog of a wiper that had to of gone better than 11lbs. Both of the fish came light set-ups consisting of a medium-light 7 rod, an 1/8th oz marabou jig and 6lb Stren Hi-Vis. The equipment that you use with this technique is crucial to your success. If you are not able to constantly return to the bottom after a hop, see a strike in you line rather than wait to feel for one or have a rod and reel set-up that is forgiving enough to be able to fight a big fish with light line you will not be successful. We had several boats fish around us and through us trying to get on these fish. They were trolling, vertical jigging and live baiting and I only saw these boats pick up a total of 1 fish while around us. If you take the time and put in the effort of figuring out how to work a light feather jig, I promise you that you will be a better fisherman because of it. It is a lot of work and frustrating to start out but once you get it you will wonder what you ever did without it! Good Luck out on the water.
Those things rock. Question: How do you know the difference between a white bass, Stiper or a Wiper. I caught 5 of these this spring on a lake in Minnesota that normally does not have White bass. I figured they were whities and almost kept one to challange the State record. But, perhaps they are Wipers. If anyone can educate me on them that would be great.
-------------------- Thats why they call it "fishin" and not "catchin".
Quote: Those things rock. Question: How do you know the difference between a white bass, Stiper or a Wiper. I caught 5 of these this spring on a lake in Minnesota that normally does not have White bass. I figured they were whities and almost kept one to challange the State record. But, perhaps they are Wipers. If anyone can educate me on them that would be great.
visually, it's a broken line thing...but if I recall correctly, best way is still to check the tooth patch on the tongue...white bass have one...hybrids have two...
Tongue patches are the best way to go. I had one fish on Sunday that was as white bass as white bass can be on one side and as wiper as wiper could be on the other side. You can use the lines as a general identifier, but if you have any question, the patches are the way to go
Thanks for the info guys. I had no idea such a fish as the Wiper exsisted. Or it's identification. If they fight like a Whitie, I would love to have some around to catch.
-------------------- Thats why they call it "fishin" and not "catchin".
The picture that Luke posted is a GREAT example of how it can be very difficult to identify a wiper by only it's broken stripes. Both fish in the photo are wipers, but you will notice that the fish on the left has continious, unbroken lines down the entire side of the fish while the fish on the right has broken lines, like a wiper is "supposed" to have. Thanks for the example Luke
i'm not even sure i can imagine what an 11 pound wiper pulls like on light tackle. I've caught 3-4 pound wipers on the iowa, but 8-11 pounders. that's crazy!!
Southwestern Nebraska Wiper Action
Re: Southwestern Nebraska Wiper Action
I sure miss it.
Question: How do you know the difference between a white bass, Stiper or a Wiper. I caught 5 of these this spring on a lake in Minnesota that normally does not have White bass. I figured they were whities and almost kept one to challange the State record. But, perhaps they are Wipers. If anyone can educate me on them that would be great. 
i'm not even sure i can imagine what an 11 pound wiper pulls like on light tackle. I've caught 3-4 pound wipers on the iowa, but 8-11 pounders. that's crazy!!
