Courtesy Of Bennett Kirkpatrick

Striped bass and hybrid stripers provide Commonwealth anglers with the opportunity to battle hard-fighting fish that grow to double-digit weight proportions.

Stockings of pure stripers take place within the Delaware River and Susquehanna River drainages, where the fish are native. Certain waters within these drainages also receive hybrids. To prevent the unintentional establishment of a non-native species in the Ohio River drainage, only hybrid stripers, which cannot reproduce, are stocked there.

Here's a look at the state's top inland striper and hybrid striper waters this spring, based on input from the PFBC fisheries management staff.

LAKE ARTHUR
Butler County's Lake Arthur has traditionally been one of the top hybrid waters in the state. According to Craig Billingsley, area fisheries manager, the tradition should continue this spring.

Lake Arthur covers about 3,225 acres. It is a fertile lake lying between gently rolling hills. Maximum depth is about 35 feet, though the average depth is much less. Large creek arms make up a significant portion of the lake.

Moraine State Park services include a marina and boat rental facility. Motors are limited to 20 horsepower.

Numerous access areas are scattered along the lake's shoreline. Among the more popular ramps with striper anglers are Bear Run, McDaniels and No. 528.

Billingsley said netting operations that took place last spring revealed several year-classes of hybrid stripers. He expects this year's fishing to produce good numbers of fish in the 22-inch range, though the possibility of catching larger fish exists.

Significant angler attention is directed toward the hybrid fishery, particularly during spring. Night-fishing is popular, though hybrids are readily taken during the day, mostly on cloudy days.

For additional information on accommodations and amenities in Butler County, contact the Butler County Tourism office at (866) 856-8444, or visit the agency's Web site at http://visit-butler-county-pennsylvania-pa.com.

SHENANGO LAKE
Mercer County's Shenango Lake also contains a significant hybrid striper fishery.

Shenango Lake is a 3,650-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers impoundment on the Shenango River. It is relatively shallow and the forage base is gizzard shad.

A federal flood control lake, Shenango is subject to changes in water levels. It's wise to check on lake conditions before making a trip to the lake. Daily lake information may be obtained by calling (724) 962-4384.

A recent Fish and Boat Commission survey revealed a significant hybrid striper population in the lake. According to field reports, striped bass collected in trap nets ran from less than 5 inches to 29 inches in length. A total of 124 hybrids were collected, of which 59 were over 23 inches in length. Keeping in mind that this survey was conducted in 2002, and that fishing conditions were tough during the wet and unstable summers of 2003 and 2004, Shenango could be a great destination this year.

There are no horsepower restrictions on Shenango Lake, though significant no-wake areas and speed zones are present. User fees are charged for boat launching during months popular with striper anglers. Six access areas are present, including the popular Shenango Recreation Area.

Additional information on Mercer County may be obtained by phoning (800) 637-2370, or visit the agency's Web site at www.mercercountypa.org.

THREE RIVERS
Though the fishing isn't of the same scope as Lake Arthur and Shenango Lake, certain areas of the three major rivers of western Pennsylvania contain enough fish to warrant attention from anglers.

Over the years, hybrid stripers have been stocked in the lower Allegheny, lower Monongahela and upper Ohio rivers. Stockings have been inconsistent, but some river sections have experienced fairly regular striper plantings.