Fishing under lights for hybrids

I just moved back here after 10 years in South Carolina.  I got addicted to striper fishing there so I want to start targeting hybrids here.  Looks like the Ohio and Arthur are my best options.  I used to fish at night under 2 hydroglow lights.  The lights brought in the herring and the herring brought in the stripers.  Has anyone ever tried this on the rivers or Arthur?  I'm not sure it it will pull in alewives.  I also used to pull the bait about .5 to 1 mph on freeline (carolina rig with no wt.), planer boards, and down lines.  I never saw anyone doing this on Arthur when I left but I can't see why it wouldn't work.  It's what they do at Raystown, but maybe hybrids act different.  Lastly, when will the hybrids start turning on?

Lights on Arthur will 100% draw alewives.  That said I haven't caught a single wiper at night while using lights even with a giant ball of bait under our boat.  Keeping in mind that I'm a panfish/catfish guy and very willing to believe the wipers were there and I just didn't do the necessary to catch them.  

Thanks for all the help.  I still have to go back to SC to get my boat.  I'm having trouble figuring out how to get a title for my unregistered trailer from SC.  No registration, title or plate required there.

 
 
Keep it registered there!  The whole rig I mean.  PA is a snake's den of lies and taxes that make no sense when it comes to vehicles.  But assuming you have to, because you already changed residency and all that... they will take an original receipt iirc if you can produce one.  If not you are hosed.  The process to get it titled is a nightmare, and each place you visit will tell you something different.  




Yep, that is why my boat is still in SC even though I moved 5 months ago.  I have it set up perfect for fishing and I'd hate to sell it.  But Im at the point where I might just sell it and by another boat here.  Its a Wellcraft V20 with a 200 Evinrude, which may be a bit too much boat for what I'll be doing here anyway.
 
And as far as keeping the alewives alive, I have a 30 gallon super bait tank II.  It's circulates, aerates and filters the water.  a little rock salt and ice will keep them healthy.
 

That is one heck of a boat, would be hard to launch in Arthur.  Some of the launches are rough getting my 17' in.  20hp limit would have you in slow motion too. 
 
If you do get that boat back up here, look into Shenango as well.  Much better suited to your V20.  Probably as good, or arguably better wiper fishery as Arthur.  Nowhere near the pressure that Arthur gets.  You have to battle the joy riders and further drive if you live south though, but able to crank your 200 from spot to spot.  If you see birds diving at Arthur 500 yards away, it takes 5 minutes to get to them...
 
Not sure if Ohio River is nearly what it used to be either for wipers.  Pretty sure they stopped stocking them in the past 5 years.  Not sure how long they live, but pretty sure they will be a rare catch in the coming years.  It used to be the place to go to catch numbers, although not many over 20".  Too many yahoos on the rivers and just as many on the bank fishing.  I pulled out of a marina on the back channel of the Ohio about 7 years ago, and haven't looked back!

No they are HORRIBLE

Normally I'd call BS on someone saying wipers aren't the best eating, but two things hold me back.  One, Pork tells it straight.  Two, I've caught and eaten white bass from Shenago, and they are pretty good if you cut out the center line (which you should really be doing anyway).  When the Erie charter guys were telling us that white bass were oily garbage and not keeping them I didn't believe them.  Got them home, cleaned a couple and they were seriously garbage.  So until I personally catch and eat a wiper from Arthur, I'll bow to the opinions of guys like Pork.  
 
Then again, guys claim that channel cats taste bad, and we find them to be delicious.  Crappie and perch are better, but I don't hesitate to nosh down some 'cat.

i brought a white bass home from pymatuning about five years ago.  the first and only that i ever kept.  even our cats wouldn't eat it.  they pseudo-buried it on the kitchen floor.  

deepcreek, spoon's faded away like so many others.  he's still around and was talking about fishing byrds a week ago.

dave, i will admit that mine was frozen for a few months and that it was served with walleyes.
 
i will also admit that i ate a few stockies in 1975 and i could not get rid of that purina taste in my mouth.....lol.
 
tim, a former member here, makes multiple trips to the east coast for stripers and says they are awesome.  

Thanks for all the comments about eating hybrids and white bass. When I was 21 years old, I lived in Connecticut and used to catch (real) stripers in the surf. Ate a few that other people (natives) prepared. Still tasted a bit "fishy" for me.

If your eating fish, and it takes fishy.  Try Chicken, Turkey, or Beef.  I'm sure you'll like them better, and you were meant to be fed by the "big" grocery stores! 

slabfinder
If your eating fish, and it takes fishy.  Try Chicken, Turkey, or Beef.  I'm sure you'll like them better, and you were meant to be fed by the "big" grocery stores! 

Thank you for your brilliant contribution to the thread.  It was very helpful and informative. 

slabfinder
If your eating fish, and it takes fishy.  Try Chicken, Turkey, or Beef.  I'm sure you'll like them better, and you were meant to be fed by the "big" grocery stores! 

If fish tasted like beef, I am pretty sure there would be more fishermen in this world.  If it tasted like a good pizza, I would quit my job and move to the beach.
 
I think most on here are referring to "fishy" as the same as "gamey" or "muddy".  Fish shouldn't taste like spoiled fish smells or bottom sediment...  Not sure if you've ever trimmed any beef cuts, but if you leave a vain, it can ruin a good looking steak/roast, just as much as a poorly prepared fish.  If someone doesn't like the unique flavor that each fish has, then sure, go eat chicken, turkey or beef.  Just like a well prepared chicken, turkey or beef dish, you almost always season in some fashion or other.  Even fillet mignon or ribeye needs some salt & pepper IMO, even better with other spices and a side of grilled (seasoned) veggies/shrooms.  Unseasoned grilled/baked chicken is not very good, neither is unseasoned grilled/baked fish IMO (yes, butter is seasoning).  Even smoking requires a good rub/brine/marinade.  Roadside chicken is one of the best main courses out there, IMO.  I have made fish the same way, and comes out almost as good (no bacon like skin, so not really a fair comparison).  I would rather have fried perch over fried chicken wings, and I love wings!  Give the same sauce choices, and fried the right way, most fish is better than chicken IMO.  Chicken is $2-3/lb, so a staple to most.  It also saves much better for sandwiches 3-4 days after a meal and a lot more recipes available (at least American style).

your words are good, tim.  to add just one point, if fish tasted like pizza, i'd be a poacher.
 
the 'gamey or muddy' description says it best.  for me, it will always be a milder fish such as walleye and perch and crappie, usually broiled and lightly salted.  if i could get this always, i'd never eat beef again.