Fishtrap Lake in Pike County is also projected to begin yielding keeper hybrids beginning in the fall of 1992. The third lake, which received its first installment of about 6,000 hybrid fingerlings last June is Guist Creek Lake in Shelby County. A survey of Guist Creek Lake fishermen showed an overwhelming response for an fisheries to establish hybrids in this smaller public lake. Guist Creek is well-suited for hybrids biologically. It is fertile and supports a large shad population of the size hybrids feed on most often.
Hybrids usually reach keeper size sometime in their third year of growth.
Hybrids can tolerate warmer water temperatures than purebred striped bass and survive in smaller lakes. In Kentucky, most of the water is suited for warm water species, therefore the potential that hybrids can do well in more places than striped bass is obviously greater. Hybrids also grow larger than pure white bass and fight harder, which makes the hybrid more desirable to fishermen. It is likely that a 15-inch minimum size limit will apply to hybrids, and possibly white bass, too, for any lake where a new fishery is developed. Anglers should be SURE to consult a current copy of the fishing digest for complete details on all size and creel limits and other fishing regulations.