This post is so done........

I thought the SAL program has been sponsored and privately funded since it's inception?

I am not of the opinion it's "bad" to do what they are doing, but I do not see the good in it either.

Hopefully we are not using tax dollars to boost private waters most of us will never have access to fish.

Gary:
I have been on your website, and soaking up the info you have posted on La Perla and the photo's. I know we are all chomping on the bit, and waiting for these SAL babies to grow up, but can you talk more about the thoughts behind designing these lakes. I have followed a similar thread and think it's fascinating about all the work it takes to get a lake from dry ground to ready for LMB. Did you have a ratio of open water, structure, shoreline? How long did you have shad / blue gill / prawns growing before you stocked bass? How old is La Perla lake? I have so many more questions out of fascination, but i will hold them back for now.

Thanks for posting.

Dr. Schwarz:

Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to provide more details regarding your arrangement with TPWD and your goals for the projects you have undertaken.

Unfortunately for you there are those here that don't let the lack of actual facts (or their not reading and comprehending the actual facts) stand in their way of making super-hero-like leaps to conclusions. I am hopeful you will not be so discouraged that you become reticent to continue to provide updates on the progress of La Perla and Jalisco. It is unlikely I will ever have the opportunity to fish one of your water bodies, but that doesn't mean I'm not interested in the particulars and results of your projects. I find it all very interesting. And I can dream...

I wish you GREAT success in these endeavors, and I certainly believe whatever the results, the fishing community as a whole, and Texas in particular, will benefit greatly.

^^^^This guy nailed it

^^^^This guy nailed it

[quote=mpowell]


From a scientific point, there's no way TPWD could match your investment to get the research that will come. Kudos to you.

TPWD has precedence in private partnerships � look at the technical assistance game biologists provide to land owners. They help properties manage the game better.

I see potential for maybe the ranch could produce surplus fingerlings to be restocked in other waters to grow opportunities someday. That helps us all.

2. Allen Forshage is one of the most dedicated, by the book men I have ever met. I mean, think about this: I called him immediately on December 2013 when we shocked up the fish James Hall from Bassmasters named Pearl, a 13:15 fish only 7 yrs old. I wanted to donate her to SAL. She would have been bigger and younger than all of the SAL fish that were eventually donated for 2014 at the program, and bigger than the fish that eventually sent a small percent of her offspring to Jalisco. I would have been entitled to way more than 7000 of Pearl's fry back to my lakes, TPWD would have had no contract tie in to my new and best lake for 15 years. Also, 50% of her fry would have gone on to other public or private waters somewhere in the state to benefit you bass fishermen out there. Heck, at the time, there weren't even any lunkers that had been donated yet. It seemed like a slam
dunk deal, but for one problem...Allan's commitment to following the rules.

Allen asked us one question: was she legally caught by a rod and reel fisherman, because that is the way the rules are written. Allen refused to break them, even though I legally owned the fish myself and had the authority to remove her from my water any way I wanted to and send her wherever I desired.

I don't denigrate the sacrifice and contribution of any SAL Donor, but simply want to point out that the commitment of Allen Forshage to follow the rules is really steadfast. None of us could believe it, but were all very impressed, especially James Hall from Bassmasters, who heard the whole conversation take place right there in the shocker boat with Pearl in the big live well.

As Pearl slipped back into the green waters of La Perla, I thought about how often rules are written that aren't complete enough, and have unintended consequences such as happened here. Obviously, shocking can't be allowed on a public body of water, hence the rule. I guess at the time, the rule writers could not imagine some guy with his own private lake and giant fish might want to donate it, and that the quickest and least traumatic way to do it would be to shock her up!

Oh well, what might have been, but for the rules!