Camelot Bell would be happy to donate a 13lb fish as long as you give them $16,000 for it. That's what they are going for...

I can't speak for Mike Frazier with regards to whether he might someday donate one of his fish to SAL. There are a bunch caught every year that would qualify, but to date none have been donated.

He culls heavily every year, but those fish are sold to other ranches/lakes managers to improve their genetics.

The spawning system Dan referred to is a cooperative effort with Overton Fisheries. Mike or guests catch the big females and males. They spawn at the ranch and are allowed to grow to about 3 inches before harvest. Overton markets the fry from that operation.

As to the prices listed on his website to buy a giant bass, those are similar to the prices the Texas Deer Association publishes for deer sold at auction. Not always as it seems.

[quote=Jordan Shipley]["Genetics are only part of the equation... they need nutrition and habitat. I believe it's the same with these fish. If they don't have the same nutrition as they have in the private lake, then they won't grow to be as big as their parents... increase our lakes nutrition is the only way to improve our public fisheries."]

For the record I agree with this for the most part.. With the added component of Florida vs Northern strain bass. Research has shown that Northern strains are going to dilute the Floridas in time. My feeling has always been that because of the limited number of SAL fingerlings that end up available to be released, TPWD might be better served to focus on stocking as many pure strain Florida's into our lakes as possible... regardless of whether or not they are SAL's. I think that... along with finding ways to increase the nutrition and forage base should always be the first priorities for TPWD. Then if they want to focus on SAL on top of that, ok by me. "

One other thing that in my opinion should be a HUGE priority for TPWD if they want to really make a difference- and I absolutely agree with James Bendele on this-- The alligator gar on Choke and Falcon are absolutely out of control. I personally believe that when spawning, bass are very vulnerable to predation by alligator gar. Have had buddies watch big females get tomahawked right off of their beds. They've got to get them under control.

Jeret, respectfully, this is one of the few posts of yours that I applaud!

I don't mean to derail, but through work I have had numerous communications with Cotton over the last several years and he seems like a great guy. He has helped me immeasurably when I have needed answers. I tried to meet with him the last time I was in Austin but we didn't cross paths. What's "funny" is that I am an Arkansas fan who is old enough to remember the Big Shootout and Cotton Speyrer during his days as a Longhorn. He was a great player who made one game saving play after another and was about as responsible for Texas' back to back national championships as anyone.

Hope the jealous and contrary types don't run Gary and Jordan off. I enjoy hearing about La Perla. I believe in selective breeding programs with fish because an uncle of mine did it with trout in Idaho. I think what Gary is doing could result in bigger fish for all of us at some point. I'm skeptical of a world record being grown in South Texas because of the heat, but a State record is very possible. Best of luck!

Thanks David,
I actually think a lot of people are tired of hearing about La Perla, and I know I am getting tired of this controversy myself. Differences of opinion are part and parcel to our world, and there is no way around it, but it still hurts when you are the object of criticism.

There is one question on here I think I need to answer, but won't have time until this evening. Meanwhile, again, thanks.
Gary

I just wish TP&W would manage bass for ALL fishermen and not just bass fishermen.

+1

I enjoy hearing about what they got going on down there as well. Pretty cool stuff that I think will benefit in the long run.

I guess I have not been following the entire conversation. So is La Perla a new public lake?

No, La Perla is the name of Dr. Schwarz's Zapata County ranch and the big lake that he built on the ranch. Jalisco is Dr. Scwarz's new lake on La Perla Ranch.

Don't let the negative nancy types get you discouraged. As with most things in life, there are different opinions. It's your money, your lake, your ranch. Do what you want to do.

If you try to be honest and transparent with information like this, I think you'll always have people expressing dissenting opinions. It's OK and it's what makes our country great. We all have the opportunity to express our opinions on a forum like this.

Keep up the good fight.

Dr. Scwarz's I for one think its great what you are doing. I have a few questions. Do you know how the TPW are going to go about culling fish out of the lake and do you know what they will do with them? Second do you know if they will do any kind of grass studies in your lake? The last question I have is do you have any planes on doing any culling out of La Perla lake and if so are you going to donate them to TPW to stock into public waters?

Talk about poking the hornets nest again.

I think it is great what you are doing! Opinions are like a$$ holes and you are sure to get a lot of them on a public forum with this many participants! At the end of the day, everybody on this forum would LOVE to have a crack at fishing one of your lakes. Since most won't, there will always be some disagreement, but I would not let that drag me down, that is the great thing about this country we live in! We are allowed to have an opinion!!!