http://tpwd.texas.gov/newsmedia/releases/?req=20160922b

The season has now begun and TPWD/Toyota have made some changes.

So who's going to approach Mike about donating the next CB hog for public use?

Won't happen.

Take me some pics and measurements for replica and let her go.

Does anyone know why they need a constant supply of new genetics? Lots of folks have grown monsters from the same small genetic pool on private water. At this point, I would think TPWD should have a pretty diverse gene pool with the brood stock they have. That is to say why don't they breed some of the hatched fish into perpetuity, with maybe only occasional genetic injections to add a little diversity? I'm not geneticist so maybe that's na�ve to think on my part.

That's basically what the new program prescribes when they are outside of spawning season. Hold the fish for a little while to get official measurements.

You won't have to pay for the replica!

JPerdue - I don't think they are looking for diversity in genetics anymore. They think proven lineage will produce bigger fish. It feels like a thoroughbred horse breeder's mentality to me.

Looks like the beginning of some changes; hopefully changes for the better.
No CB bass will go there- I highly doubt that would ever happen.

I'm guessing that by only attempting to spawn fish caught in Jan, Feb and March, fewer fish will die from broken jaws.

heard all chipped past SAL's are being tracked, caught, fitted and equipped with special helmets that don't allow one to "lip" the fish

This is true I caught one of theses a few years back. I was really surprise as was my fishing partner that the helmet looked more like a baseball helmet then a football helmet. we couldn't figure out how she kept it on while swimming?

If TPWD is following this model, that's part of the problem in my opinion, too much inbreeding in the thoroughbred world in the US causing slower, weaker, less durable horses with bad feet...

It's when you introduce a new line that you get the results you desire...

I'm not a DNA specialist but I know one, my wife's a horse trainer and I did stay at a Holiday Inn express last night

So when you catch a spawnable SAL, do they give you the choice of where to let the fingerling go?

Didn't some them go to one of the guys who works there private pond

What I remember reading was David Campbell the guy who ran the SAL program for many years, he has a private pond and it was stocked with SAL upon his retirement.