I agree, but TP&WD will never incorporate hydrilla into a management strategy. It's "not native" to Texas. Never mind that neither is the man-made reservoir in which it grows.

How many 13 plus pound fish die, naturally, in lakes every year???? Some time these "OLD" fish, just die...they can't live forever......I think TPW is doing a great job....

I agree 100%.

All this emphasis on the program "doing the damage", what about discussing the care before they are handed over to the program. I know there has been a lot of talk about how you hold them and breaking jaws, but what about live well treatments (some discussion - yes), or using a rubber net to land them, wetting your hands before handling them, etc.. These are not things that I have thought of but things that were told to me by the folks from the hatchery.

Just seems like if we take some of this energy away from "why the program is killing them" and devote it to more educating ourselves, maybe we could save more. Just my two pennies worth.

why cant they just call Florida and order the bass .

I think the TPWD does an excellent job and our fisheries reflect that. I also believe you break a few eggs to make an omelet. I also think half the trophy bass donated to SAL would've ended up taken home to Bubba's house to show off and been guaranteed to die, which is a whole hell of a lot less fortunate for our fisheries than it being sent off to breed stocking fish to continue pumping into our lakes.

I also think implying hey should put less focus on OWR/SAL and should stock more is completely misguided thought as they operate the SAL program to stock lakes, with the best possible genetics sampled at current lakes. How does it makes sense to cease SAL to enhance lake stocking, when that is what SAL is? I think a few people should do a lot less fussing and a lot more researching if they honestly care as much as they seem to.

I used to be a big supporter of the SAL program. I'm quickly loosing faith.
I wonder what everyone's opinion would be if these were their children instead of fish that were being cared for? Just food for thought.

Our state record wont even make east or west coast top 25 list and they do not mess with the spawing process.

I would like to see a poll done for who is for the SAL and those against. I think a lot of you guys would be surprised at the numbers against it. I would be number one on the list against it. No way to prove it has helped cause if you look at the numbers before the program or as it started we have gone backwards IMO.

Our state record wont even make east or west coast top 25 list and they do not mess with the spawing process.

I used to be a big supporter of the SAL program. I'm quickly loosing faith.
I wonder what everyone's opinion would be if these were their children instead of fish that were being cared for? Just food for thought.