First thing I got to say is.....I know ALL SAL offspring have a "genetic tag" that allows researchers to delineate those from other fish. My question is, "How many of these fish have actually been caught?" I got no official numbers, but unofficially, not many.

Next thing, there was a time when fishing clubs and interested parties were allowed to buy and stock fish in state waters, I myself provided over 9 million bass fingerlings in three years to lakes such as Tawakoni, Toledo Bend, Conroe, and others when I managed Danbury Fish Farms/Lakes of Danbury.

To help raise funds to pay for the fish I gave away weekend fishing trips to LOD for up to eight people in a group for clubs to raffle, sell, whatever to raise funds to buy my fish. We raised and sold $30 K worth the first year. 1.5-2.5 inch long genetically pure florida bass (some were actually from Cuban stock). We'd deliver to the lake by putting 500 to 1000 bass in a bag so boaters could release them into weed beds and good spots, not a TPWD boat ramp dump.

We did it again the next year. THEN, TPWD stepped in and told these clubs that IF they'd give the oney they raised to TPWD they'd get matching Federal funds and twice the fish. I started getting calls. "Not just NO, HELL NO!" I'm not helping you raise money to give to TPWD." And then I did my research.

At the time I charged ten cents a fish. The published cost then for the same fish at TPWD was 48 cents, so even with matching funds I was still supplying more than twice the fish for the same money, and helping raise the money. We did it another year.

Then it became illegal to stock public waters from private sources. Folks, the VERY LAST VESTIGE of actual government production is fish hatcheries and they do not wont to give them up. Everything state and federal hatcheries do could be done cheaper and better by private enterprise.

TPWD has a history of using politics over biology to stay in power. Yes, they do a great job across a diverse area. Our state parks are beyond awesome, we got fishing the envy of everybody...BUT, TPWD has no business being involved with business. Period.

Try and get a permit, I bet it comes with so much red tape as to be an impossibility to achieve.

I have stocked bass for the sate of Arizona (you catch a bass around Phoenix it came from me or on offspring of my fish) state of Idaho, Kentucky, Colorado, New Mexico, etc. but can no longer stock public waters in Texas. Go figure.

A big reason the ShareLunker program exists is because it produces fry with great genetics far cheaper than the state could buy them through other means. At least that is what they have stated previously in news releases.

The 250+ SALs from from Fork over 30 years had each spawned many times and passed on their genetics before they were caught and put in the program. They were also nearing the end of their life cycle and reproductive capabilities.

Some of the SALs died in the program and many were released and most likely spawned again in the lake. The number of SALs caught and their remaining potential contribution to Forks genetics if they had been released on the spot without ever being put in the program is minuscule at best. Saying that those fish would have accounted for 20 million more bass in Fork now is wishful thinking.

Many harming factors are contributing to Lake Forks present condition but the SAL program is not and has not been one of them.

Yes, fully supported. I proposed a SAH (share a hydrilla) program a few years back. (it is currently illegal to transplant hydrilla in Texas)

OK I have a serious question? Has it been proven anywhere that genetics plays into the size of a bass? I'm not talking Florida vs northern strain. I'm talking one Florida strain LMB vs another. Does it matter that the spawning female was 10lb or 5lb? I always thought that the size/weight of the fish was related to the age of the fish.

The man trying to hold down our bass fishing success.

The more healthy the hyrilla the bigger the bass.

I have as much science to support that as TDPW has to prove that SAL has done much to grow bigger bass than would have been here anyways after the initial stockings of none SAL Florida's.

Why do they stock trout in Texas? They spend money on thousands and thousands fish that won't live one month....then gripe about bass broken jaws.

Does anything they do make sense?

If that long.

Dang cormorants eat most of them within 24 hours.

Of course the reason why is to provide put and take fishing opportunities in urban areas for folks who might not be able to make it out to one of the big lakes or know how to catch a fish once there.... Stocked trout are pretty easy to catch if you can get to them before the birds.

What about some big ole slab bream that live for years? Seems logical to me....plus taste way better than a Purina Pellet Fed Trout....plus the bream spawn and create more babies....ALL for FREE!!

I know I'm going out on a limb now, but what about a southern catfish? They love city mud holes.....they spawn too. Genius!!

Just like any other gubermant run group....wasted money.

BTW the trout they stock lately aren't even eatable....they are maybe 8" long....you have to be a sushi chef to clean one of them. And boney!!! Not the best table fare for kiddos.

They just started a catfish program. They are stocking more and more catfish in urban ponds. It's all a part of the Neighborhood Fishing program. The more anglers they can create, the more certain their revenue stream is for the future. Plus it ensures our sport lives on.

I am so glad you posted this.
I'm very appreciative of TPWD and the SAL program for trying to improve the quality of bass throughout the State.
The SAL program may not have been a significant factor compared to the introduction of Florida Largemouth, but at least we have a department that is willing to try and improve the fisheries throughout the State.
I can't agree with the negativity for the SAL program.

Catching the old bass from the lake probably doesn't harm it that much. There is no doubt the SAL program has been a resounding public relations success, which is likely as important, if not more so than biology. What I would like to see is some sound documentation (not a press release) showing how many of the offspring have actually been caught and some proof of genuine impact to Texas public (not private fisheries where SAL are given as political favors) fish populations that would not otherwise have been possible without the SAL program.

Brett Rowley
Fisheries Biologist
Brett's Fish Farm/The Good Luck Fishing and Hunting Club

Lost faith in the SAL program after TPWD killed the hydrilla in Lake Austin then dumped SAL frye into a vegetationess lake

End the program, let nature do it's thing.

Want to make Fork a trophy lake again, get rid of the guides and close the lake for a few years.lol