I am sure we have some TPWD folks, obviously much smarter than me, who can answer the question of why TPWD has seen fit not to stock Lake Ray Roberts since 2013, while Lake Fork, Texas, has had 1,137,587 Florida strain largemouth added to that "fish starved" lake. I think this topic comes up here on occasion, but I wonder if this question is really ever answered? (Just doing a little research.)

Shoot TP&W an email and ask. Go to the source rather than rely on second hand info.

If I had to guess it is based on need. When we flooded so bad at Roberts a couple years ago we had clouds of 3-5" bass everywhere that summer when the lake opened up.

Number one is economics. Lake fork is by far one of the most popular lakes for planning a trip to especially for out of staters. It also has a great community surrounding it with places to stay and eat and guide services. And a lot of this community is dependent on income from the lake.

While Roberts is a great lake it doesn't bring the money.

I don't think TPWD cares about the economics of a local community.

They absolutely do.

Then you'd be wrong.

Mark, stop trying to make sense. You know that's not how this works, it's much better to speculate, second guess and argue.
It's what we do...

I am thrilled they stocked Joe Pool last year with Bass.
But the fisheries report is that Joe Pool is very low on shad populations.
Lets stock some baitfish fellas

Roberts needs to have a million fingerlings a year planted for the next 10 years. Maybe then I could catch something on that toilet...

Wouldn't be the first time.

It's been known for years that the only lake TPWD stocks on a regular yearly basis is Fork look at there stocking report and you can see that . They will stock other lakes just once in a while .

Here in ABQ I call the Fish Biologist for NMDFG and ask questions like that he has a lot of variables to consider and is very knowledgeable. I have also called a Biologist at TPWD same thing, both very nice and helpful.

Same question of why they want stock smallmouth in PK, used to catch 4-5 pounders years ago and has ideal habitat.

Lake Fork is TPWD's poster child for the successful stocking of Florida strain largemouth bass. People come from all over the world expecting to get what they saw on that poster. Toledo Bend and Rayburn are also poster children to a lesser extent and they get about as many fingerlings as Fork every year but you can fit 6 or 8 Lake Forks in either one of those lakes. Ray Roberts does not have a poster so therefore it gets fewer Florida strain. Unless Roberts becomes a resort fishing destination like Fork or Toledo Bend with people lining up with their wallets open, then it won't be getting the same number of Florida strain fingerlings. I don't see that happening since most of the shoreline of Ray Roberts is not zoned for commercial development.