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Dec 30th, 2023
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 Alabama spotted bass
#14278700
02/08/22 10:28 PM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,587
Razorback
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,587 |
I caught a spot on Palestine Sunday that weighed well over 2 pounds. It's one of the five largest I have ever caught there.
Meanwhile, in Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia they are catching spots...which they now call Alabama bass...up to almost nine pounds. Smith Lake spots stocked in California have grown to over 11 pounds. Only one lake in Texas, Alan Henry, has had Alabama spots stocked in it and the lake record is close to 6 pounds.
So my question is...why don't we stock Alabama bass in Texas? I think it's because TP&WD has gone all-in on trying to grow the next state record, maybe even world record, Florida largemouth bass and doesn't want spots or anything else competing with them. I understand, but the Florida strain can be finicky as heck. In my opinion spots are more aggressive and easier for the novice to average angler to catch, at least to catch in numbers. Is the goal to grow a 20 pound bass that someone can catch for bragging rights, or to have a bunch of 3-7 pound fish for a lot of us to catch?
I know I would enjoy the heck out of catching a bunch of 3-5 pound spots.
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Re: Alabama spotted bass
[Re: Razorback]
#14278728
02/08/22 10:57 PM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,292
Chris B
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 16,292 |
There are plenty in Ray Roberts but they just don't get that big. I caught one about 3.5 pounds Sunday. I double checked and the record is only 4.35.
![[Linked Image]](https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/usergals/2017/07/full-3769-170037-image.png) I hate photobucket.
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Re: Alabama spotted bass
[Re: Razorback]
#14278855
02/09/22 12:53 AM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 87
pocfishin
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 87 |
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Re: Alabama spotted bass
[Re: Razorback]
#14278860
02/09/22 12:59 AM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 883
Bill Durham
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 883 |
Spots are very aggressive eaters and will eat a lot of bass fry. They have pretty much taken over the lakes around Atlanta. Lanier used to have a population of DD LM's but they are long since gone. Unless you have blueback herring in the lake they don' get to be magnum spots in a lake environment. The Coosa River Spots are constantly fighting current, along with lots of shad to eat.. which is why they get big.
BD
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Re: Alabama spotted bass
[Re: Razorback]
#14278898
02/09/22 01:37 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,097
David Burton
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,097 |
Our Spots hybridize pretty well... We'd have the World Record Meanmouth if IGFA only used local game rules for the records.
David Burton
2015 Skeeter FX 21 +Ultrex +Helix 12 (x3) +Mega360 +MegaLive
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Re: Alabama spotted bass
[Re: pocfishin]
#14278997
02/09/22 02:55 AM
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,028
SC-001
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,028 |
What are Kemps Largemouth and Mixed Largemouth? They also put Dale Hollow Smallmouth in Wheeler branch but those are listed in that report.
Last edited by SC-001; 02/09/22 02:55 AM.
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Re: Alabama spotted bass
[Re: Razorback]
#14279058
02/09/22 03:38 AM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 27,656
Fish Killer
Big Sexy
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Big Sexy
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 27,656 |
They don’t stock a lot of them because the hybridize with the Guadalupe bass. They are trying to keep the vent is pure
I know that’s a central Texas fish but it all flows downhill
Just ask the zebra mussels
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Re: Alabama spotted bass
[Re: Razorback]
#14279144
02/09/22 11:57 AM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 87
pocfishin
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 87 |
Here is my recollection: A largemouth bass population with a unique genetic marker was found in a farm pond in the 1980's in Burleson County, Texas by researchers at Texas A&M. I believe TPWD used these genetically unique fish in their hatchery program for a while. The fish was named Kemp LMB after former TPWD Inland Fisheries Division Director Bob Kemp. His story is found here https://tpwmagazine.com/archive/2013/jul/scout4_lakefish/
Last edited by pocfishin; 02/09/22 12:07 PM.
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Re: Alabama spotted bass
[Re: Razorback]
#14279240
02/09/22 02:00 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,801
Tx Tree Grower
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,801 |
Lots of spots that size in Palestine. Little over 2.25 is the largest I have caught out there. Only place I have caught larger in Texas was on Ray Roberts. Everyone always calls the spots in East Texas lakes "Kentucky Spots" not sure if that is true or not. I know very little about the history of the spotted bass. I've always wondered when they spawn, where they spawn, etc. I almost never catch them in the spring when largemouth are up on beds. Leads me to believe they may spawn deeper than many of the Largemouth. I've always been for more variety in Texas Lakes, but it will never happen. TPWD is all in on making every fishery in Texas have the highest percent Florida Genetics it can have. Not sure spots is the way to go though when it comes to variety. I think there are many lakes that should be managed for northern largemouth instead of Florida's.
With all that said I think TPWD does a good job overall managing our fisheries in Texas. I don't agree with everything they do but overall we are fortunate to have a state fishery management agency that is better than the vast majority in the country.
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Re: Alabama spotted bass
[Re: Razorback]
#14279284
02/09/22 02:33 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,665
squib
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,665 |
The original stocking of Alabama spots was 150 in Alan Henry. Yep, 150 total. They have now almost completely taken over the lake. In a 30-boat tournament, you might see as few as 10 largemouths weighed in--the rest spots. Big bass won't break 3 pounds more often than not. Alan Henry is a shell of what it once was and there may be several causes of that but I would guess that the complete population flip that has occurred with spotted bass is at the root of the problem.
To add insult to injury, they just don't grow out at the rate you would expect. Every year, we catch tons of 15-inch spots and then we all assume that they will grow into bigger fish the next year and we will slowly see an increase in spotted bass size. From my perspective, it seems the AH spot seem to top out between 15-17 inches because you very seldom (not never) see on break 3 lbs. The lake has a good forage base of baitfish so it is not lack of food--and the fish are healthy and fat. They just don't seem to get any bigger on the whole than that 2 to 3 lb weight class. The biggest I have caught was 5.3 lbs two winters ago. I'll catch a 3 to 4 pounder every once in a while. So there are a very few better ones in there for anyone wanting to come chase them. Please eat all that you catch.
But I sure wouldn't want them stocked in my home lake if I were you.
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Re: Alabama spotted bass
[Re: Razorback]
#14279288
02/09/22 02:34 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,474
MagFluker
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,474 |
Alabama's will destroy your lakes. They outpace largemouth for food.
AND, they will breed them out and whatever smallmouth population some lakes have as well.
Last edited by MagFluker; 02/09/22 02:35 PM.
Kyle in NC
PB 11.1
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Re: Alabama spotted bass
[Re: Razorback]
#14279298
02/09/22 02:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 420
CarlB
Angler
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Angler
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 420 |
The only spotted bass I ever catch are small, usually in the Guadalupe river. I have caught one or two in Medina lake. They seem to feed later than the LMB, I guess they are afraid of them? That's what I have observed anyway.
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Re: Alabama spotted bass
[Re: Razorback]
#14279358
02/09/22 03:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,077
trapperben
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,077 |
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Re: Alabama spotted bass
[Re: squib]
#14279613
02/09/22 06:24 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,801
Tx Tree Grower
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,801 |
The original stocking of Alabama spots was 150 in Alan Henry. Yep, 150 total. They have now almost completely taken over the lake. In a 30-boat tournament, you might see as few as 10 largemouths weighed in--the rest spots. Big bass won't break 3 pounds more often than not. Alan Henry is a shell of what it once was and there may be several causes of that but I would guess that the complete population flip that has occurred with spotted bass is at the root of the problem.
To add insult to injury, they just don't grow out at the rate you would expect. Every year, we catch tons of 15-inch spots and then we all assume that they will grow into bigger fish the next year and we will slowly see an increase in spotted bass size. From my perspective, it seems the AH spot seem to top out between 15-17 inches because you very seldom (not never) see on break 3 lbs. The lake has a good forage base of baitfish so it is not lack of food--and the fish are healthy and fat. They just don't seem to get any bigger on the whole than that 2 to 3 lb weight class. The biggest I have caught was 5.3 lbs two winters ago. I'll catch a 3 to 4 pounder every once in a while. So there are a very few better ones in there for anyone wanting to come chase them. Please eat all that you catch.
But I sure wouldn't want them stocked in my home lake if I were you.
Alan Henry being at the headwaters of the Brazos, have the Alabamas showed up in PK or any of the other Brazos river lakes down stream? I don't get to fish the Brazos river much. You would think in 20+ years they would have migrated downstream. Even with the minimal flow out of Alan Henry.
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Re: Alabama spotted bass
[Re: Razorback]
#14279618
02/09/22 06:32 PM
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,587
Razorback
OP
TFF Guru
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OP
TFF Guru
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 11,587 |
I don't get the "spotted bass will destroy lakes" notion. Alabama is one of the top bass fishing states in the country. I bet there have been more big national events there than anywhere else. Have spotted bass destroyed their lakes?
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