So, in the epic stories I did on how Texas lakes are stocked by TPWD, and conversations on the side, it was made clear a lake is not considered for a new species unless there is essentially a "demand" for it from the public. There was no mention of species competition or any other habitat conflicts when I raised Ray Roberts as a lake that could use hybrid bass. The main emphasis from TPWD was on how difficult it has been to generate the stocker hybrids to stock the lakes that already have these fish. So, I am guessing there are opinions about this idea here? Scientifically, what are those opinions? Has anyone else requested this stocking of Lake Ray Roberts with hybrids recently? How did you make that request?


HERE IS WHERE MY STORY GETS A RESPONSE FROM TPWD
https://texasflycaster.com/tpwd-responds-to-stocking-series/
https://texasflycaster.com/tpwd-response-to-story-continues/

And I go into my own take on why and how they stock in stories leading up to these - if you just LOVE reading!

Thud. The sound of dropping like a rock.

No thanks, there's plenty in Lewisville.

I would be for it...I love fishing Ray Roberts given the lower number of wake boats, and boat traffic in general. And despite the nearly 7 million hybrids stocked in Lewisville in the last 10 years it very rarely fishes as well as other Hybrid lakes. Sign me up!

We have been successful but it takes a lot of effort. We lobbied for stocking hybrids in Lake Livingston for over 15 years and last year was the first year. There was a combination of state and private stocking efforts. TPWD gave up on harvesting brood striper from the Livingston tail race and that triggered approval to hybrid stocking. Livingston will be one of the best hybrid fisheries in the state in three years. It has just as much if not more baitfish than Tawak and RC.

Lake Conroe was taken off the list for a couple years and then re introduced due to efforts from this forum's users.

It seems like there has been much more consistent production of hybrids over the past 3 or 4 years. The guys seem to have it figured out.

Bass guys generally don't like hybrids stocked into tradition "bass" type lakes. However, they are stocked in Palestine and Conroe... That might be the battle you face on Ray Roberts.

I am thrilled to see them in Lake Livingston. The hybrids should hold up to the shallow warm water and flooded mud outs better than the striper have.

I'd love to see hybrids in Ray Bob. I know of a few that have actually been caught above the dam in the main lake. We suspect they came from Kiowa when it has flooded. Ray Bob would make an excellent hybrid or striper lake in my opinion. There is a ton of structure.

We need bow fisherman to kill carp and gar long before anything else that eats bait fish is added.

It might be better suited for pure strain striper, but what do I know. Seems smallmouth would do well there too but seems to not be any push to stock them.