I have been looking on the TPWD site and checking out the stocking history of some of the lakes I fish. Then I checked out the stocking history of Lake Fork. WOW!!!!! NOT to my surprise, Fork has been stocked on average about every year since 1995, with at least an average of 550K fingerlings. Now I know that the Share Lunker program has contributed to some of that, but come on. The lakes around Abilene i.e Hubbard Creek was last stocked in 2003, and in 1991 prior, with an avg. of 300K fingerlings. We all buy a fishing license, which a portion of our fees (which are going up) are supposed to go towards stockings, I think. I was just wondering why such a discrepancy in how lakes are stocked. I know O.H Ivy(last stocked in 1991, with 19K), and Hubbard Creek get hit pretty heavy, just like Fork. What are your opinions?

Lake Fork has always been TPWD's baby...dont know the numbers but the number of people who fish Fork every year would be mind boggling.

The real gripe is that the government isnt keeping all the money intake from fishing license's ect... and putting it back into FISHING. Their using a high % to build highways ect...

Fishermen and Fisherwomen spend literally 10's of millions yearly on our sport. We not only have to buy a overpriced license, and then have to turn around and pay a freaking launch fee, to luanch our boat and then have to beach the darn thing because our WELL spent dollars won't buy us a dock to tie up too. I would like to see an itemized report of where our money is going. State wide, lake facilities are terrible.

A few years ago I sent a question to TP&W via e-mail about LMB stocking of Lake Lavon and received a very detailed explanation of how they determine what lakes (and when) to stock a specific lake.

Perhaps you could do the same and post the answer here?

You can complain all you want; however, it will fall on deaf ears........... TPWD have always favored Fork and will continue to do so...

The rest of us just get the left overs which has never made any sense to me.......

If it is based upon share lunker program, this coming year Choke Canyon should receive the Lion's share... What you want to bet that it does not.......

JMHO

I was just wondering the same thing the other day. As a Bank fisherman my preference is ponds that TPWD has stocked with Bass but last time for one was 1999. The Bass are few and far between in some of these ponds and I wanted to see if someone could somehow request a study be done to see if a stocking my be in order.

plates for autos (sportsman edition) licens fees and tax money more goes to the general fund than to fisheries

Notice the lack of Share a Lunkers from Alan Henry. Just a few years back we were catching 9-11 SAL's a year. But your good ol TPWD has not stocked LAH in many years(just the babies from SAL's). I really think they don't like driving too far to pick up SAL's. That leaves Falcon, Amistad, Ivie, Hubbard and for that matter anything not considered east texas out in the cold. It just makes me mad because there are some great fishermen and women in other parts of the state that would like to catch quality fish consistantly but can't. Our bass are like the quail population (either boom or bust).

Ben K

This topic has been beat around. If I remember right according to TPWD the goal of stocking is to increase the genetics of bass not to increase the population. There are exceptions where fish kills or other factors have led them to stock to increase populations. Most stocking is based on the % of true florida bass genes and the attempt to increase that %. Habitat and water levels have much more to do with the fish population on large resevoirs than stocking by TPWD. Do a search and you will find alot of informatioin both true and false on this topic. Most often I find that TPWD has good logical reasons for their management whether you like them or not. It's hard to find a more successful state agency when it comes to largemouth bass.

I don't buy that!!!! It is just more hogwash..........

Some lakes are just treated better than others.... Keep the Florida's just provide native; but, provide something...

If I caught a share lunker it goes back in the lake after a picture, that way I know the genetics stay in our lakes and not in Athens or where ever it is at.........

Once again, JMHO!

i gotta say i agree with that statement....i dont hear anyone arguing so much about catching share lunkers as much as they are trying to get a good population of any species of bass to catch and have some fun.

And your point is?????????????

Lake Fork gets special treatment, always has and probably always will....

I don't have one, I'm Forked.