I agree with the sales tax issue, much more important.


Honestly don't care a whole lot for the SAL program, but as long as it's privately funded I'm not too worried about it.

I have full faith in TP&W.
For someone to say we are depleting "their" lake of sharelunker genes by removing one, the would have to prove to me first of all that:
1) It is "their" lake. We all ( or most of us ) pay taxes and buy fishing licenses so we all have a right to any public lake to call "our" own.
2) That a particular sharelunker fish that has been turned in would have actually lived to spawn.
3) That the same fish would have actually been fertile and had a successful spawn.
4) That the natural conditions would have been right for those eggs to hatch, grow and live to be mature adults.

Lots of "What ifs" in this scenario.

They stocked some fry in Medina a year ago and now it takes twenty pounds to win?? I don't think so.. All of the Friday night tourneys last year took a keeper to win..

My .02 on Medina.. But I have fished it since 1960.. I lived in Castroville for 52 years and fished it twice a week for the last 30 years up until 2008..

And any fry that were put in it were not SL fry.. And none of the big fish that are being caught in Ivie, Falcon or Choke are SL fry either..

Do the research.. Ask questions.

The reason the Texas bass fishing is what it is.. Florida Bass.. And that's all a SL is..

So if you want to believe that SL is making a difference in the Bass you are catching: Go ahead.. Just thought you might like to know the truth..

But don't trust me.. Call TPWD and ask them if these 13 pounders are SL.. I dare you.. Ask for the biologist in charge of the lake you have questions about.. Whichever lake it may be..

P.S. Is SL totally funded by Toyota.. I don't think so..

Everybody has an opinion.. But I'm not using mine.. I'm using facts..

No, SAL is not funded solely by GST. And thanks, James.

I guess that if PAW takes the fish it becomes more fertile?
Do you think it has a better chance to survive it is hauled around all afternoon and put in a tank and then hauled eight hours in a truck?
And let's see.. Last year PAW took in 33 fish.. FOUR spawned and produced a miniscule ammount of fry..

My money says that we would have done a hell of a lot better if they would have left things to nature..

And Why in the hell would we want PAW to take the fish out, and then bring the fry back? Don't make any sense to me.. Oh I forgot.. They aren't bringing the hatchlings back.. Or if they do it is a pittance..

And if PAW hatches them by some miracle then they will surely survive to be mature adults?

Talk about a lot of what ifs..

I don't own the lake or any of the fish.. I'm just trying to protect it.. For me .. And for you..

I'm done..

SAL program is a genetic research program and a conservation effort for large fish. The total entries each year represent WAY less than 1% of the 13lb fish in a representative lake. The majority of SAL fingerling (in my opinion) should go to lakes to improve genetics. TPWD is the best at knowing which lakes those are. To say "MY" lake shouldn't donate to the program or "MY" lake should get all the fingerlings is pretty selfish. We should all be looking at improving Texas lakes statewide. That is what we fund TPWD to be doing.

I for one will continue to support TPWD and the SAL program until I see some type of damage being done by the program.

Doesn't appear to me that Operation World Record has been very successful. It has been going on for about 20 years and what are the notable results? Have we seen an increase in the number of fish over 13, 14, 15 lbs? The state record has stood for 20 years. A few years ago they took about 85% (about 67,000)of the SAL fry/fingerlings for that year and put in Naconiche. Seems to me like we would be better off having them distributed around to different lakes.

I will admit the SAL is a great publicity stunt and has worked well as a marketing tool. I have yet to see any figures released by the State that shows how the program has been any more successful than stocking lakes with pure Florida strain bass.

SAL was an innovative idea that has run its course. Kudos to TP@W for thinking outside the box. But I see no real benefit in its continued course. JMHO

Don't they take the sal back to the lake it was caught? I personally think the program it doing great things for the state. For some of the guys that don't like how it is being ran then go fish outside of Texas. It takes 20 lbs or more to win a tournament on just about any lake in Texas year round. Not to many other states can say the same. I do know there are a few lakes across the country that can produce 20+ pound stringers but that is only a few lakes in a few states.

The fact that it takes more than 20lbs to win a tournament in Texas has nothing to do with the SL program. It has more to do with location, climate, and forage. Does Mexico have a SL program??? No. It would take 50 or 60lbs to win a tournament on Salto or Sugar Lake.

Customers from other states are shocked to see how involved Texas Parks and Wildlife is with stocking and surveying...they do the best job of any state, no questions asked...and people still complain.

TPWD is THE model on which all U.S. P&W depts. strive to base their programs. At least those below the M/D Line managing for the maximum benefit to the ecosystem. No they're not perfect. But they are the best in the world at what they do, bar none. In fact, I should have said "where applicable, in the world."

Unfortunately, the department is not supported by funds from the sale of sporting goods and related services. However, we were sold on that idea because of Texans' passion for the outdoors. Don't lose that passion.

Sorry for the rant.

Zorro...I agree that climate has a little to do with it but not all of it otherwise Louisiana Alabama Mississippi Georgia etc would all produce heavy stringers consistently. As a matter of fact I think guntersville may be the only lake that does out of the states mentioned. Those lakes in Mexico have the fish they have because they were stocked and maintained by the guides and resorts that depend on those 4 or 5 lakes to produce quality fish. Kinda similar to the way Texas takes care of their lakes just on a smaller scale. Like a lot of you guys that are complaining I did to. Especially for the cost of a fishing license but after fishing in other states I realized just how well the state is taking care of its lakes

No Weighers, All I know is that whatever TPWD has done to help Medina and other Texas lakes is working, Medina's Saturday tournaments are producing some of the biggest stringers in several years whether its SAL fry or not. And since you like to use the word FACT, I have a FACT for you: TPWD knows a lot more about managing fisheries than anyone on this forum! Here is another FACT about Falcon: Far more fish from them same genetic pool are butchered at the state park cleaning station, than ever get donated to SAL program! FACT: You can do whatever you want with your legal fish! Just some FACTS! And as far as you wanting to protect the lake, I didn't know that was your job! I'll take my chances with the TPWD fisheries biologists, just my 2 cents!

If you are talking about the new/proposed Lake Naconiche in Nacogdoches County, I fail to see the potential. The lake has been under construction for 50 years and still is not open, and may not be open for years at the current rate of progress.

And, the lake is only something like 700 acres. With the fishing pressure it will have I don't see a lot of large bass potential for long unless a very restrictive size and creel limit is imposed. Since it took Nacogdoches County 50 years to build this pond I don't see much potential in them being able to manage it either.

I've been holding my breath on this lake for 40 years, but have come to the sad conclusion I will be long dead before anyone catches the first fish.