[oldschool]

The Texas Share a Lunker program is the only state operated genetic engineering bass development program that I know of. The fisherman receives a plastic mount replica of the bass he donates and I believe the bass is returned after stripping eggs, if the fisherman stipulates that, otherwise the bass remains in captivity. The Texas program operates on a grant and funded by taxes at a cost a several million dollars, most states have a difficult time just maintaining their state wild life management programs.
The Share a Lunker program is genetically engineering bass to maximize growth to grow a new world record and is contraversal among fisheries management professionals. There are private funded programs doing similar studies at universities and by individuals.
California was not the first state to transplant bass from Florida, however was the most successful in regards to achieving giant growth rates, which by the way was not the goal. San Diego city lakes manager Orville Ball initiated the program back in 1959, which was managed by Jim Brown, to introduced the Florida strain bass into San Diego's city lakes, to improve bass fishing over all. San Diego biologist Larry Botroff studied the impact of introducing Florida strain LMB for over 35 years in San Diego's lakes. The Florida's proved to be more difficult to catch and the catch rate per man hour went down when compared to native northern strain bass catch rates. Survival rates in lakes the had freezing temperatures was poor for the Florida strain, therefore biologically the Florida bass introduction was considered a failure. The fact that bass were growing to giant size in San Diego's lakes and the lakes became world famous as a result was a secondary issue. The Florida strain LMB were planted in several California reservoirs because of their growth rate and the results are now a matter of record. California's bass are not been managed beyond initial stocking, other than population management, and no genetic engineering has occurred to these bass other than natural selection within the lakes environment. California Fish and Game department does not stock Florida strain bass or restock any bass after the initial stocking program, the bass populations are self sustaining.
Tom

 

[oldschool]

If a genetically engineered LMB or a farm raised bass becomes the next world record it will cause a lot of problems within the bass fishing community. Genetically engineered or farm raised bass should be classified separately in my opinion. So farTexas has not been successfull in improving on the growth rate of Florida strain LMB. The program is stocking and managing genetic LMB into Texas reservoirs and bass fisherman tend to restock bass into other regional lakes.
Tom
ps; This may sound like sour grapes on my part, being from California. I do not care where the next world record is caught, as long as it is a legal catch and a natural bass, not a genetic cross between a LMB and a black sea bass for example. There should also be a world record established for northern strain LMB and a separate record (currently 22.25 lbs-Perry) for the Florida strains.

 

[oldschool]

California started it's Florida bass transplants with pure Florida strain LMB from Cypress Springs FL. To date nothing grows faster than pure Florida strains in California or anywhere else for that matter. As the pure Florida's intregrate with other native bass, the growth rate changes and the bass tend to max out at 15 to 17 lbs. We have lakes that do not have any trout, lake Hodges for example, where pure Florida's have reached 20.4 lbs. It's not the trout diet, it is the whole echosystems heath at the time the bass are introduced that affects the growth rate. I have caught 2 bass that exceed the Texas record and know these special bass better than most fisherman. It's my opinion that genetically altering these bass is not a good thing for our sport. I believe Texas should have stayed with the pure Florida LMB they stated with.
Tom
ps; told you this would be controversial!

 

[oldschool]

Oldschool, I would have to agree with you on this. Would love to see the pics of your fish that are bigger then 18lbs. I never get tired of seeing huge bass. One day I hope to have one on the end of my line.

However, I will say that I doubt bass grow faster anywhere in the country then right here in Florida. This is where they are from and we get up to 3lbs per year in some lakes. Not all lakes mind you. I have heard that the Stick Marsh had growth rates like that.

Florida strain LMB are a different specie of bass than northern LMB. For example Florida's have 64 to 69 lateral line pore scales and grow about 2 inches longer. Northern LMB have 58 or less lateral line pore scales and growth under 28" length.The larger skeleton carries more weight per inch, for example my largest northern LMB is 12.3 lbs and 26.5" long X 21" girth, the 18.8 Florida was 28.5" long X28" girth! Different bass that may look alike, they are not the same. There are a few In-Fisherman pitures published. Just don't like my photos being everywhere.
Tom

 

[oldschool]

Keith, do you use "soft plastic" or "rubber" worms. I think it's the same nomenclature as calling the mount "plastic" or something that plastic refers to.
Thanks for your opinion but it is just that.
The reason for the program is to breed the big ones for future generations. You have no idea if it works or not.
Henry is new to the big bass scene and had the most put into the program last year albiet they may have had some in the past but not the amount of last year.
Thanks for straightening me out. You belong in California with the rest of the big mouths..............

The replica mounts are fiberglass that is layed into a plaster mold originally made from a real bass. Most taxidermist will have several molds of bass from 8 lbs and up depending on the region the taxidermist is in. The molds are very detailed, however eyes, gills and some fins are added to the fiberglass. The art involved is in the painting of the fiberglass, some are excellent.
I thought Texas had the biggest of everything, including mouths.
Tom

 

[oldschool]

Joking aside, every Texan with a bass boat should be fishing Amistad. The lake is hot in it's prime, plus it is pre-spawn there. Get off this board and go there now!! I have experienced big bass booms several times and they are rare. The conditions are right, the time is right and the next 3 months should be great fishing.
Tom

 

[oldschool]

Texas appears to be managing their fishery resources very well verses California neglecting ours. The issue that I brought up was the ethics in genetic engineering verses Share A Lunker programs initial goal of selective egg harvest. Apparently the vast majority of bass fisherman don't care how the bass achieved it's record growth, as long as it there for them to catch. To date the largest bass are pure Florida strain, regardless of where they were initially introduced. The F1, F2, F3 intregrates tend to have an accelerated growth rate and achieve 10 to 12 lbs in 6 years, their ultimate weight has not exceeded 19 lbs., in California or Texas.
Tom

 

[oldschool]

Tom,

Do you really think California has neglected the bass out there? I think they must be doing something right since you guys have such gigantic bass.

California Department of Fish and Game, as it is known here, really does not manage bass fisheries beyond enforcing regulations, such as limit sizes and fishing license. The Florida bass introduction was initiated by San Diego city lakes, independent of the State Fish & Game, one time back in 1959. The majority Florida strain bass in California came from that initial stocking of lake Upper Otay from ponds that are know covered by lake Miramar. San Diego planted their lakes from Upper Otay lake. The Ventura county lakes Casitas and Cuchuma were stock with bass out of Upper Otay in 1971, Lake Castaic in 1972, Isabella in 1976. since that time private bass clubs have purchased pure Florida strain bass from the state of Florida and transplanted into several northern California's lakes. The Friends of Castiac purchased fingerling Pure Florida's in an effort to reestablish Castiac back to national prominence back in 1998. Diamond Valley lake was stocked with pure Flodia's as it was being filled about 9 years ago. All these stockings are one time efforts, with the exception of Castiac having 2 plants. The bass sustain themselves without any additional help for California Fish & Game. Bass clubs lobby to have a few spawning coves closed off for 2 months in their local lakes, like Castaic and Casitas, however this is not a regulation, only honorary. California bass fisherman are very good at practicing catch and release, however the weekend fisherman harvest what they catch over 12 inch minimum legal size, plus the mortality rate is high for giant bass. It is amazing that we have the bass fisheries we have.
Tom

 

[oldschool]

Something is being done right somewhere. I'd say it is the education of the average bass angler, and the fact they are not the easiest fish to catch(the lunkers) from the bank. Just my opinion.

It has a lot to do with the bass themselves, they are a tough fish.
Consider lake Castaic, world renown for giant bass a decade ago and still would be if stripped bass were kept out of the lake. Castaic is a small 2 1/2 mile lake that is deep (330 ft at the dam), is located within the county limits of Los Angeles and operated by the city of LA for drinking water storage and sells water for agriculture use. Most years the lake is drawn down during (while the bass are trying to spawn) spawning period. Tournaments are held weekly all year around and at night during summer. It is not unusual to have over 300 boats fishing daily during the peak warm months. Castiac bass have been pressured all their life and still manage to maintain a good population a big bass. It's not the management, it's the little green fish surviving somehow.
Tom