New breed of bass coming to SML

[Eric]

By John Stang @ SmithMountainEagle.com
May 6, 2015


A group called the Smith Mountain Lake Bass Restoration Project plans to stock the lake with a new breed of largemouth bass. It’s an attempt by the organization to strengthen the bass fisheries and broaden SML’s appeal for tourists.


The goal is to stock SML with 40,000 Largemouth F1 Tigerbass within two years. They’ll stock 20,000 near the third week of May and another 20,000 in May 2016. It costs $10,000 to stock 20,000 fish.

“This bass has a reputation throughout the southeast…as a large size trophy fish,” said Robert Wood, the founder of the SML Bass Restoration Project.


The term F1 indicates that it’s a genetic cross between a Florida Largemouth Bass and a North Largemouth Bass. SML has bass in the lake with similar characteristics.


“It’s essentially the same type of bass we have in the lake now,” said Dan Wilson, a fisheries biologist for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.


The bass will come from American Sportfish Hatchery in Montgomery, Alabama. Wood said his organization has raised $2,900. If they do not achieve the full amount to stock, his organization will self fund the first part of the experiment. Funding for the project has come from lake area businesses and organizations. The fish will be 2 inches in length when first stocked. A tournament quality fish for this fish is 14 inches, which Wood hopes to produce in three years.


“I expect these fish to gain 1.5 lbs in the first year,” Wood said.

[Eric]

I don't know about you guys, but I sure don't look forward to more boats on the lake. I guess I'm just a little stingy when it comes to sharing an already overcrowded lake.

My bad I guess

[striperjohn]

More food for our stripers.

[mwardncsu]

May 7, 2015 14:32:15 GMT -5 striperjohn said:

More food for our stripers.

Or less....... These "F1 Tiger Bass" are reported as being more aggressive than "regular" bass. Given the discussion from Dan Wilson about potential concern of not enough big shad and that being something affecting Striper growth rate, I raised a question with him about any potential conflict in that regard. I'll have to dig up his response but the net was that he did not view it as a material difference or concern.

This private stocking is being done with authorization / permit from DGIF under Dan's approval.

[Eric]

The goal is to stock SML with 40,000 Largemouth F1 Tigerbass within two years. They’ll stock 20,000 near the third week of May and another 20,000 in May 2016. It costs $10,000 to stock 20,000 fish.

For the size of SML, these amounts are a very small drop in a very big bucket.  I doubt this will affect the lake or Stripers at all.  I think you would be very hard pressed to even catch one anytime soon (years).

[formula180]

So if the lake gets too crowded...Even boat hull numbers on even numbered days and odd numbers on odd numbered days.

I may have to buy another boat with an odd number hull.

I still think more weed cover in the coves is needed for fingerlings to survive and feed.

[mwardncsu]

Formula - you are likely on to something there. This has been discussed by a number of folks - the grass carp and spraying to get rid of weeds serves on groups interest but not all.