Virginia expanding F1 bass stocking program!! YES!!

[Darren.]

https://dwr.virginia.gov/blog/dwrs-f1-largemouth-bass-stocking-program-faq/

 

Quote

This current experimental stocking program is focusing on a set of large reservoirs. We are stocking these fish into Smith Mountain Lake, Claytor Lake, Lake Anna, Lake Chesdin, and Beaverdam Swamp Reservoir. Because this experiment is directed toward large reservoirs, it will be separated from any other work we might do with F1 fish on small impoundments (under 500 ac) or tidal waters. Those resources will be treated separately on a case-by-case basis.

 

[Choporoz]

 

"The idea behind stocking these fish is we want to try to enhance the trophy fishery component in our big lakes. If we can get fish to a trophy size faster, then theoretically there will be more trophy-sized fish in the lake."

[flyfisher]

We will have to check back in 10 years to see if it worked though 

[RHuff]

Is this following the Chickamauga model? 

[TnRiver46]

On 12/18/2020 at 2:06 PM, RHuff said:

Is this following the Chickamauga model? 

All they do there is stock the Florida’s and let them breed with regular bass. The big ones are always first generation hybrids (like 99%)

 

they also do it in Kentucky lake, watts bar, fort loudoun, nickajack, pickwick and even Cherokee after they realized it worked 

[fish365]

11 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

All they do there is stock the Florida’s and let them breed with regular bass. The big ones are always first generation hybrids (like 99%)

 

they also do it in Kentucky lake, watts bar, fort loudoun, nickajack, pickwick and even Cherokee after they realized it worked 

Didn't realize that they had introduced them into Cherokee. That would be great news if they make it.

[TnRiver46]

22 minutes ago, fish365 said:

Didn't realize that they had introduced them into Cherokee. That would be great news if they make it.

You know, it was proposed years ago, not sure if they actually did it or not 

 

the 2020 data says they didn’t stock Florida’s in Cherokee but they put a ton in KY lake 

[Nitrofreak]

On 12/10/2020 at 8:23 PM, flyfisher said:

We will have to check back in 10 years to see if it worked though 

Even then, you won’t know unless a biological test is done the way the article reads.

[soflabasser]

Looks like the weather has gotten much warmer the past couple of years if Virginia believes F1 hybrid largemouth bass will do well there.

[amoss]

they have been thriving in smith mountain for years.

[Nitrofreak]

On 1/23/2021 at 10:33 PM, amoss said:

they have been thriving in smith mountain for years.

I was having a conversation with some friends about this topic, I did not know that it was a group outside of the DWR that worked to get them stocked in SML, I found that pretty interesting, I forget the number that was originally stocked but he too had said they were doing very well.

[TravisVirginiaAngler]

On 1/11/2021 at 9:02 PM, soflabasser said:

Looks like the weather has gotten much warmer the past couple of years if Virginia believes F1 hybrid largemouth bass will do well there.

My private lake has had them in Central VA for 15 years now in 6' max depth waters and the F1 Hybrid does very well. Even in the coldest VA winters they thrive.  Hope this helps.

[Darren.]

4 hours ago, TravisVirginiaAngler said:

My private lake has had them in Central VA for 15 years now in 6' max depth waters and the F1 Hybrid does very well. Even in the coldest VA winters they thrive.  Hope this helps.

That is great to know!

[soflabasser]

18 hours ago, TravisVirginiaAngler said:

My private lake has had them in Central VA for 15 years now in 6' max depth waters and the F1 Hybrid does very well. Even in the coldest VA winters they thrive.  Hope this helps.

There is no denying that the weather has gotten warmer in the past 10 years. This is a scientific fact just like the sea level is rising in some parts of the world. That is why it is no surprise that more Northern states are able to have Florida largemouth bass and F1 hybrids when before it was too cold for them.

[Spy]

'Too cold' is what they used to say about Possums in the north but those critters are thriving in the snow! In fact, fattened up and with beautiful coats they look nothing like there southern counterparts. Remember when it was 'too cold' for Snakeheads? Critters adapt to almost any condition outside of outright physical impossibility so I see no surprise in the success of the F1 stock and hope this continues throughout the region.

[TnRiver46]

12 hours ago, Spy said:

'Too cold' is what they used to say about Possums in the north but those critters are thriving in the snow! In fact, fattened up and with beautiful coats they look nothing like there southern counterparts. Remember when it was 'too cold' for Snakeheads? Critters adapt to almost any condition outside of outright physical impossibility so I see no surprise in the success of the F1 stock and hope this continues throughout the region.

Thank God the water in East TN is still “too cold” for cottonmouth !!! They can stay in west TN! I hope they don’t start adapting like the F1 bass haha! Darn things are ornery