3/11/07--Two Ocmulgee PFA Bass

[Lightninrod]

After I'd been there about an hour, I watched a young guy catch an 8 lber. He told me he was using a weightless Trick Worm and fishing it up against the northern bank. A few minutes later, he catches a 3 lber.

I rigged up a Swimming Senko on a 3/0 Gamakatsu weedless hook wacky style and hauled water for about an hour. Then at about 12 PM, I felt something(?) but no 'tick' or 'thump' so I did a mild hookset and the fight was on. Brought a 6lb, 3 ouncer to the boat. The same guy and I were fishing the north bank so he saw the 6 lber. He then catches a 2.5 lber and I hooked a 3 lb, 4 ouncer, all on the same baits.

If you look closely, you can see how these F1 females(that's the only Bass in this lake--no males) have a smaller mouth then the 'normal', Florida strain L/M Bass. They fight a little harder too. Though they can't produce any offspring, they must still think it's getting time to spawn. Water temps ran from 59 to 65 degrees F.

6 lber:

3 lber:

Dan

[T-rig]

Very nice fish! They sure look like northern strain bass. You say they can't reproduce but the 6lber looks like it's fool of eggs or do they produce infertile eggs?

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Couple of beauties Dan!!!!

[Lightninrod]

Very nice fish! They sure look like northern strain bass. You say they can't reproduce but the 6lber looks like it's fool of eggs or do they produce infertile eggs?

They can't reproduce because there are no male Bass there to provide the fertilization.  The State built it and manages it for Trophy-size Bass.  Someone came up with that idea and so far, it works.  It's only been stocked for about 2 years and yet, look at the size of the Bass being caught there.  The females only have to eat and lay eggs, getting fatter and fatter.  They are growing at an amazing rate.

Here's another 6 lber I caught back in July of 2006:

Dan

[Gotta Love It]

Nice fish!!!  That is a neat concept with introducing female fish only...  Is there any information on this?

[T-rig]

Interesting project! Cool hat Dan! Will they introduce males at one point?

[Blue Eyed Fisher Chick]

I used to have a hat just like that, not sure what happened to it though    Those are some very nice looking fish!!  Great Job!

[Lightninrod]

More info on the stocking of that PFA:

According to WRD Region Supervisor of Fisheries Les Ager, some of the bass stocked in the lake were F1s, the super-fast-growing Florida/Northern-cross strain of largemouths. Too, all the bass stocked were female.

A bass grows according to the energy it expends, said Les. We stocked all female bass, and when you eliminate reproduction you keep the density low, and the fish grow rapidly. The fish don't have to fan beds and go through courtship or have to guard eggs and fry that's energy saved that goes into growth. The lake has an incredible amount of forage, and the fish are growing rapidly. The bass are two years old, and they average about 4 1/2 pounds, with some exceptional fish in the 6- to 7-lb. range.

Forage in the lake includes shiners, threadfin shad and bluegill. Les expects to see bass in the 10-lb. range by next year. All bass fishing is catch-and-release.

If you want big fish in numbers, you have to put them back, said Les. We are likely to keep that restriction, and we know what will happen: the lake will grow a lot of big bass.

According to Fisheries Biologist Keith Weaver, approximately 1,100 yearling bass were stocked in the lake, and between a third and half of those fish were F1s.

And thanks for the comments on my Lee Engineer's cap.  My maternal granddaddy was a railroad man all of his adult life.

Dan

[roadwarrior]

Great day, good fish, nice post and cool pics!

You da Man!

[bighed]

How would you like to be the first male that finds it's way into that lake, lol.   ;D  I'm not familiar with the F1 term, can you explain it a little more and why the fishes mouths are so small?  Thanks, big

[Pond Hopper]

Man those are a couple of beautiful fish, makes my spring fever worse.  Watch out for the males though, Jurassic Park comes to mind.  

[Lightninrod]

How would you like to be the first male that finds it's way into that lake, lol.   ;D  I'm not familiar with the F1 term, can you explain it a little more and why the fishes mouths are so small?  Thanks, big

Some F1 info:

Anglers and biologists in these states haven't given up on improving the genetics of their bass populations though. Tennessee recently began a Florida bass stocking program in several lakes in an effort to give their bass populations every 'boost' possible. Georgia and Alabama have been conducting experimental stockings with an F1 hybrid largemouth. The F1 is the first generation offspring of a female Florida bass and a male northern bass. The F1's are touted as having some of the best qualities of both strains - the aggressiveness of the northern bass and the faster growth and larger size of the Florida bass, combined with a good dose of hybrid vigor. An F1 bass in Alabama was reported to grow to a fantastic 7 1/2 pounds in just 27 months. While an aggressive, fast growing, large bass sounds like a dream come true, the jury is still out on whether or not these fish will truly make a difference in large reservoirs.

About that PFA specifically:

A bass grows according to the energy it expends, said Les. We stocked all female bass, and when you eliminate reproduction you keep the density low, and the fish grow rapidly. The fish don't have to fan beds and go through courtship or have to guard eggs and fry that's energy saved that goes into growth. The lake has an incredible amount of forage, and the fish are growing rapidly. The bass are two years old, and they average about 4 1/2 pounds, with some exceptional fish in the 6- to 7-lb. range.

Forage in the lake includes shiners, threadfin shad and bluegill. Les expects to see bass in the 10-lb. range by next year. All bass fishing is catch-and-release.

If you want big fish in numbers, you have to put them back, said Les. We are likely to keep that restriction, and we know what will happen: the lake will grow a lot of big bass.

[fezkoe]

Nice fish you got there. Those are things to be proud of. And thats pretty cool how your lake is growing fish to be awesome. You should almost never leave dissapointed.

[Lightninrod]

Another 3 lber from today, same place but on a T-rigged GY lizard.  Another one broke my line ???

[BadKarma42]

Nice work

[Lightninrod]

Another PFA F1 female(from 3/20/07), a 3 lb, 12 ouncer:

She inhaled a T-rigged GY Lizard.  Also caught a 2 lber but no pics of her.

Dan

[flyphisher #]

NIce fish.

If I am not mistaken the PFA has only been open to fishing for a few years. It was built and then stocked in the late 90's.

[Bassassasin12]

wow what a great body of water you have access too. I wish there were places like that around here.

Those fishes mouths defenitly look really small for their bodies!

[Lightninrod]

FP:  I believe you are mistaken as this report shows(Open June 10, 2006).  You may be thinking of the Dodge County PFA(where I caught my PB in 2005) that was opened in 1992?  Those Ocmulgee PFA F1 females are growing at an astounding 4+ lbs per year !

T-rig:  I don't know but I don't think so?

Dan

[flyphisher #]

I was thinking about Dodge co, looking at the post time, i was a little impaired ....Was it really open in 92?? ....Where is Ocmulgee at? Looks like fun. Have you been to Lucas yet? thoughts?

[Lightninrod]

I was thinking about Dodge co, looking at the post time, i was a little impaired ....Was it really open in 92?? ....Where is Ocmulgee at? Looks like fun. Have you been to Lucas yet? thoughts?

Yes, according to the link it was.  

From my first link:

Dan