That is because the limiting factor for growth and condition in a high % of waters is not strain or genetics but is not enough food for the LMB. Without enough food LMB strain and genetics never get a chance to evidence results. Only with enough food and good water quality can the other factors make a difference.
Greg I have seen 12 lb F-1s but not heard of any bigger. No published info on the subjest that I have seen.
When I started this post, I was thinking that food and water quality being equal, if you are far enough south, and want to challenge for a state record LMB, you are better off stocking florida strain LMB. Then I went and looked at the Texas Lunker Share pogram.
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/visit...5&Submit=GoFor the last 3 years, not only has Texas posted records of every LMB submitted to the lunkershare program, but they also have posted the results of genetic testing as to whether the bass was a pure strain florida LMB, or a hybrid florida/northern cross. I found the numbers surprising.
Of all of the 13 pound plus bass submitted, there were 34 pure strain LMB and 34 hybrid cross bass.
Of all of the 14 pound plus bass, there were 12 hybrids and 11 florida strain bass.
Of all of the 15 pound plus bass, there were 5 hybrid, and 4 florida strain bass.
Of all of the 16 pound plus bass, there were 3 hybrid and 1 florida strain bass.
I was expecting that as you increased the size of the bass, there would be a greater proportion of pure strain florida LMB. There aren't enough numbers for statistical significance, but it appears that the numbers skew in the opposite direction. More of the larger fish, especially when you look at the 15 and 16 pound fish, appear to be hybrids. This actually is consistent with the thinking that the world record fish, from Georgia,was a hybrid cross, and that most of the giants caught in California are also hybrid crosses.
I would think that the absolute best way to stock a new lake would be with stock from huge LMB caught in the same geographical area. For instance, in Virginia, if stocking a new lake and hoping for trophy bass, you might be best off using trophy fish caught from Briery Creek Lake, and Lake Connor, which have produced most of the huge fish in the state in the last 5 years. In California, you might be best served by stocking bass from Lake Castaic, and similarly productive waters. Certainly the food supply and water quality from the above waters played a huge role, but in stocking from proven stock, you would be nearly assured that your fingerlings would have the genetic potential to get huge, if given ideal growing conditions.
