Pond Boss Forums FISH & FISHING Fly Fishing & Other Fish Species ID F-1 vs Northern Bass

This winter we are adding 1.5lb Northern Bass to our already stocked lake. The last stocking was 10 years ago with F-1's and we wanted to add "new life" to the population. Our current slot limit is 15" so I need to try and find comparison photos of the Northern vs the F-1 so I can send to our fishermen so they will not be removing the Northern by mistake. Can someone provide me with either the photos or an address where I might be able to get this? Guess the main question is are we going to be able to tell the difference?

I'll go out on a limb here and say, what is the possibility to tag them as I have heard others do. There would be no doubt then.

Hang on, I am sure others will be able to help you more.

You need to tag or fin clip them as you can't tell them apart (some claim they can)without genetics testing (not an option). You could try to count the lateral line scales but that is next to impossible to do with a live fish.

We are stocking 1400lb (70acres) so clipping a thousand Bass would be a daunting and expensive procedure. How about this, lowering the slot limit to 12" for say a year, they will be stocked in Dec so the pressure through the spring would be less than warmer months. At an average of 1.5 lb per fish they should be well over the 12" mark by April.

< 10 in the first year and < 12 the second year may work. For those few fish to make a solid change to the population genetics it would be best if they were never removed.