I am so glad to see Bob Lusk's article on Hybrid Stripers in the latest Pond Boss magazine. I have been working with and promoting hybrid stripers for about a decade now and have even tried the hatchery process. Hybrid Stripers have become my favorite pond fish, all around!
About 10 years ago George Glazener and I collected broodstock female striped bass from Lake Texoma and attempted to cross these with male white bass from Lake Limestone to produce the Palmetto Hybrid Striper. Then, after that failed attempt, we learned that Keo Fish Farm out of Arkansas produces the Sunshine bass (white bass female x striped bass male cross). So we attempted the reciprocal cross, which failed again, but was temporarily much more promising.
For the sake of accuracy, I believe there is a factual error in this article. Keo Fish Farms produces the Sunshine Bass, not the Palmetto. The Sunshine Hybrid Striped Bass may be easier to produce due to availability of brood stock, acceptance of prepared diets, and other factors. The Palmetto Hybrid Striped Bass is produced by state and government agencies for stocking public waters. I believe this explains why the HSBs available to us in the private sector from Keo seem to max out around 10lbs, while the public lakes may produce 20lb+ HSBs.
For those of you who need a reference or wish to learn more about Hybrid Stripers, see Culture and Propagation of Striped Bass and Its Hybrids, Available from American Fisheries Society.
Todd, I am so glad you posted in regard to Bob Lusk�a excellent Hybrid Striped Bass article in the current issue of PondBoss Magazine.
We really had a blast and continue to this day with our Hybrid Stripers that have been my favorite sport fish since building our first pond some 12 years ago - man how time flies!
Collection of brood stock from lake Texoma was fun and after fertilization with white bass, staying up all night with microscope watching eggs develop, brings back fond memories. That�s when we deciced that Keo Fish Farm was less labor intensive and cost effective than our approach.
Another point to add to Lusk�s article was beginning my quest for HSB fingerlings, TP&W biologists that I consulted with gave very negative opinions that HSB could not be successfully stocked in Texas farm ponds. A recent article in a TP&W publication now recommends stocking HSB in Texas farm ponds.
Yeah, �Hybrid Stripers - Culture and Propagation of Striped Bass and Its Hybrids, available from American Fisheries Society, has been my bible since your early recommendation many years ago.
I need to go back and bring up early posts about my first stocking HSB fingerlings in our pond with the following LMB frenzy!
Thanks for the memories my friend.
George Glazener
