Believe me, why Fork is so good and Cooper isn't has been widely and much discussed around these parts.
Opinions are as follows:
Fork was well managed. The existing ponds that would be flooded by the lake were rotenoned and then stocked with brood fish which would fill the lake. Some ponds got bluegill, some minnows... So when the lake was filled, there was a more or less established prey / predator base.
Cooper was not so well managed. Soon after being stocked, it had a hugh overflow, water was over the spillway by 4 to 6 feet for days. May have washed lots of fish out.
I have also heard it surmised that Cooper may have contacted bass fever in the past.
As said before, all these are opinions. Opinions are like hineys. Everybodys got one and yours stinks! ;-)
