Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Which Bass Type - F-1 Tigers or Native

A couple of points.

Only female Fla LMB are big. Males are small and smaller than northerns.

There is not a lot of difference in size between female F-1s (F-Xs) and female Fla LMB. Hatchery F-1s (from good hatcheries) are from female Fla LMB selected for size and aggressive male Northerns selected for aggressiveness and size. The F-1 in that case has both parents selected for large size. The normal Fla female is not selected for size but may have the gene.

In addition IMO 90% of growth (large size) is based on access to lots of food of the right size and good growing conditions. Only part is due to genetics. To have a really big fish you need the genes and food and conditions.

Studies and unpublished evidence indicates that female LMB with high % Fla genes and a small amount of northern genes (F-X) can be just as large as a Fla female and not exhibit reduced catchability (same catchability as a northern). That is the exact reason hatcheries started creating F-1s. It is believed that the one time world record LMB (22 lbs from Fla/GA) was an F-X as they are common in that water body.

Unpublished data (not new but years old) from TPWD but included in published in a peer reviewed study based on scientist to scientist discussion indicates that some of the fish submitted to TPWD for inclusion (very large LMB) were F-X LMB with high % Fla genes.