Thanks to all that responded. Esshup, thank you for entering this conversation; I've been reading here for more years than I want to count and have respect for your opinions. In my opinion you are an expert whose thoughts I woud pay for. Without saying you are wrong (I'm not the expert) I'm still willing to put my money where my mouth is.
I stocked my pond with all Northern bass back in 97, even though I knew of Florida bass. Creating this pond I've made mistakes, not using Florida strain originally was one of them. I figured bass were bass, I was in a hurry back then, but my pond has never measured up to these two ponds. In my original post I did not elaborate on how similar the settings for these 3 ponds are. They are less than 15 miles apart in the Va. Peidmont so the soils are at least similar, all three are in mostly wooded areas with part time rain fed spring streams that dry up mid summer. The differences in the water should be minimal and the 2 ponds with the black fish have bred true for 3 decades. The appearance of these black fish is so different from all other ponds in this area and I want to have that for my pond. As far as F1 bass are concerned; after the fish kill there are still a few of my bass in the pond, I figure I will have a pond full of F1 bass by year 2 or 3.
I'd have pulled the trigger on this years ago but a source for the fish has been elusive, hence my plea to this group. Does anyone know about a source for bass somewhere near Lake Okeechobee, Florida? I would even be willing to pay an individual something fair to catch and transport or ship to me.
Kru Heller
Powhatan, Va.
