Pond Boss Forums STOCKING A NEW POND Types of fish to choose Florida Bass

Bill is correct. What Bob is saying is (see brand new PB mag) that northerns don't consistently get to 10 lbs like Fla fish can. Even half the Fla fish don't get big - males are small. 60 to 70% of LMB size is dependent on conditions and the rest is genetics. Plus there is still a lot to learn about F-1 and F-X LMB. Many of the Texas share a lunker LMB are LMB intergrades with a high % Fla but some Northern genes. In both Northerns and Fla its not just genes but more importantly gene expression (size is not always expressed). Also keep in mind that the upper geographical limits of pure Fla LMB is uncertain. In one study in WI they all died due to cold. I would not personally stock pure Fla LMB north of I-40 or at high elevation as the results would be less than desired.

Cody Note: For a more conservative and better long term survival success, I would not stock pure FLMB north of a horizontal line of Nortnern OK, AR, TN & NC. And even then during an unusual winter cold spell one could lose some of the best FLMB specimens that would negate years of time spend and years of good bass growing value. When the ability of growing big bass exists for using other strains of LMB or even hybrid striped bass, I do not trust Nature's unpredictable rath for taking a chance of using winter sensitive FLMB as far north as the I-40 interstate line.