Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - 16 lb bass

I oversee our POA 4 acre lake. We have a thriving CNBG population, FHM, and growing LMB population. A new resident has a strange request. She has this 16+ pound bass that Texas Parks and Wildlife will relocate to our POA lake. She is asking for permission to add it to our lake. My first thought is YES. But then how would this affect other fish and will our lake be able to adequately "grow" this bass? Our lake is about 5 years old and our largest bass caught to date is around 7+ pounds.

I've tentatively given her the go-ahead. Do I need to do anything to accommodate this bass? I'm thinking of adding more structure deeper in the lake to give it some better loafing areas.

Suggestions are very appreciated!
David

Lusk says 30-40% of mature fish stocked decline following introduction to new environment - good to remember this intel based on his professional experience.

If it were me, I would build a 10x10x5 floating cage and hand feed the fish until it routinely feeds on BG, Tilapia or Catfish fillets, etc. Once trained I would release and likely would have a resident trophy "pet" living beneath my dock I could feed at my leisure. I do this with my WE, SMB, YP, and BCP and feed 5x weekly - they're always present and ready to hammer cut BG and grow very fast.

IMHO, this fish will likely never grow, in fact it's more likely it will decline and die.
Lusk had a very good example of a gent spending many 1,000's of dollars on large fish to make a trophy pond, including stocking 1000's of appropriate sized BG to support them.
When they are grown in one place they are programmed to continue in the same manner, which we know can never be duplicated.
My personal opinion.

This is an opportunity that won't ever come up again, Take the trophy and wish and hope it makes it through next year's spawn. It might make it through the transfer and survive. Maybe net off a large area where you can provide the right size and type of forage the fish wants. I think that would give the large lmb a good shot at surviving the transfer. Then after a time-release the fish by dropping the net and let it swim off into the sunset.

Would think a 16# bass would likely eat the largest forage that smaller bass couldn't eat. Even if it doesn't grow it would add it's genetics to the pond if it can spawn.

JUST DO IT.

And add more feeders and some additional forage maybe, since it will eat a LOT (we hope)