So, the Texas state record bass was 13.5# caught in 1945. That record stood for many, many years. When I was a kid, a 5# plus bass would get your picture in the home town paper. 10# fish were unheard of.
In 1971 the first Florida bass were brought to the hatchery in Athens, Tx by Charlie Inman. I live on Charlie's home lake, a 50 acre private east Texas lake. Charlie's wife still owns the home directly arcoss from mine. Charlie did the studies that created Florida bass stocking in Texas public waters. He also did the plan for Lake Fork, leaving almost all of the timber standing.
The top 50 bass in Texas were all caught since 1981. 36 of them from Fork. All have Florida genes, all but 4 have majority Florida genes. Of the 147 Lone Star Lunkers (over 13# bass) studied for DNA, all have Florida genes, and 89% have majority Florida genes. In every lake that was stocked with pure Florida genes, northern genes have shown up.
I fished Fork almost exclusively for 20+ years. I have caught over the slot bass in every month of the year. I have caught over the slot bass on a buzz bait in every month of the year except January. I didn't fish January very hard most years. Floridas feed all year in this climate. They are aggressive enough to chase down a buzz bait pretty much all year. Yes, they can be cranky and hard to catch at times.
Im my own limited study in our lake, almost every fish I catch has marks of being caught before. On occasion I'll catch a large fish that shows no marks. I think catchable fish are just that, catchable. I think a fair percentage of fish are naturally wary. Deer are similar. A truly big buck is naturally wary. That's how he got big.
In short, if you want to catch bass over 5# in Texas or other southern BOW, stock Florida genes. You already have northern genes most likely.
https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/...th-bass-changed-Texas-fishing-747031.phphttps://www.dallasnews.com/news/201...ewell-to-the-florida-strain-bass-master/https://www.itemonline.com/sports/outdoors-florida-bass-are-much-different-than-the-northern-largemouths-native-to-texas-waters-particularly/article_8fe8f2e1-50fd-577e-9cba-a8dafdb85676.html#:~:text=The%20first%20Florida%20bass%20fingerlings,snugly%20inside%20two%20insulated%20boxes.
