Although black bass stocking programs in southern reservoirs have met with limited success for increasing catch or enhancing size structure, stocking of Florida largemouth bass subspecies has provided trophy potential in some waterbodies. Florida bass have been shown to grow to larger sizes because they are able to live longer and have a lower vulnerability to hook and line. Integration of Florida bass genes into local populations may have potential to provies trophy size fish to anglers through multi-year stocking programs if Florida bass fingerlings are stocked early enough in the year.

TWRA has followed the lead of Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, and Virginia in identifying waterbodies with proper environment for Florida bass introduction (Figure 1). We have identified two study areas: the Harmon Creek embayment of Kentucky Lake and Chickamauga Reservoir, and have been actively stocking these locations since 1998 and 1999, respectively. Currently, we are conducting annual genetic sampling to determine the stocking success and integration of Florida bass genes.

In order to get fish stocked early in the growing season, we must rely on a limited Florida and other states south of Tennessee. This limits the number of sites TWRA can stock beyond those that are off limits due to climatic concerns. We also bought fingerlings from private fish dealers for the Chickamauga project through a partnership with Chattanooga bass anglers. Future Florida bass introductions will depend on the success of the current programs after 5 years of annual stockings and the future availability of fingerlings.

Figure 1 Portion of Tennessee deemed suitable for Florida largemouth bass (FLMB) based on latitude and heating degree days. (click image for larger view)