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Home > Current News > 2005

News: 2005

Atchafalaya Basin to Receive More Bass
Posted: 11/28/05

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Inland Fisheries Division will release 12,000 bass into the Atchafalaya Basin on Dec. 3 at the Belle River landing.

LDWF received the funding for the fish stocking from two grants from the Fish America Foundation in association with FLW Outdoors. The total of $ 10,000 is being distributed by the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundations.

The fish are 100 percent Florida largemouth bass and largemouth bass virus free. The 5-to-7-inch bass are considered phase II fingerlings.

"This release will enhance the genetic diversity in the basin for production of larger bass," said Tim Morrison, LDWF program manager. "These bass have a great chance for survival and should help create great fishing opportunities for years to come."

Volunteers from the Louisiana BASS Federation and other interested anglers will release the bass under LDWF supervision and instructions. LDWF is asking for volunteers who wish to help release the bass to show up at the Belle River Landing on Dec. 3 at 9 a.m.

The Florida largemouth bass are released in order to help introduce their genetic traits into the basin, which will expectantly produce larger fish for Louisiana anglers. LDWF stocks millions of Florida strain largemouth bass into Louisiana waterways each year. Facilities such as the Booker Fowler Fish Hatchery in central Louisiana support management plans with production of bass fry each spring.

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