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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