LDWF announced its biologists stocked 126 pre-spawn pure Florida Largemouth Bass from its Booker Fowler Fish Hatchery into the Spring Bayou complex on Feb. 7.

AVOYELLES PARISH, La. (KLFY) -- Louisiana anglers have a new target, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

LDWF announced its biologists stocked 126 pre-spawn pure Florida Largemouth Bass from its Booker Fowler Fish Hatchery into the Spring Bayou complex on Feb. 7. Spring Bayou WMA is located two miles east of Marksville, off La. Hwys. 115 and 452. 

These adult bass are three years old and carry "big bass" Florida Largemouth Bass genes, officials said. The majority of these fish were 14-16 inches in length, included both males and females, and weighed 1.5- 2.5 pounds.

Native Louisiana, “Northern” Largemouth Bass do not tend to grow as large as Florida Largemouth Bass, but they are believed to be more aggressive and more eager to strike lures. Florida Largemouth Bass can grow to trophy size but can be more difficult to catch. These two species hybridize, offering anglers the best characteristics of both species, according to Biologist Manager Brad Launey.

“These newly stocked bass will begin spawning in the coming weeks as temperatures warm and will continue to spawn each spring as long as they live, increasing the proportion of Florida Largemouth Bass genes in the waterbody for years to come,” Launey said.

According to LDWF, the extreme drought conditions in 2023 created an unplanned, natural drawdown of the Spring Bayou complex. These low water events ultimately benefit fisheries by allowing accumulated organic matter occurring on the bottom to decay and compact as it dries, officials said. This releases nutrients back into the water column and makes them available to the aquatic food chain, and also improves and increases available spawning habitat, according to Inland Fisheries Biologist Director Kristi Butler.

“If normal weather patterns prevail over the next few years and water levels stabilize, anglers should see a boost in sportfish populations as a result of the improved conditions directly related to the recent fish stocking efforts, as well as the planned drawdown in 2022 and the drought-induced drawdown of 2023,” Butler said.

For additional information regarding stocking efforts in Spring Bayou, contact Brad Launey, LDWF District 6 Biologist Manager, at blauney@wlf.la.gov or 337-735-8712.

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