Future Fannin Co. lake stocked with bass fingerlings

"So we know that these have good genetics and it's a good way to get these fish started in this lake so that the population can only expand as the lake fills," says Greg Cummings with Texas Parks and Wildlife.

It was a special delivery, Tuesday afternoon, to Bois d'Arc Lake which has been under construction since last year.

2,000 Florida largemouth bass fingerlings were stocked in the footprint of the future Fannin County lake.

This makes Bois d'Arc Lake the first lake in Texas to be stocked exclusively with selectively-bred trophy bass.

"When this lake fills up, we're jump-starting the genetics in the lake," says Kyle Brookshear, coordinator of the ShareLunker program for Texas Parks and Wildlife.

The lake's primary purpose is to provide drinking water, but also to be a "hub" for recreation.

"What we do is we collect genetic information on those fish. Anything Lunker size which is what we call anything over 8 pounds. And we collect fish that are over 13 pounds and we selectively breed them for their genetic capabilities," says Brookshear.

These State biologists say these fish came from a 13-pound bass caught near Abilene, and bred in Athens.

They're putting the fish in place now because by the time reservoir opens, the fish should be fully grown.

"I think once it opens to angling, there will be a lot of popularity, a lot of people wanting to just come out and test the waters and see what the fishing has to offer here," says Cummings.

And if you're thinking about getting in on the angling action right now, forget about it. The exact location of the fish is top secret for now.

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