There are thousands of reservoirs in the United States, nearly all constructed during the twentieth century. The hey-day of reservoir construction was in the ‘50’s, ‘60’s and 70’s and can be argued as the single most important factor in the expansion of the sport fishing industry. However, the rate of large-reservoir construction has since declined almost to a halt as suitable construction sites have already been developed and as society’s environmental sensitivities have shifted. As reservoir construction has declined over the past 40 years so too has angling participation. There are many social causes of declining participation but aging reservoirs almost certainly is a factor.

What we do today will reflect on how our children see things tomorrow. We are all stewards of our planet. We are responsible for overseeing how well it is taken care of and to lessening the negative impact on the environment. Recycled Fish takes this to heart and is looking to the future by engaging other anglers to defend our waters and make a positive impact by buying or sponsoring a Stewardship kit.

Education is the key to understanding why and what should be done for fish obviously in the state of hyperbuoyant.  Dr. Hal Schramm is leader of the U.S. Geological Survey Mississippi Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and professor in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries at Mississippi State University. Dr. Schramm explains, “When bass and other sport fish, like crappie and walleye, are rapidly brought from deep water to the surface, atmospheric pressure is quickly reduced, the air in the swim bladder expands, and the fish is unable to maintain an upright position and swim back to deep water.  This condition is called hyperbuoyant and excess pressure can be relieved by depressurizing or repressurizing.”

It has been said that water is the most critical resource issue of our lifetime and our children’s lifetime. Owners of ranches know this well and have taken many steps to protect the waters on their land. Some of the most innovative progress in conservation of water has been occurring on private property, in which owners are realizing the many benefits of revitalizing the waters on their lands. The recent surge of private conservation efforts has been a result of developing sporting opportunities.

The state of Texas began stocking largemouth bass in 1941 back when TPWD was known as Texas Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission. From 1941 through 1971 only northern strain largemouth bass were stocked into Texas public waters. In 1972, TPWD began stocking lakes with Florida largemouth bass and since then has stocked 325 public lakes. TPWD stocks Toledo Bend and Sam Rayburn almost every year with Florida largemouth bass. Florida largemouth bass are stocked to either increase the allele frequency (number of Florida largemouth bass genes) of the existing population, to supplement limited recruitment, or help recover from a catastrophic loss of fish. Florida largemouth bass are capable of growing more rapidly and reaching larger sizes than northern largemouth bass. TPWD has been successful in altering the genetic composition of bass populations through its stocking program. TPWD stocks most of its Florida largemouth bass not to increase the overall number of fish in a lake but to increase the Florida allele frequency in order to provide a population of bass capable of growing to larger sizes. In 2006 there was nearly 15 million bass requested by the TPWD management districts, with just 6 million fish actually produced and stocked. Having shortfalls between what is requested and what TPWD hatcheries can realistically produce is typical for most years. It is because of these shortfalls and total cost, that TPWD must become more efficient with its bass stockings and still obtain our objectives.