The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has been hard at work stocking Florida largemouth bass fingerlings into public waters across the state as part of an ongoing effort to improve fishing opportunities and grow larger trophy bass populations in Louisiana.

According to LDWF Inland Fisheries, biologists have already stocked approximately 3 million Florida bass fingerlings in more than 50 public waterbodies this spring, with additional stockings planned through mid-June. Officials say the stockings are designed to improve bass genetics and increase anglers’ chances of catching larger fish in the future.

The stocking season officially kicked off April 16 when biologists released 58,760 fingerlings into several Louisiana waters, including Spring Bayou, Chatham Lake, Mill Creek Lake, False River and Little Alabama Bayou.

Since then, hundreds of thousands more bass have been released into lakes and reservoirs around the state, including several North Louisiana favorites. Some of the larger stockings include:

Grand Bayou Reservoir – 30,000
Toledo Bend – 550,420 total stocked during multiple releases
Caddo Lake & James Bayou – 151,000
Lake Bistineau – 140,600
Black Lake & Clear Lake – 115,400
Cross Lake – 100,100
Cocodrie Lake – 100,000
Bayou D’Arbonne – more than 350,000 combined stockings
Vernon Lake – more than 173,000 combined stockings
Caney Creek Reservoir – more than 103,000 combined stockings
Lake Claiborne – 80,700
Iatt Lake – 71,180
Cheniere Brake Lake – 60,500
Kepler Creek Lake – 27,900

Additional stockings also took place in smaller lakes, park ponds and community fishing areas throughout Louisiana.

Most of the fish are raised at the Booker-Fowler Fish Hatchery near Woodworth, where LDWF biologists work each year to produce millions of Florida bass fingerlings for stocking programs statewide.

LDWF says the work continues long after the fish are released. Fisheries biologists monitor bass populations, genetics and overall fish health in managed waters across the state to help guide future management plans and stockings.

Officials also reminded the public that it is illegal for private individuals or groups to release fish into Louisiana public waters without a permit from LDWF.

Photo Source: LDWF Facebook post