Hybrid bass stocking program could have huge economic impact

Mike Bischoff of “The Happy Hookers” Lake Livingston Fishing Club signs a permit application as Ron Diderich, president of Friends of Lake Livingston, and Dan Ashe, an inland fisheries biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, look on. The three men and the groups they represent are part of a larger effort to stock Lake Livingston with hybrid bass, making it a destination lake for anglers. Courtesy photo

By Emily Banks Wooten
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An ambitious project kicks off Thursday that could potentially have huge repercussions for Lake Livingston and the surrounding area for many years to come. Through a project that has been about three years in the making, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), Lake Livingston Fishing Club aka “The Happy Hookers,” Trinity River Authority (TRA) and Friends of Lake Livingston (FoLL) are partnering to launch a hybrid bass stocking program, which could result in a significant economic impact on the East Texas area. Hybrid bass are a cross between white bass and striper bass.

Through the first stocking, slated for Thursday, two million fry will be released into the lake under a private permit issued to TRA for one million and a private permit issued to Mike Bischoff on behalf of the Hookers for an additional one million. For the uninitiated, a fry is a baby fish that has just hatched and is a quarter to a half-inch long.

The two million fry are coming from a fishery around Little Rock, Ark. and will be released at Beacon Bay Marina by a TPWD-owned fish-stocking barge shortly after the sun goes down, Bischoff said, adding, “This is just phase one. Probably in June, TPWD will release 275,000 hybrid fingerlings into the lake.” A fingerling is a baby fish that has grown to two to four inches in length.

“The intent is for TPWD to commit to doing this on an annual basis. TRA and the Hookers have also committed under private stocking permits. We want to bring awareness to the general public to bring validity to our fundraising and a sincere interest in the program,” Bischoff said.

“Hybrid stripers grow to trophy fish size and are very appealing to fisherman. The environment of the lake, with its natural foliage, makes it an ideal habitat for these hybrid bass. Our lake will be a destination lake for anglers for trophy-sized hybrid stripers. The long-term objective is to get our lake to the level where there are 10 catchable hybrid striped bass per acre of surface area, which will probably take five to eight years.

“The weekend warrior angler that comes up from Houston with his buddy or his wife will spend $1,000 per weekend. That’s a heck of an impact to the economy,” Bischoff said.

How will the stocking of Lake Livingston with hybrid bass benefit the local community?

According to Bischoff, the economic impact of a fish stocking program on Livingston and the surrounding communities can be significant. According to a study by the University of Minnesota, a $1 million investment in a fish stocking program can generate $4 million in economic activity. This includes the direct spending of anglers on fishing licenses, equipment and lodging, as well as the indirect spending of businesses that support the fishing industry.

A study by the University of Wisconsin found that a single day of fishing generates an average of $1,200 in economic activity. This figure includes spending on food, lodging, transportation and souvenirs. In addition to the direct economic benefits, fish stocking can also have a number of other benefits for the surrounding communities. It can improve water quality, boost tourism, and create jobs.

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Bischoff said the specific impacts a fish stocking program can have on surrounding communities are increased tourism, increased jobs, increased tax revenue and improved water quality.

“A nationally recognized lake for great fishing will attract anglers from all over the country. This will boost tourism in the area, leading to increased spending on hotels, restaurants, and other businesses. The fishing industry supports a variety of jobs, including, but not limited to, fishing guides, tackle shop owners, and boat rental businesses. Of course, all the support businesses such as gas stations, quick stops, grocery stores, hotels, sporting goods stores, etc. will also experience improved job growth. Purchases by anglers will generate tax revenue for the government. This money can be used to support local schools, roads and other infrastructure. Fish help to improve water quality by consuming algae and other pollutants. This can make the lake more attractive to anglers and other users.”

How long will the stocking program go on?

“The short answer is forever. As long as the lake exists, which should be at least another 50 years, stocking should be sustained. Since hybrid bass are a cross between white bass and striper bass, they are not able to reproduce to procreate more hybrid bass,” Bischoff said.

“Lake Livingston is an ideal environment for the survival of mature hybrid bass, but because they cannot reproduce, their numbers will decrease through natural attrition and from fishing.  Hence, annual stocking of hybrid will be required as long as it is deemed to be worth the investment for funding. Therefore, the first two to three years the stocking program would be shared by our private permit and TPWD would be very aggressive. Target at this time is 300,000 fingerling per year shared 50% private permit and 50% TPWD. Stocking will start in the spring/summer of 2024 and by the fall of 2025 fish count surveys conducted by TPWD would determine all future stocking needs to maintain a healthy population,” Bischoff said.

The effort is being coordinated by the non-profit organization Friends of Lake

Livingston, an established group initially formed to reestablish Lake Livingston as a prime destination for anglers and water enthusiasts by restoring aquatic habitat. However, they have now agreed to increase their focus to include the hybrid stocking program. The stocking program will have a separate project manager and all funding will be separate from the “normal” FoLL funding.

This arrangement allows the quick establishment of a local, known and experienced, non-profit organization for obtaining a certificate and approval from the TPWD to do hybrid stocking in Lake Livingston. The principal partners and project advisors for FoLL are Texas Black Bass Unlimited, Texas Association of Bass Clubs, Friends of Reservoirs and Piney Wood Lakes Chapter Texas Master Naturalist.

Area school districts that have been active with FoLL include Big Sandy, Coldspring-Oakhurst, Corrigan-Camden, Goodrich, Leggett, Livingston, Onalaska and Shepherd ISDs.