Raising Trophy Bass In Your Private Lake

The Southern Land Brokers offers assistance to Alabama property owners and clients with the construction and management of private lakes. Private lakes offer year round enjoyment and pleasure. Almost every lake owner will agree that their primary purpose is to grow large trophy bass as fast as possible.  Having an abundant supply of bait fish or prey species is probably the most important part of growing trophy bass. In most private lakes in central Alabama bluegill and thread-fin shad are stocked as the primary prey species for bass. Many times lake owners will experience a decline in bluegill and shad populations resulting in an over population, and weight loss of bass.

To help relieve the pressure on the prey species, we are stocking lakes in the spring of each year (when the water temperature reaches 60 or above) with tilapia, a native of the tropics. Tilapia can only survive in water temperatures over 50-55 degrees. They spawn almost twice as often as bluegill while under perfect conditions they can spawn every 18-21 days, creating an abundant supply of food for bass. Adult female tilapia brood their eggs with a technique called “mouth-brooding”  which offers protection for the eggs until they hatch. They are primarily plankton feeders and have been known to feed on several types of problem algae and aquatic weeds found in local lakes in Alabama.

When the water temperature begins to drop in the fall and winter the tilapia will begin to move slower and slower creating a feeding frenzy for the bass. This added supply of food has been proven in many lakes to help produce large trophy bass.

 

Pictured is Steve Lewis a local Tilapia Grower stocking an Alabama Lake with tilapia.