Eighteen largemouth weighing more than 10 pounds each are sitting in the newly renovated hatch house of the Joe Hogan State Fish Hatchery, thanks to anglers participating in the inaugural year of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Arkansas Legacy Lunker program. The excitement of big catches at multiple lakes dominated late winter and early spring across The Natural State, but the current phase of the program has AGFC’s Black Bass Program staff on pins and needles.
The large females have been introduced to their suitors, male Florida bass that possess the genetic markers for fast growth.
“They’re called Titan Maxx bass, and they’re a product of Red Hills Fishery in Georgia,” Will Lancett, Legacy Lunker program coordinator, said. “We know Florida bass grow big, but these are the best of the best, and we’re pairing them with females that we know for a fact grow to trophy sizes in Arkansas waters.”…