Lake Perris: The Making and Destruction of a Trophy Spot Lake

[WB Staff]

With the success of the Florida Bass experiment conducted in San Diego beginning in the late 1950s and through the early 1970s, California biologists turned to another bass sub-species for one of their new lakes. This new lake, Lake Perris, would be devoid of cover and have drastic water-level changes over the course of a season, not conducive conditions for rearing largemouth. Because of this, the DFG looked to the Alabama spotted bass to fill a niche.

Spotted bass were known to spawn in deeper waters than their big-mouthed cousin and didn’t need the cover associated with typical bass waters. They also provided great sport to the angler.

In 1973, CADFG started talks with the Alabama Fisheries Department and set up a trade: Florida strain largemouth from California for spotted bass from Lewis Smith Lake, Alabama. By 1974, the lake was stocked with 200 spotted bass from the lake that held the world record. Within five years, this second black bass experiment proved to be on track to set a new world record.

[WRB]

Thanks for sharing.
Had to wait to nearly the end to hear Dave Nollars name come up! Remember Garage WON column? Dave did a skin mount of my 12 1/4 lb PB NLMN way back when. Dave lived Redlands and worked for the school districts during spent a lot of time fishing Perris.
Tom
FYI, 1 st Northern Spotted (Kentucky) in CA was 1939, Friant Dam while lake was constructed.
Alabama are Southern Spotted Bass now called Alabama Bass.

[milehi]

Maurice Hollybee had a nice little tackle shop in Redlands think it was back then. Believe Nollar still fishes Perris a little

[Kwin]

Lake Perris 2.0

CDFW mitigated for impacts of an extended drawdown to repair the dam by adding habitat features to the lake bottom:
1600+ brush piles
109 rock piles
135 pipe caves
192,000 sq ft gravel beds
50+ pallet structures


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[WRB]

It’s good to see the DFW making an effort to save lake Perris by adding habitats, thank you for sharing.
Was anything done to help recruitment survival for Alabama Spots or any plans to reintroduce them?
You noted in another thread that today’s SoCal bass anglers release over 90% of bass caught, that should help the Spots to spawn along with improved Habitat
Tom

[Kwin]

Alabama Bass will not be reintroduced. The Southern strain bluegill that were the likely impetus for the Alabama Bass demise within Perris are still thriving, making any attempt at reintroduction a waste of time.

[WRB]

Thank you for your response.
Tom