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JOHNSON COUNTY, Kentucky (WYMT) – Anglers for Improving Opportunities (AFIO) is a non-profit organization looking for ways to impact eastern Kentucky’s fisheries and leave them better than they found them.
In April 2022, AFIO worked with Major League Fishing (MLF), the Kentucky Team Trail (formerly East Kentucky Team Trail) and an independent scientist to conduct a DNA study of Paintsville Lake’s bass population during a KTT event.
“We had 97 samples that day and sent these to Steven Bardin at Major League Fishing who helped us throughout the process and then he sent them to Auburn which is the same place that everyone in the country sends their DNA data to. Evidence,” said AFIO President Jason Kinner.
The study was conducted to determine if Florida troutmouth DNA had already made its way to Paintsville Lake to determine the feasibility of stocking the lake with “F1” bass.
F1 bass are an “intergrade” bass with 50% Florida largemouth DNA and 50% Northern largemouth DNA that grow much larger and much faster than Northern largemouth bass typically found in eastern Kentucky waters. These fish are considered “trophy bass” due to their rapid growth rate.
The results of the study, completed Wednesday, show that Paintsville Lake has a large percentage of Florida trout mouth DNA in its bass population, and one bass has already been determined to be an F1 in its 97 samples. This data challenges the beliefs of many of the country’s top scientists about how far the Florida trout mouth had spread into the states north of Tennessee.
“Judging by our data, this line is now much further north than anyone thought,” Kinner said. “We think this is groundbreaking data, we believe that biologists across the state, maybe even in West Virginia and other states, can use our data and our information to potentially improve their fisheries.”
Kinner says that in previous studies, regular stocking of F1 bass has impacted local economies in other lakes across the country. These trophy bass drive tourism in the area by bringing anglers to the area. Regular stocking of these fish also provides more opportunities for the next generation of anglers from eastern Kentucky.
“If we as anglers can come here from a conservation standpoint and get involved, you know, have a positive impact, you know, for me, if a little kid could come here and experience maybe catch a five, six, Seven pound bass, that’s what it’s all about, you know?” said Kinner.
Kinner added that you can visit the AFIO website for more information about the study and anglers can visit the AFIO Facebook page to find out how to get involved.
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