Interesting read for sure, but I'm not sure why DWR is selling it as a new experiment? Here's an article where they mention it in May of 2008 at Briery (check out the 2nd new paragraph on page 3). https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/...ist-Report.pdf and to my knowledge, they also stocked Sandy River reservoir with them

I'm no biologist, but I don't think there is a physical difference you can see with the naked eye. The big benefit, as far as I know, is getting to a trophy size at a younger age. Plus it's rumored they fight harder. Makes sense if they have have both size and youth on their side I suppose. Personally I still feel like a 3lb river bass will fight harder than any 5lb reservoir bass though. But I am definitely intrigued by "Tiger" bass fisheries for their trophy potential. Briery and Sandy are my go-to largemouth waters. They're 90+ minutes from me, but I have a hard time wanting to go anywhere else.

Echo Lake is a little closer to town and they stocked Tigers in the Spring of 2018. It's a small fishery, definitely on the upswing here lately, but the Tigers in there are still wee pups. Echo Lake | Virginia DWR