If Florida strain bass were introduced >on purpose< while the Carp had to sneak there way back in, it would give the bass a big head start, allowing them a strong foothold.

As far as Spotted bass re-appearing..... hmmm. Maybe. But then maybe not. Understand that it took 15 years for Spots to make there way into Pablo, and many (most) Bay Area trout ponds still do not have Spots.

Finally, any time a lake is completely drained for a period of time, it allows a layer of new growth, which binds most of the old bottom sediment (does wonders for water quality), and adds tons of the >proper< nutrients (not golf course fertilizer runoff) to kick the new lake (after it is refilled) into overdrive ! Typically, no lake is better for numbers than a 3 to 5 year old one, and no lake is better for trophy bass, than a 10 to 13 year old one.... then, they usually start to drop off. That is the normal cycle. Pablo did go through this same cycle. The only amazing thing was, it came back with even more, and slightly larger giants, on its second peak, aproximately 20 years after being drained and refilled. In any case, I am thouroughly convinced that Pablo would not ever come back that way again, with an overpopulation of Spotted Bass, and poor water quality.

Starting to ramble now...
Fish